“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet” ― Miyamoto Musashi
Why we Need to Grow Hemp on Mars.
Publication date: 8/30/2020
last edited: N/A
The viability of versatility.
the Initiative for Martian Hemp Industrialization
(I.M.H.I.)
Carl Sagan Considering Cannabis Cultivation
"It would be wryly interesting if in human history the cultivation of marijuana (Cannabis sativa, Hemp) led generally to the invention of agriculture, and thereby to civilization." Carl Sagan, The Dragons of Eden, Speculations on the Origin of Human Intelligence p 191 footnote, 1974.”
Abstract
Thousands of years ago, in civilizations of the past, humanity was cultivating and utilizing hemp’s versatility as a source of sustainable resource production; will humanity do so again in the future civilizations of Earth, Mars, between, and beyond? The Cannabis sativa plant and its industrial cultivars (hemp) have been cultivated for thousands of years for it's stalking (which consists of the outer bast fibers and inner hurd), it’s flowers, and seeds. These parts of the plant can be repurposed for thousands of uses across industries. In this publication we will discuss some of the most viable utilizations of Hemp Industrialization for the foundation of civilizations terrestrial, interplanetary, and otherworldly. All of these technologies and techniques discussed have seen a centuries loss of innovation as a result of prohibition.
Short Answer:
Viability of Versatility
the key reasons why we need to grow hemp on Mars is the quality, quantity, viability, and versatility of terrestrial cannabis sativa yields (hemp), and the singularity of potential Cannabis cosmicus has for cosmic cultivation and colonization. The Initiative for Martian Hemp Industrialization (I.M.H.I.) exists to advocate the cultivation and utilization of Cannabis cosmicus (hemp) in space exploration to red-line horticulture innovation to maximize yields and prosperity in civilizations on Earth, Mars, between, and beyond.
Hemp Plastic:
from the Plastic Age to the Hemp Age
Living in the Plastic Age
The Stone Age, the Golden Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age; we've come to define periods of time by the materials used most by mankind and it is thought today will be known tomorrow as the plastic age. IMHI hopes to see space exploration usher in the Hemp Age. According to plasticoceans.org, We are producing over 300 million tons of plastic yearly with more than 8 million ending up in our ocean all expected to degrade over several hundred years. Despite the affects of modern plastic pollution, it’s undeniable we as a species have a high demand for plastic production in terrestrial civilizations and we will likely in civilizations on the Moon and Mars.
Hemp Plastic
Cellulose derived from petrochemicals such as petroleum for synthetic plastics, while versatile, damage our planet and its inhabitants. Hemp and its average of 70% cellulose composition can act as a bio-based filler or reinforcement fiber for bio and synthetic plastic production supplementing partly or relieving the need of petrochemicals in plastic production. Depending on the use of Hemp as a bio based filler or reinforcement fiber, hemp plastic products has been noted to comparable to graphene, more bendable than steel, biodegradable, non toxic, flame resistance, or a combination of these traits.
Value of Versatility
From plastic packaging and cellophane wrap to 3D printing, hemp can have a role in nearly all plastic products. The general demand for plastic products, alongside the specific superior traits of hemp based plastics, atop the singularity of innovation that awaits the 3D plastic printing industry of the future is just a fraction of the potential hemp has as an industrial crop in civilizations on Earth, Mars, between and beyond.
Industrial Martian Paper Production:
Timber Fields or Hemp Yields
Utilization Throughout Time
Hemp has been used for industrial paper production since its invention and Industrialization in 105 CE (AD) by Chinese inventor Cai Lun (Ts’ai Lun) of the Han Dynasty. Monopolistic practices of the early 20th century by heads of industries, such as William Randolph Hearst, saw timber become the modern source of cellulose, the main ingredient in pulp for paper. Despite this, a 1916 USDA study found compared to wood hemp can produce four times the paper per acre in 1/60th the time. This derives from the fact hemp fibers are about 70% cellulose, the main ingredient in pulp used for paper, compared to the 30% levels of timber. These levels have a relative use of pre and post harvest agrochemical use with hemp either not needing agrochemical appliance or needing less than wood in production processes.
