Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

US: Marijuana car on ban-ending trip

Farmers Weekly

Wednesday 22 Aug 2001

---


A CAR running on biodiesel derived from hemp oil has completed a
10,000-mile round trip of the USA to promote the idea.

The drivers of the modified Mercedes are looking to overturn a US ban on
the production of the crop, worth $100 million a year in US trade of
manufactured goods.

The ban is in force because of its narcotic relative marijuana. But
technologies exist that would make hemp oil economically competitive
with petrol, they claim.

"Hemp out-produces virtually every other biomass crop that can be widely
grown," Grayson Sigler, one of the drivers, is reported as saying.

Production of the crop in the UK is strictly licensed but perfectly
legal - its strong fibres have uses such as paper production, door
panels and loft insulation.

But varieties of hemp for producing oil here would have to be much
earlier-maturing than at present, says Hemcore's Ian Low.

They would also need to be higher yielding to compete with the output of
oilseed rape. "With more breeding work it could be a good oil-producing
crop."


 

 

 

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.




This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!