It is true, there is no “high” from Industrial Hemp. This species of the cannabis family contains CBD and little to no THC. THC is the compound in marijuana that does create the “high” feeling. Industrial Hemp only contains about 0.3% THC, which is not nearly enough to get anyone “high”, your lungs would fail first.
So how did this plant get lumped in with its cousin marijuana? Well that all goes way back to the late 1930’s, when the Marijuana Tax Act was passed and enforced. This made marijuana illegal in the United States. Industrial Hemp was lumped in because it was said to be too much like marijuana. This is so false!
They do not look the same while growing, they do not mature at the same rate, and they have different uses and effects. The such notable differences, one still wonders how they got lumped together, it just makes no sense!
Before all that nonsense, industrial hemp was used worldwide. It was hard to process the fiber from the core, but one farmer created a machine that could do it easier. His name was Bernagozzi he created the decorticator in the early 1861, and it was the foundation to finding ways of easier removal of hemp’s fiber from the core.
Industrial Hemp Characteristics, Facts, and Uses
Let’s start with this plant’s appearance and how you would plant and grow this species. Industrial Hemp can reach heights of 20ft. and has very few branches, leaves, and flowers that are mainly located at the top of the plant. This gives a long stalk for long fibers.
When you plant hemp, you plant the plants’ very close together, like maybe 4″ apart at the most. This leaves no room for competitive weeds to integrate your hemp crop.
This plant will grow in just about any climate aside from Antarctica, and requires very little attention. Insects are not drawn to it, so there is no need for pesticides. Pesticides are a huge part of the honeybee population issue!
Hemp is actually good for the soil compared to crops we use for similar product making. Acting as a filter of sorts, hemp removes a lot of toxins from the dirt and air. Growing hemp cleanses the air we breathe better than trees and most other plants’ as well.
Eating hemp products is very good for you and you have some choices as well. You can eat the seeds either raw or toasted, you can use hemp seed oil in a variety of things, there are hemp protein shakes, and milk and ice cream as well. There are a variety of foods and beverages to choose from.
The fibers from hemp have natural anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties and are naturally hypoallergenic as well. It is considered to be one of the strongest fibers known to mankind. There are many uses for the fibers including, but not limited to, rope, canvas, clothing, linen, and paper.
There are two different types of oils that can be made from this plant, CBD Oil, and Hemp Seed Oil. CBD Oils are more for medicinal uses, whereas Hemp Seed Oil has unlimited uses from food, make-up, and shampoos to wood stains. Every part of this plant is rich in fatty plant protein (a perfect balance of omega 3 and 6 at a 3:1 ratio). It is very healthy for the human diet and for skin and hair care products as well.
Believe it or not, plastics can be made from industrial hemp as well. This is not a new thing, but laws prohibited the study of what hemp’s possibilities are, so we are revisiting old inventions and coming up with new ones every day. From what I understand there are plastic moldings that can be made as well as drinking straws and water bottles.
Alas, there are three kinds of bio fuel that can be made from hemp as well as everything else. Hemp Bio Diesel, Ethanol, and Methanol. We can safely use all of these fuels, their emission is what we breathe, that is no joke! The bio diesel is made from the seeds, where the ethanol and methanol are made from fermented stalks. We don’t even have to modify the vehicles we use now!
Industrial hemp would be grown mostly for industrial and consumption purposes, and right now is legal in all 50 states.
Marijuana Characteristics and Uses
Marijuana plants are a beautiful plants’ if you enjoy their foliage. These plants’ have more branches, leaves, and flowers (buds) and are very aromatic. They grow more bushy and need some room for proper development. They also require more attention, and climate control for the optimal product.They are in a sense more fragile and needy compared to industrial hemp even though they “seem” to grow like a weed as well and are very hearty plants.
While there are two types of marijuana, Indica and Sativa, there are many strains of marijuana, some more powerful than others, some more tasty than others it depends on what you like in your marijuana.
For this particular type of cannabis there are two uses, medical and recreational. The medical uses are still being studied, and some are yet to be approved. This is when doing your research comes in very handy! Make sure you get your information from a reliable source as well. I like to use Britannica or Wikipedia (depending on what I am looking for).
As always, check with your doctor or physician, never self diagnose or treat any illness, whether it is physical or mental!
I am sure that if someone wanted to take the time to make something from the stems, there could be an industrial use as well, but as far as I know there is nothing of the sort yet. I am sure that this would have a lot to do with it being illegal in most states right now.
Before trying to use marijuana you should check your states laws so you know where you stand legally!
How Would Legalizing Marijuana Help Industial Hemp
Legalizing marijuana would be the start of opening doors for the growth and production of hemp nationwide! As mentioned before, they were lumped together in the same bill that outlawed them.
For marijuana to become legal, it would bring hemp right along with it, and all the restrictions that were put on the growing and processing of hemp would lift. And this could happen nationwide if we are smart and vote for it!
Marijuana is not the dangerous drug it was said to be, it would be beneficial to legalize it. In fact, my personal experience with it is, that it is quite calming and relaxing. I do not get agitated or overly excited, and I can still function quite well!
I work at a high stress job that requires a lot of physical energy as well. Smoking before work for concentration on opening the restaurant, and then I smoke when I get home to calm down from the busy hustle and bustle of a day. I choose not to smoke during the day, it is just my personal choice. I do live in Colorado, the laws here are for medical and recreational, which I find quite wonderful!
Legalizing these plants nationwide would be a public service in the long run! There are many environmental factors, health and nutrition factors, and it would open many new jobs if we begin using hemp products, not just CBD, but industrial products as well!
Thanks for reading my article, I hope you found some insight, or I shed the light on any shady areas. Please feel free to comment below. I love a good discussion.
Thank you as always.
Stacie Fortson
Go Green With Hemp