Hemp vs Timber
Along with the natural higher cellulose levels, hemp from seed to harvest takes on average 3-4 months to grow compared to the 20-80 years trees need. Hemp paper can be recycled 5 times more than paper made from wood pulp (8-3) and has been known not to yellow with age. In spite of these characteristics of hemp, William Randolph Hearst, saw timber become the modern source of cellulose through lobbying and anti-cannabis propaganda resulting in the eventual illegality of Cannabis sativa (hemp).
Grow and Grow
The American Cannabis sativa (hemp) prohibition has stiffened a centuries worth of industrial hemp innovation while setting destructive trends across industries. IMHI hopes to see space exploration usher in the Hemp Age and bring newfound levels of innovation to horticulture technology and techniques which can be applied to the cultivation of Cannabis cosmicus further maximizing the viability and yields of hemp setting new sustainable trends in industrial resource production.
Hemp vs Cotton:
Potential vs Pesticides
Abstract
With the advent of agriculture thought to be 10,000-12,000 years ago, alongside discoveries of the utilization of hemp by ancient Mesopotamia and China in similar time periods, it’s hypothesized hemp is one of the oldest cultivated crops.
Hemp vs Cotton
In modern times, cotton is the most widespread profitable non-food crop in the world. When compared to cotton cultivation, hemp has been found to use nearly two times less water, zero pesticides (while an estimated 15-20% of the worlds pesticide is used for cotton cultivation), can reach maturity 30-90 days faster, averages 2-3 higher yields, and enriches the soil compared to the soil degradation cotton cultivation induces.
Synchronicity Across Industries
Once again, when compared to other industrial crops cultivated for resource production, Cannabis sativa (hemp) cultivation results in yields with higher levels of quality and quantity usable biomass, through less input (water, pesticides, herbicides, etc), over a faster rate of time.
Hemp Flour, Milk, and Protein Powder:
Food for Thought, Are we Bringing Cows or Hemp to Mars?
Seed of Life
Hemp seeds are a valuable source of nutrition and have thought to be consumed by humans for thousands of years. Hemp seeds are a complete protein comprised of essential fatty acids such as omega 3’s and omega 6’s, fiber, vitamin E, and a variety of minerals.
the Value in Versatility
Hemp seeds can be used as a stand-alone ingredient or converted to milk, oil, cheese, butter, flour, etc. for dairy and baking products. All though a food source and additive, Industrial hemp seed oil is also used in paints, inks, lubricants, fuel, plastics, soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpaste, skin health products, etc.
Seriously are we Planning to Bring Cows or Seeds in Early Colonization Efforts?
IMHI hypothesizes hemp and oat seeds and their cultivation systems will be the logistically more efficient source of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter as the seeds and systems will be easier to transport to and produce on Mars than cows or goats all done through more sustainable practices.
the Endocannabinoid System:
as Within as Without
Abstract
Within and throughout each of us there is a homeostasis regulating system of receptors design to process the cannabinoids our body naturally produces, the Endocannbinoids System.
The endocannabinoid system is comprised of enzymes and CB 1 and CB 2 receptors that can be found throughout your entire body working within your organs, brain, skin, nervous system and immune system. The main function of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain bodily homeostasis and has been called a bridge between our body and mind. The endocannabinoid system was named after the plant that led to its discovery in the 90’s, Cannabis sativa (hemp). When phytocannabinoids (any cannabinoid produced in the trichomes of a cannabis plant) are consumed, they interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors within our endocannabinoid system for a variety of effects ranging from medical to psychoactive. CB1 receptors are more commonly found throughout the central nervous system while CB2 receptors are more commonly found within the cells of your immune system throughout your body. The location of the CB1 and CB2 within ourselves is relative to the effects produced when these receptors process phytocannabinoids. There are over a hundred different phytocannabinoids identified within the cannabis plants, but in this publication we’ll be discussing the relationship between our endocannbinoid system and the two most studied cannabinoids, Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Basis of Utilization
Specific cultivars or strains of cannabis are cultivated for yields with specific ratios of THC and CBD depending on the desired effects and potency. CBD is a non psychoactive cannabinoid that has been found to have a wide variety of medicinal uses such as treating childhood epilepsy syndromes, inflammation, insomnia, eating disorders, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. CBD can take several forms depending on the desired medicinal value as it can be extracted from the cannabis plant and infused into food, drinks, lotions, oils, ointments, soaps, capsules, etc. THC has been known to help with moods, chronic pain, lack of appetite etc. but is most commonly known for its psychoactive properties. In 2020, the International Space Station is at the forefront of space exploration and prohibits the consumption of alcohol and its mind altering affects. The Initiative for Martian Hemp Industrialization respects the current collective agreement of world governments to prevent its cosmic representatives from altering their consciousness, but doubts the long term viability of this prohibition as we push beyond Low Earth Orbit and the Moon.
