WHY not HEMP

03 Jun WHY not HEMP

You can eat it, weave it into durable fabric, make it into oil, and create wax, resin, rope, cloth, pulp, and fuel. So why aren’t we using more of this stuff?

Most Hemp advocates are pretty much assuming that the Governments of the world find it just a little too close to its sister strain, ‘Marijuana’. While both Hemp and Marijuana come from the same plant, Cannabis sativa L., they are scientifically different, and cultivated in different ways.

Marijuana has a high THC content (the chemical that will induce a psychoactive effect) found in its flower. The illegal drug is cultivated to have a THC level of anywhere between 3 – 22 percent.

Hemp, on the other hand is cultivated with a low THC level (less than 1 percent), grown only for its seeds, oil and fibre.

AS A FOOD:

Hemp seeds are 33 percent easily digestible plant protein, and two tablespoons serve up a whopping eleven grams of protein! Loaded with the perfect ratio of omega-3 fats and the beauty minerals magnesium, zinc, iron and phosphorus, these little seeds are perfect little gifts of nutrition from nature. From Kimberley Snyder

Check out this recipe here

AS A FIBRE:

Hemp fiber was widely used throughout history. Items ranging from rope, to fabrics, to industrial materials were made from hemp fiber. Hemp was often used to make sail canvas, and the word canvas derives from cannabis. Today, a modest hemp fabric industry exists, and hemp fibers can be used in clothing.Pure hemp has a texture similar to linen.

Hemp can also be used for the following:  building materials, plastic, paper, jewellery, cordage, animal bedding, water and soil purification, weed control, and fuel. Apparently in Australia, hemp seeds can only be sold legally for pet food (what the?), although most health food stores still sell the product. 

Let’s hope that Hemp gets a fair go in the future, and not just put into the “hippies only” basket.