[EmailPoster]

I doubt that this will be seriously taken into consideration given the sad...

Originally Posted by pboero

I doubt that this will be seriously taken into consideration given the sad
state of the political culture in this great nation, but I think it should
be noted that the first American Flags were made from Hemp. This is very
important from a historical standpoint, in that no other other fiber was
strong enough to withstand the saline air on naval ships, nor to weather the
outdoors for a long period of time. It's also a bit of irony, given that the
original fabric that was used for our beloved flag is currently illegal for
farmers to grow.

Thanks,

Perry J. Boero

Perry Boero,

It is sad that a viable, commercial agricultural product has been lost due to abuse by some, as its loss harms many financially. While I understand that in the past, hemp has been used for hundreds of commercial products--including American flags, it is now for the most part, a non-issue as its use is extremely limited and more often than not, frowned upon in the production of consumer goods. Currently hemp products are more of a novelty than anything else.

With that said, the American way is to lobby for change if you do not like a particular law. It seems like you are doing that and if that is what you believe in then keep it up. As a citizen of a "nation of laws, not men" all you have to do convince enough people of your viewpoint and then get them to the polls. Good luck with your endeavor.

[atcoleness]

Does anyone know where it is possible to buy an american flag made from hemp? there is one site i found that claims to sell them; however, it appears that they are out of business or something, i tried to call the number but the line is out. If anyone knows anything on this it would be greatly appreciated.

[csaanv]

I came across that same company. What a shame, as they were actually making their flags according the to the official specs. If you are able to contact them let me know as I would love one of their flags.

[NAVA1974]

I read on the hempmuseum.org site "Betsy Ross made the first flag of the United States of America out of the finest, strongest fiber available, hemp fabric."

That's a load of BS. Betsy Ross, like all the other professional flagmakers in Philadelphia at the time, used English wool bunting to make her flags. So was the Star Spangled Banner in the Smithsonian that the hempmuseum thinks is made of "linen." (At least it was not made of linen, according to the British WOOL expert/consultant that the Smithsonian brought on board during the early stages of the flag's conservation. I was standing next to him when the staff was rolling the SSB up in order to take it out of the main hall to the conservation lab a few hundred feet to the west. I could almost feel him cringe over the way they were handling that delicate WOOL flag.)

Since bunting was not made in the USA until the late Civil War era, all American flags, from 1776 to the 1860's, were made of imported English bunting (except for those few home made flags of linen or standards of silk.)

A more reputable site says "There are no existing 18th-century American flags made of cotton, since this fiber was not readily available in America until after 1800. Cotton sewing thread was not manufactured commercially until the 19th-century. Eighteenth-century documentation, bills, invoices, and descriptions, and examination of all the surviving flags from this period indicate that they were made of silk, linen, or wool bunting. "

Nick

[bella2009111]

Hemp??? Amazing for me. Maybe i am too innocent. But i have never with this think .