Industrial Hemp And The Fight To Be A Fiber, Not A Drug

Last Updated on September 13, 2022 by Journal Fact

Although there are many similarities between industrial hemp and marijuana, the two forms of the cannabis plant are farmed extremely differently.

When growing hemp for its fiber, farmers often attempt to get the plants as tall as possible rather than spreading them out as is done with medical cannabis; this is because the higher the plant, the better. This is due to the fact that the stalk of the industrial hemp plant contains the majority of its valuable components for use in applications based on fiber. Additionally, industrial hemp is cultivated at a very dense planting density.

Cannabis sativa L., sometimes known as industrial hemp

Hemp used in industry may reach a height of 5 meters and has fibers that are quite long. The stem is composed of an exterior “bark,” also known as bast (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bast) which is utilized in the textile industry, and an interior

substance known as Hurd, which is put to use in a variety of different contexts. The seed, which is more accurately described as a nut, is another very important component of industrial hemp.

Hemp for industrial use is a particularly resilient plant that can thrive in conditions that would cause other crops to perish. It is resistant to periods of drought, heat, and cold, and in many cases, it may be grown without the use of pesticides or other chemicals; yet, it is susceptible to assault by insect pests. It does not need a significant amount of care or a substantial amount of water on a continuous basis. The plant develops extremely rapidly, reaching heights of four meters in only four months of growth.

The Wide Range Of Applications For Industrial Hemp

The plant is simple to manipulate and has the potential to be converted into an incredible variety of products that may then be put to use in a wide variety of contexts, such as the following:

● stock fodder

● animal bedding

● garden mulch

● cords and ropes also known as

● fiberboard

● insulation

● plastics

● a specific kind of concrete (hempcrete)

● clothes and other types of fabrics

● paper

● replenishing soil that has been stripped of its nutrients

● removing harmful substances from polluted soils and water

● food intended for ingestion by humans

● cooking oil

● biofuel

● medications – especially cannabidiol

● cosmetics and care for the skin

● filters for water

As a Potential Ingredient in Food Products, Industrial Hemp

The possibility that hemp may become widely used to feed people is another area that has a lot of promise. Protein, carbs, fiber, vitamins, vital fatty acids, and trace minerals are all found in relatively high concentrations in hemp seed. Visit the hemp collect for more information on the food grade qualities of industrial hemp.

Because hemp seeds may contain up to a third of their weight in oil, this makes them an excellent choice for use as a source of oil for food preparation, lighting, and biofuels. It is also useful to use hemp seed oil in personal care products like soaps, conditioners, and lotions because of its emollient and moisturizing properties.

When Used as Medicine, Hemp

Cannabidiol, which is one of the cannabinoids found in hemp, is an additional highly significant use for hemp in relation to health (CBD). Cannabidiol levels in industrial hemp may be rather high, despite the fact that THC levels in the plant are quite low. Medical treatments based on CBD may one day be useful in the management or perhaps treatment of a wide variety of disabling illnesses.

Due to the fact that the plant has insignificant amounts of THC, this may answer issues that authorities have over the growth of its cousin that contains high quantities of THC. Research is still being conducted, but it is possible that hemp contains additional cannabinoids and terpenes that have medicinal benefits (and picking up pace).

Unjustly Persecuted: The Case of Hemp

Hemp for industrial purposes is one of nature’s wonders, but it has a bad reputation because of its association with marijuana for recreational purposes. The big irony of the industrial hemp legal muddle is that hemp products were frequently not outlawed in nations where production was, thus customers in those countries spent millions importing things that might be created from locally farmed hemp.

Even more confusing were circumstances such as the one in Australia, which allowed the importation of most hemp products until late 2017 but prohibited the importation of hemp seed for consumption. Poppy seeds, on the other hand, could still be obtained at the grocery in the area.

The widespread belief that individuals who cultivate hemp would be able to conceal more powerful marijuana inside it is one of the numerous misconceptions surrounding the legalization of hemp farming. The intoxicating kind, on the other hand, must be given a large amount of area and is simple to harvest.

The alternative argument, which claims that marijuana with a high THC content may pollinate hemp and produce a plant with a greater THC content, is invalid since this does not happen. In point of fact, marijuana with a reduced THC content will arise from cross pollination.

A More Promising Outlook For The Future Of Industrial Hemp

Like with medical cannabis, progressive reforms have allowed industrial hemp to flourish in many nations where it was formerly illegal.

Industrial hemp has the potential to be a lucrative crop for farmers, offering a return that is potentially considerably higher per acre than that of other crops that are more destructive, such as soy. A hemp business that is properly controlled would not only provide employment opportunities, but it will also contribute to the development of an agricultural sector that is less harmful to the environment.