About hemp

Hemp is one of the most oldest domestic plant known to mankind. It has been used for paper, textile and cordage for more than a millennium. So, What exactly is Hemp, and how is it varies from the psychoactive form of cannabis that we consume recreationally and medicinally. Let’s, discuss Hemp in details, to better know this versatile material.

What actually is Hemp? Hemp and Marijuana both come from the same cannabis species, but varies genetically and are further distinguished by their chemical makeup, cultivation method and use. There’s a vast variety of cannabis plant, although Hemp also called Industrial Hemp, refers to the non-psychoactive (Having THC levels less than 1%) varieties of Cannabis Sativa L.

Properties Of Hemp:

Hemp can be grown as a sustainable source for raw materials. It can crafted into thousands of products. Its flowers and seeds can be used in health foods, nutraceuticals and other organic body care products such as hemp oil for pets.

Hemp has been used for a lot of different things, but it cannot get you high because it lacks tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), our body processes it more faster than we can smoke it. If you try to fly high with a Hemp joint, it will only put you to bed with a migraine, for goodness sake!

Why Was Hemp Illegal:

In late 1937’s, the Marijuana tax act strictly banned the sale and cultivation of all cannabis plants. The controlled substances act of 1970, assorted all Cannabis types, Including Hemp as a Schedule I drug, making it totally illegal to grow in US. Which is why traders import it from other countries, since Hemp contains minute level THC, and is mostly used to make hemp oil for pets. As an outcome of this long term prohibition, most of the population have forgotten the industrial use of Hemp, and continue its misperception of hemp identifying with marijuana, the cannabis that can give you euphoric high.

History Of Hemp:
Through out generation, Hemp has been used for its durability and strength. Weaving of Hemp fiber started about 10,000 years ago. In the early 16’s The Great Britain had a constant supply of Hemp for the building of Battleships and its components. In the 17th Century USA, most farmers in Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts were abide by law to grow Indian hemp. Ironically to the present time, In the early 18th century, a person could be sentenced to prison, if they weren’t growing hemp on their fields. This was because, for over 2 centuries in colonial America, hemp was used to pay tax as a currency. But, after Rudolph Diesel made the infamous engine, that could be powered by vegetable and seed oils, with the engine’s reliability Ford Henry saw the potential power of Biological Fuels, hemp was a considered a threat to many industries. By 1920 the hemp field was fully removed by machinery and smear campaigns, that were made by the competing industries associating hemp with marijuana. This lead to the marijuana Tax Act in 1937. Between the 1937’s and 1960’s, US government recognized that Marijuana and Hemp were two distinct forms of cannabis. However, after the Controlled Substances Act was passed, Marijuana and Hemp were no longer recognized as a distinct form of cannabis. Now, a decade later times have changed again. State representatives have stood up to the US federal government and have finally legalized cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes only. Recently, the Californian Senate has proposed a SB 1409, which hopes to replace California’s Hemp Law. This specific piece of legislation proposes to fully allow cultivators to harvest hemp plants for CBD derivation, such as CBD oil for dogs and cats and such related use. California is now going to regulate the processing of hemp in an industrial manner.

Significant facts of Hemp:
Following are some of the most useful and distinctive facts about the form of cannabis known as Hemp.

