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Hemp, or more specifically industrial hemp, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant. Although they belong to the same plant family, it's important to stress that hemp is different from cannabis, commonly known as marijuana.
Once a major crop in the United States, hemp and its cultivation was banned in the 1970s with the rise of the war on illicit substances in the 1970s.
Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the US Domestic Hemp Production Program to stimulate the developing domestic hemp market and incentivize technological growth, as noted by digital climate change platform The Years Project.
The 2018 Farm Bill, however, reclassified hemp, and it is now legal to cultivate and process industrial hemp in all 50 states.
So, what is the hype around hemp, and what can it do for you and the planet?
Hemp is super climate-friendly. It absorbs carbon better than almost any other crop. It does this by reducing carbon emissions through rapid carbon dioxide uptake. Rather than releasing it into the atmosphere, it sequesters it in the soil.
The hemp plant forms deep roots, helping to hold the soil together, thus limiting the effects of soil erosion. Furthermore, the stem and leaves of the hemp plant are rich in nutrients, the beneficial remnants of which remain in the soil after harvesting.
And here's a glowing statistic: according to The Years Project, one acre of hemp can remove 10 tons of carbon from the air—more than the average home emits in a year.
Consider this: the basic building blocks of plastics are cellulose derived from toxic petroleum, a fossil fuel byproduct. But guess what the greatest cellulose producer on Earth is? Yep, it's hemp! And it also happens to be biodegradable.
Man-made waste has contaminated soil across the globe. Fortunately, hemp is extremely efficient at drawing heavy toxic metals from soil. Hemp's ability to do this means the plant can be used very effectively to clean up areas that are contaminated.
Did you know that hemp converts to biodiesel at a 97% efficiency rate? In other words, industrial hemp is a potential source of sustainable diesel fuel. It burns at a lower temperature than any other type of biofuel, and eradicates the exhaust odor of petroleum with the pleasant smell of hemp.
Fabric made from hemp has been manufactured for centuries, and doesn't contain any chemical residue. Hemp fibers are easily removed from the plant and can create clothing, blankets, and other textiles with a zero-chemical footprint.
According to the Hemp Foundation, 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released into the environment because of deforestation. But hemp can easily replace trees as the source of raw material for wood and paper.
The current rate of deforestation equates to a loss of 48 football fields every minute. But this needn't be happening. Hemp's incredible versatility extends to serving as a source of raw material for wood and paper. An here's the thing: one acre of hemp can produce as much paper annually as four acres of trees. Indeed, transitioning to hemp could literally save our trees and, ultimately, our planet.
We mentioned earlier that industrial hemp requires little water. That also means it can help conserve this precious commodity. For example, it can take more than 18,927 liters (5,000 gallons) of water to produce just under a kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, of cotton. By comparison, hemp requires no more than 3,399 liters (898 gallons) of water to produce the same amount of hemp.
Hemp is an ideal plant for maintaining sustainable crop rotation techniques. Each harvest enriches the soil while removing toxins, keeping it nutrient rich and increasing overall yield.
A veritable wonder plant, hemp can be used to build stronger, healthier homes. The use of hempcrete (pictured), a non-toxic and mold-resistant combination of the core of hemp stalks and limestone for binding, results in a soundproofing system and insulation superior to that of concrete.
The devastating effects of air pollution on human health and the environment are well documented. Increasing the use and application of industrial hemp across the world can help alleviate this scourge by breaking down pollutants and improving air quality.
Industrial hemp can be cultivated almost anywhere in the world. According to CBD World News, the top five hemp-producing countries are: China, Canada, the United States, France, and Chile.
According to a 2019 World Food Programme report, there are 821 million people—more than one in nine of the world population—who do not get enough to eat, and the number is growing exponentially. Increasing the global yield of hemp seeds, considered to be one of the most nutritionally dense food sources on the planet, would go a long way in reducing this shameful statistic.
Hemp contains cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical that has been used to treat everything from epilepsy to anxiety.
Hemp oil is known to reduce stress levels, for example. CBD works with the body's endocannabinoid system to activate receptors in the brain, which control things like mood and temperature.
In fact, hemp oil can help with both mental and physical health. Hemp is increasingly popular as a remedy for a range of conditions including skin issues and chronic pain. It may also help reduce inflammation.
And scientific studies are currently underway to determine how effective CBD could be as a treatment for illnesses like Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease.
Sources: (American Farm Bureau Federation) (The Years Project) (HuffPost) (Green Flower) (WayOfLeaf) (Hemp.com) (UConn Today) (Good Hemp) (Hemp Foundation) (Ensia) (World Food Programme) (Medical News Today) (WebMd)
Pictured: a young woman pauses while working on a hemp farm in the 1930s.
Hemp has been harvested for thousands of years. Indeed, the world at large has been enjoying the benefits of hemp for millennia. Depicted are peasants harvesting hemp plants, circa 1853.
Hemp plastic is a viable option. In fact, the use of hemp plastic to reduce the damage caused by regular plastic is a growing trend.
Cannabis has high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that is responsible for the high you get. Hemp describes the edible plant seeds and only contains a trace amount of THC, in fact below a threshold of 0.3%.
Considered a nutritional superfood, hemp seeds supply the body with proteins, vitamins, amino acids, fiber, and much more. Furthermore, hemp seeds can also produce two vital food products—oil and flour.
Hemp is one of the world's oldest crops. A variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use, hemp's beneficial medical applications are well known. It can also be refined into numerous commercial items. But are you aware of all the wonderful ways hemp can actually help the planet, and how it provides solutions to living in harmony with the environment and the ecosystems that support it?
Click through and find out more about the hype around hemp.
The positive impact of hemp on the planet
It offers ways to live in sync with nature
LIFESTYLE Environment
Hemp is one of the world's oldest crops. A variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use, hemp's beneficial medical applications are well known. It can also be refined into numerous commercial items. But are you aware of all the wonderful ways hemp can actually help the planet, and how it provides solutions to living in harmony with the environment and the ecosystems that support it?
Click through and find out more about the hype around hemp.