Cosmic Cannabis Consumption
If one day, as we push beyond, astronauts were permitted to alter their consciousness for recreational or medical purposes, what would be the preferred medium? While many may immediately think alcohol, IMHI believes for the long term viability of mankind’s cosmic endeavors CBD and THC flower, food, drinks pills, etc. should be the standard medium rather than alcohol. The CDC reports about 90,000 drinking related deaths while nearly 0 deaths for the “over consumption” of cannabis or canna. Statistics like this makes it hard to fathom cannabis is the legally lucrative substance compared to alcohol, and IMHI sees an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and set beneficial trends in society such as en masse education about the effects of alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, and other common pharmaceuticals. Even looking at indoor plants relieves psychological and physiological stress, much more so if you cultivate. IMHI hopes to see future cosmic representatives grow their own medicine or recreational mind altering mood improving substances as the general benefits of plant cultivation paired with the specific mental benefits of CBD and THC seems statistically far more beneficial than consuming alcohol. There is obviously potential for both peaks and valleys when conceptualizing cultivating and consuming Cannabis cosmicus in transit to or while residing on another planet; thus the subject exists as a psychological, physiological, and psychoactive singularity. IMHI hopes to see or conduct the required science for the versatility of Cannabis cosmicus (hemp) and its stalking, flower, seeds, and cannabinoids utilized as efficiently as possible as our collective intentions transcend and our engines ascend into the void.
Biofuel:
Fuel from Farms
Abstract
1941; the war is on. Oil is the blood of war machines fighting for freedom, both those who fight for freedom’s preservation and those who fight for it’s destruction. As in the First World War, The oil fields abroad become the graves of many, and after 12 years of research, Henry Ford presents a thought to be revolutionizing invention; a hemp reinforced plastic prototype car that runs on hemp fuel. Despite being announced during the Second World War, despite the drug war, and despite the war on our environment, hemp has yet to revolutionize the bio-fuel industry, and like the industries of paper and plastic, was likely ultimately prevented from reaching peak industrial potential by the cannabis prohibition.
Hemp Farmers of the Future
While cannabis with THC is still federally illegal to cultivate in America, we sit on the precipice of a new dawn of hemp innovation. Taken of the FDA’s schedule 1 drug list, American farmers are once again sowing their fields with hemp for industrial resource production. IMHI is driven by the potential hemp innovation has for Earth, Mars, between, and beyond.
Hemp Fuel
Hemp can produce biodiesal from the seed and ethanol/methanol from the stalking. Hemp can produce 10 tons of biomass per acre every four months. Each acre of hemp could yield about 1000 gallons of methanol (hemphasis.net). Enough energy could be produced on 6% of the land in the U.S. to provide enough energy for our entire country (cars, heat homes, electricity, industry) — and we use 25% of the world’s energy (hemphasis.com). Hemp biodiesel can be used by any conventional diesel engine and IMHI hopes to one day see hemp fuel become the worlds main source of oil as we enter the Hemp Age.
The Initiative for Martian Hemp Industrialization (I.M.H.I.)
The pillars of civilizations on Earth will be the same on the Moon, Mars, between and beyond. To establish a true Martian society, compared to a Martian colony, we will need to develop the technology and techniques to learn to live off the land, sustainably produce resources, and produce food more efficiency then any society in the history of mankind. Prohibition can stiffen innovation, but even without a centuries worth of industrial development, hemp is still the solar systems greatest biomass producer and every aspect of the cannabis plant can be utilized for some form of resource production. From the seeds, stalkings, and the flower, over 50,000 uses emerge across industries; this general versatility along with the specific superior industrial characteristics of hemp atop the singularity of hemp innovation to come is why IMHI advocates for the cultivation and utilization of Cannabis cosmicus (hemp) in space exploration to red-line horticulture innovation to maximize yields and prosperity in civilizations on Earth, Mars, between, and beyond.