Until, the 1880’s all of the school books and notes were made from flax paper and hemp. (Jack Frazier. Hemp Paper Reconsidered. 1974.)
From 1631 until the early 1800s, hemp could be used as a currency to pay taxes. (LA Times. Aug. 12, 1981.)
Denying the law to grow hemp plants in America during the 17th and 18th centuries was against the federal law! You could be imprisoned in Virginia for refusing to grow hemp fields from 1763 until 1769. (G. M. Herdon. Hemp in Colonial Virginia).
Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other founding fathers grew hemp plants. (Washington and Jefferson Diaries. Jefferson smuggled hemp seeds from China to France then to America.)
Benjamin Franklin was founder of the first paper mills in US, and it processed hemp. Although the war of 1812 was also fought on behalf of hemp. Napoleon wanted to cut off England’s import from Moscow. (Jack Herer. Emperor Wears No Clothes.)
For almost a thousands of years, approximately 90% of all ships, ropes and sails were crafted from hemp. The word ‘canvas’ is derived from the Mid English word “canevas” which is further derived from the Latin word known as cannabis. (Webster’s New World Dictionary.)
80% of all cloths, textile, fabrics, linen, bed sheets, drapes etc, were created from parts of Hemp until the 1820s, it stopped with the introduction of the cotton gin.
The first Bibles, charts, Betsy Ross’s flag, maps, the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were all made up from hemp. (U.S. Government Archives.)
Hemp was the first crop that was grown in many states. The year 1850 was a peak year for Kentucky producing almost 40,000 tons of hemp. Hemp was the biggest cash crop until the early 20th century. (State Archives.)
The oldest records know to mankind of farming hemp, is 5000 years ago in China, although, hemp’s industrialization process goes back to the ancient Egypt.
Gainsborough’s, Rembrandt’s, Van Gogh’s, as well as most early canvas drawing and paintings, were basically painted upon hemp linen.
In 1916, the U.S. Government predicted that by the early 1940s, all paper supply would come from hemp plant and that no more deforestation need to happen. Although, some of the Government research showed that 1 acre of hemp field equals 4.1 acres of trees. Plans were in actions in order to implement such programs. (U.S. Department of Agriculture Archives.)
Quality varnishes and paints were made from hemp seed oil and CBD oil until the 1937. 58,000 tons of hemp seeds were consumed in America for paint related products in 1935. (Sherman Williams Paint Co. testimony proposed, before the U.S Congress against the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act.)
Henry Ford’s first T-Model was constructed in such a way to run on hemp gasoline and hemp was used in construction of the car! On his huge estate, Ford was photographed with his hemp fields. The car, that literally grown from the soil; had some hemp plastic panels whose impact strength was 10 times as stronger as steel. (Popular Mechanics, 1941.)
In 1938, Hemp was nicknamed as the ‘Billion Dollar Crop’. It happened for the first time, that a cash crop was having the potential surpass a Billion Dollars annually. (Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1938.)
Hemp plant was mostly used in Animal hospitals for medicinal purposes, such as the use of Hemp oil for dogs and other recreational purposes.
Health Benefits of Consuming Hemp:
Following are some really good health benefits of consuming Hemp:

Healthy Fats:
The American Heart Association favors to consume two 3.5-ounce servings of oily fish, each week. This is because, fish is one of the main source of omega-3 fatty acids. If a body does not regularly consume fish, they may not be getting enough EPA or DHA
Hemp plant is a source of concentrated omega-3 fatty acids. Although, the fatty acids that hemp plants have are alpha-linolenic acids (ALA), which are poorly converted to DHA and EPA in the human body at the rate of only 2 to 10 percent. Despite, this slow conversion rate, hemp plant is one of the richest source of ALA, and still contain some good source of healthy fats, especially for those who do not consume fish or eggs.
Hemp contains an omega-6 fatty acid called GLA that is not present in any other food type.
Hemp oil for pets, contains an even higher % of GLA. Hemp seeds also contain phytosterols, that helps in reducing the cholesterol’s amount, present in the body, by burning some fat build-up in the arteries.

Protein Source:
Hemp is a good source of protein, as it contain all 10 essential amino acids. Hemp does not contain any phytates, that are usually found in vegetarian’s protein sources and can mess with the absorption of essential minerals.

High Magnesium:
Magnesium has a very significant role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including the synthesis of proteins and fatty acids and metabolism of food. Magnesium is involved in muscle relaxation, neuromuscular transmission and several other activities.
Magnesium deficiency — which is especially present in the older populations — is connected to insulin resistance, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis. Seeds like hemp and nuts are some of the best sources of magnesium.

Study suggests that people having premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be able to lessen symptoms such as bloating, leg swelling, weight gain insomnia, and breast tenderness by ensuring a sufficient intake of magnesium. Magnesium combined with some vitamin B6 appears to be most effective in these cases.