By Brennan Cooper

The E.H. Butler Library at Buffalo State College is currently showing a hemp exhibit to enlighten library visitors about the plant and its uses.

The exhibit offers a visual display of finished hemp products, along with pamphlets and sheets to provide further facts and fiction on hemp.

The exhibit will be displayed in the library for the month of April.

Hemp has several practical uses, as taken from a Hemp Industries Association pamphlet at the library display, including:

• cosmetics and body care
• food and beverage
• paper
• sports equipment
• diesel fuel

The HIA’s Web site says that hemp can be used to produce Ethanol more efficiently than other sources like corn. Ethanol is a potentially more environmentally responsible alternative to current predominant fuel sources.

Hemp 4 Fuel.com cites a Lynn Osburn article in which she writes, “Hemp is the number one biomass producer on planet earth…and is the only (biologically produced matter) resource capable of making American energy independent.

Hemp’s uses go beyond a clothing fabric and a fuel source, but many chuckle at just the mention of the word for the misconception of hemp as an intoxicant.

When asked what he knew about hemp, John Allen, 22, a senior at BSC, laughingly replied: “What do you mean, weed?”

The United States prohibits the growing and processing of hemp, helping to reinforce the view of hemp as marijuana.

Buffalo Hemp Outfitters, on 1005 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo, provided a myth & facts sheet about hemp. Hemp is not actually marijuana. The North American Industrial Hemp Council cites the difference as “akin to the difference between corn and roses.”

According to HIA’s Web site, THC is the chief intoxicant of marijuana, which contains between three and 15 percent of the psychoactive chemical. Hemp contains just .2 to .3 percent.

Nutiva, an organic food company, says that hemp contains a high amount of the compound cannabidiol, “which has been shown to block the effects of THC.  This has lead to many botanists referring to hemp as “anti-marijuana.”

“Everyone associates hemp with marijuana,” said Allen, though this did not deter him from buying hemp products. “I’ve been to (Buffalo Hemp Outfitters) and they have some good stuff. I got a lot of my Christmas shopping done there.”

Those more familiar with hemp find its uses help them in several facets of daily life.

“Hemp is very versatile,” said Jan Whopperer, 22, a Cheektowaga resident and logo designer for Buffalo Hemp Outfitters. “I eat hemp waffles, use hemp-based lotions, hair products and chap stick. I also have a hemp sweatshirt.”

Contact Brennan Cooper at brennancooper23@yahoo.com