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Willie Nelson – Hemp will help save the planet
By Hempology | August 19, 2007
Cannabis Digest
By Veronica Horn
Willie Nelson was born April 30, 1933 in a tiny Central Texas farming community. Willie reached fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Legendary singer and advocate for the American farmer, he has also become recognized for his participation in the movement to legalize marijuana and hemp in North America.
“HEMP IS INTERTWINED WITH AMERICAN HISTORY. We grew it to rig the great New England sailing ships, traveled west in Conestoga wagons covered in hemp, dressed in homespun hemp cloth when we got there and wound up wearing hemp jeans. We tied our cargo with hemp rope and fed the poultry with hemp seed. We used hemp to help develop this country.” Willie Nelson.
It’s no big surprise that Willie Nelson believes in hemp. A long time advocate of smoking cannabis has now moved his advocacy into a different realm. He is spreading the word that hemp can help save the planet.
Willie is on the road again, embracing biodiesel and becoming an icon of biodiesel use. BioWillie (www.biowillieusa.com) is the singer’s unique brand of B20, a fuel made of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent gasoline. He has also developed his own line of biodiesel run vehicles; the limited edition “Willie’s Willys�? pickup was unveiled at the 2006 National Biodiesel Conference at the San Diego Convention Center.
His personal vehicles and tour bus all run on biodiesel. Biodiesel is the name for a variety of ester-based oxygenated fuels made from hemp oil, other vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. The lifecycle production and use of biodiesel produces approximately 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulphur dioxide. Biodiesel is safe to handle and transport because it is as biodegradable as sugar. Biodiesel can be made from domestically produced, renewable oilseed crops such as hemp.
The Department of Defence used more than 10 million gallons of biodiesel in its non-combat vehicles last year. The singer logs thousands of miles on the road, but instead of filling up his customized bus with diesel fuel, he uses his own brand of BioWillie.
“”It’s cheap, and we don’t have to start a war over it,” Willie says.
“It” is an alternative fuel, made from crops grown in America; while slightly more expensive than regular diesel, its sweet smell already has its namesake crooning.
“I sleep right back there over that engine,” says Willie as he gives a tour of his bus. “I’d rather be breathing french-fries or soybeans than diesel fuel.”
“I see this as a way for the farmer to grow fuel and food and put him back in business again,” says Nelsen.
Willie has even lent his name to a small company dubbed the Willie Nelson Hemp Collection – all items are made of hemp or a blend of hemp and cotton. Already acquainted with the plant’s recreational possibilities, Willie quickly became sold on hemp’s value as a cash crop that could save America’s family farmers, and freely bought into the clothing enterprise.
Willie is unabashed in his views, “As far as I can tell, the primary reasons and uses for the hemp plant are to smoke it, wear it, or use it to make fuel to burn in our cars. And I’m in favor of all three.�?
On September 18, 2006 Willie and several of his traveling companions were issued misdemeanour citations for possession of pot and mushrooms during a traffic stop in central Texas. Troopers say they smelled a strong odour of marijuana when the driver opened the bus door. During a search of the bus, approximately 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana and 2/10 of a pound of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found on the bus.
The 73-year-old Willie, his 50-year-old manager David Anderson, his 75-year-old sister Bobbie Nelson, and two driver’s age 59 and 54 were issued citations for possession of mushrooms and marijuana and released.
Willie won’t land in the joint, nor will any of his posse’ after pleading guilty to a misdemeanour count of marijuana possession.
On April 24, 2007 State District Judge Paul deMahy fined Nelson and Anderson $1,024 US each, along with six months probation. As part of a plea agreement, the citations against Bobbie Nelson and the two drivers were dismissed.
Willie Nelson participates as Co-Chair on the NORML Advisory Board, and will be headlining the 2007 Austin Freedom Fest in August – a benefit concert to help end marijuana prohibition in America.
“Willie Nelson has been the most prominent proponent for legalizing marijuana in America for several decades, and he has never wavered from his commitment,” said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. “The 2007 Austin Freedom Fest is a wonderful opportunity for NORML supporters to gather for a celebration in a unique, and to demonstrate their support for ending America’s laws criminalizing cannabis.”
Topics: Articles, CD-14th, Summer 2007 | Comments Off
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