Hemp, it’s the future.

Botanically speaking, hemp and marijuana are from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa but unlike marijuana, which contains a high amount of THC, hemp is non psychoactive because it contains less than 0.3% THC, therefore, it can not get you high. It can, however, produce CBD and be grown as a renewable source for raw materials that can be incorporated into thousands of products. According to the National Hemp Association, the hemp industry brings in an estimated $620 million in retail sales annually and is predicted to grow at a rate of 10% each coming year. It is a hardy and pest-resistant plant with a fast-growing rate that can be cultivated practically anywhere.

There are 4 major parts of a hemp plant. Roots, stalks, leaves/flowers, and seeds. Animal bedding, rope, insulation, building materials, textiles, and paper are just a few of the common uses for hemp stalks. Uses for the leaves and flowers range from medicinal to recreational and can be processed into products that range from topical applications to smokable and ingestible. Mulch, compost, and animal bedding are other common uses for these portions of the plant. One of the most common uses for hemp roots is medicinal. For thousands of years, the roots of cannabis plants, both hemp, and marijuana have been used for everything from inflammation to skin burns to treat infections and fever. Seeds are the tiny little multi-purpose swiss army knives of the hemp plant. Rich in nutrients and proteins, the seeds are commonly processed down and placed into health-conscious food ingredients for humans and animals.

Textiles-(Fabric and clothing) – Hemp fabric is anti-microbial, has high tensile strength, breathes better than cotton, and gets softer with ages. Hemp has also been shown to be environmentally friendly. To grow enough cotton to make just one T-shirt, you would need 720 gallons of water. Hemp requires half as much water. Hemp has been called a “carbon sink,” because it can store up to 9.82 tons of carbon dioxide per acre, which greatly offsets the carbon impact of producing hemp fabrics. Hemp is also used to manufacture clothing such as jeans and sports clothing, lingerie and other high fashion apparel.

Paper – one acre of hemp may be able to produce the same amount of paper as 4-10 acres of trees over a 20-year cycle. This is because hemp grows faster at a much faster rate than trees. It will also not yellow over time like the paper we use today does.

Plastic– From straws to shrink wrap, plastic is everywhere in our society; which is unfortunate, because it takes hundreds if not thousands of years to decompose. That’s where hemp can help. It can be created into a biodegradable bioplastic, uses fewer resources than the leading sources for plastic (like cotton), and contains high concentrations of cellulose; which is a critical ingredient in plastic creation. Luxury car companies like Porsche have started to introduce cars with bodies made from hemp-bioplastic.

Construction material- You may not be able to make an entire house of hemp, but you can get close with something called hempcrete. When the inner woody core of hemp plants, known as hemp hurds, is mixed with a binding agent, like lime or clay, it creates a fibrous consistency that has demonstrated to have better ventilation, fire resistance, and temperature regulation properties than traditional masonry blocks and up to 8x lighter. When used as structural support, hempcrete can increase the load strength of a study wall 3-4 times. It is also mold-resistant, carbon-negative, and works as an insulator.

Batteries-Researchers are looking at using hemp as an inexpensive and more efficient component of batteries. A team of scientists at the University of Alberta discovered that the inner woody core of hemp stalks can be reformed into carbon nanomaterials that are used in the creation of supercapacitors. Supercapacitors are essentially batteries that can charge and discharge within a matter of seconds.

Oil-based products- Hemp has an EFA(essential fatty acids)content, which aids in the regeneration of cracked and dry skin and described as the most balanced seed oil, hemp seed oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and all 21 known amino acid(EFA). When used in body oils and lotions it makes a great moisturizer! Hemp can also be made into other oil-based products like oil for candles, lanterns, and paint.

Hemp-based CBD oil- Cannabidiol is legally extracted from industrial hemp plants. It is intended to help maintain general health and wellbeing. It is known to help with stress management, pain management, seizers, reduction of inflammation, and sleep.

Soap-Typically made from hemp seeds, hemp soap is full of polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega 6 and 3. Hemp soap is also full of vitamin E, which may be good for reducing UV damage, and vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant.

Nutrition– Hemp is one of the best sources for plant-based protein. It contains all nine of the essential amino acids humans need to get out of the food we eat.

Milk-Hemp milk is produced from the seeds of the plant. First, the seeds are blended with water, and then the mixture is strained. This process is similar to making nut milk. Hemp milk has an earthy, nutty taste, and many people say that it is surprisingly creamy. Hemp milk is packed with protein and healthy fat, while also being low in calories as well. Hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant often being used in food and as an additive to smoothies, salads, dips, and spreads.

Fuel-Hemp uses includes making fuel such as bio-diesel/fuel. Hemp fuel is a form of cellulosic ethanol which means that the biofuel is made from the fibrous stalks of the hemp.

Through a process called phytoremediation, hemp can decontaminate soil it grows in. The plant draws out harmful heavy metals from the soil. An example of this was hemp was used to decontaminate soil around the Chernobyl disaster. As with all plants, hemp, when growing, will also help reduce the amount of co2 in the atmosphere. We are still in the beginnings of discovering all the possibilities with hemp, and with what we have discovered so far it makes me wonder how much farther ahead we could have been with sustainability if hemp would have never been deemed illegal for its small THC content in the first place, but it is better to look ahead and prepare than look back and regret.