Hemp is one of the world’s oldest domesticated crops and has been used in industry for thousands of years. Interestingly, the world’s oldest relic of human industry is a scrap of hemp fabric – according to Columbia History of the World. Hemp is one of the non-psychoactive varieties of Cannabis sativa and comes from the same family as marijuana through genetically different. These varieties have other differences too when it comes to chemical makeup, cultivation methods, and use.
Hemp is actually an extremely useful product
Hemp is actually an extremely useful commodity as it can be incorporated into many different products. Its seeds and flowers can and have been used in a multitude of different foods because the seeds contain lots of different types of essential proteins, and cosmetics – because hemp has incredible moisturizing properties - to name a few. fibers and stalks of the plant can even be used to make clothing, construction materials, biofuel, and paper.
For farmers, hemp is very attractive because it breathes in CO2 and detoxifies the soil – this prevents soil erosion. What is left after harvest is broken down naturally, providing valuable nourishment to the soil which benefits future crops. For smokers though, hemp isn’t going to provide what you need. Hemp can do plenty, but it can’t get you high because it contains almost no THC.
Hemp is currently illegal in most parts of the world because producing it technically defies laws in place which prohibit the cultivation of cannabis, but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t being used in many places, or that the market won’t grow in the future. This is because it is very environmentally friendly and also beneficial from an economic standpoint as hemp can be used in place of cotton as well as in place of different, much more harmful fuels. Using hemp as a textile is actually incredibly popular in China, a place where it has been used to make fabric and rope for almost 3000 years. In fact, it was even used in the 70s for military uniforms because of how comfortable it is. Today, according to the morning post, China holds at least half of the world’s help-related patents.
China holds at least half of the world’s help-related patents
It’s clear that hemp has a myriad of uses and can benefit any number of people. Hopefully, laws are changed sooner rather than later so that hemp can be used as a suitable alternative to a whole variety of things.
