Cannabis & Hemp: The Wonder Plant
The issues regarding the debate over the legalization of marijuana are well known. What is less known, however, is that both hemp and marijuana are a product of the same species of plant, the Cannabis Sativa. In the U.S. it is currently illegal in many states to grow any form of cannabis (including hemp), yet the U.K. allows the growing of hemp in certain circumstances. Although facts about hemp and its relation to marijuana are often misunderstood, it is produced widely throughout the world; France produces around 70% of the world’s hemp output, China around 24% and over 30 other countries around the world grow and sell industrial hemp. However, the illegality of marijuana in many countries worldwide has obviously affected perceptions of hemp, as they both originate from the same species of the cannabis plant. The bold claims of activists suggesting the world-changing benefits of hemp have left some critical about the actual proven benefits of the product. Hemp however does have some well-documented properties that could make it a very useful product in areas such as health, sustainable industrial materials and agriculture in future.
Hemp and marijuana have some fundamental differences. Historically, cannabis has been grown for centuries to be used in both medical and other commercial circumstances. However, the conditions of growing hemp vs. marijuana differ. While great attention is paid to medical marijuana regarding its temperature, light conditions, CO2 and oxygen levels, hemp is grown outside with far less attention paid to individual plants. Hemp has a wide variety of uses: in textiles, as an oil, to make paper, construction materials and rope. The variety of the cannabis sativa plant that is used for marijuana has also been said to have great medical benefits, including reducing epileptic seizures and relieving vomiting during chemotherapy, however, there is currently a lack of research to support this.
The main difference between hemp and marijuana lies in the levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is psychoactive, i.e. it makes you feel high. In hemp the levels of THC are far lower than in marijuana. Hemp also produces more CBD than THC while marijuana produces more THC than CBD; this is the greatest distinction used to separate the two. The higher levels of CBD also reduce the effects of THC, thus reducing the THC levels further in hemp. This chemical balance shows insight into how closely linked these two products are. A further example is shown through the legalities of hemp and marijuana in Canada. Canadian law specifies that the THC content in hemp cannot exceed 0.3%, any higher than this and the cannabis plant is considered marijuana. To put this in context medical marijuana can have a THC content of between 5-20%, with prize strains at 25-30% [1].
Hemp also has many other uses that separate it from marijuana. Historically hemp has been used to make paper and can be usefully recycled up to four times as much as wood pulp. With the current high rate of deforestation, the use of wood pulp to create 95% of paper is not an environmentally sustainable resource. An additional benefit of hemp is that it does not usually require herbicides or pesticides to grow; it can survive organically pretty much anywhere. However, hemp is said to be highly labour intensive which has led to higher prices, 6 times the cost of wood pulp [2]. According to researchers at Nova Institute, an ecology R&D group based in Germany, hemp’s high shading capacity can keep weeds at bay while limiting the presence of fungi and nematodes (parasites of which there are 1 million species, they make up about 90% of all animals on the ocean floor). A rotation of hemp in wheat fields was seen to increase yields by 10-20% and it is said to grow in even the most hostile soils, such as those contaminated by heavy metals[3].
Hemp is also useful in clothing, seed and oil forms. Compared to cotton, hemp requires half the amount of water to grow; it can be dyed naturally due to the ability to remove fibres from the stem of the hemp plant, and contains a lot more fibre per acre, making the material stronger[4]. Hemp seeds and oil are rich in protein, omega 3, 6 and insoluble fibre; they are also said to increase immunity and improve cardiovascular health and the maintenance of hormonal balance[5].
Despite it’s great qualities, hemp has not always been first choice when it came to industrial materials. Throughout the 20th Century demand for hemp fell as buyers looked for cheaper options, such as artificial fibres. As environmental concerns rise, the eco-friendly and sustainable nature of hemp cannot be overlooked. With laws and understandings of the cannabis plant slowly changing worldwide, the hemp market will no doubt flourish with renewed understandings of the plant’s attributes. Even though hemp remains illegal in the majority of U.S. states, the growing of hemp, primarily for research purposes, is legal in Kentucky, Colorado, Vermont, Oregon and Tennessee. A large number of hemp products are already imported into The U.S., and as hemp advocates in North America continue to fight for outright legalisation we could see a change of laws regarding hemp in the near future. However, the many outspoken supporters of hemp have been known to make bold claims that cannot always be backed up by hard evidence, sometimes having negative effects on understandings of the benefits of hemp. Hemp may not be a miracle plant but there is no doubt that further research and accessibility to this product could have very positive effects in future, especially regarding its eco-friendly, sustainable nature and its many different uses.
[1] Levity, J. (2014) 5 differences between Hemp and marijuana. Available at: http://www.leafscience.com/2014/09/16/5-differences-hemp-marijuana/ (Accessed: 27 October 2016).
[2] Mitchell, D. (2013) Why legalized Hemp will not be a miracle crop. Available at: http://modernfarmer.com/2013/10/legal-industrial-hemp-wont-matter/ (Accessed: 28 October 2016).
[3] EcoWatch (2015) 4 best reasons to legalize Hemp. Available at: http://www.ecowatch.com/4-best-reasons-to-legalize-hemp-1882033886.html(Accessed: 27 October 2016).
[4] Martino, J. (2016) Hemp vs cotton: The ultimate showdown. Available at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/17/hemp-vs-cotton-the-ultimate-showdown/ (Accessed: 27 October 2016).
[5] Editors, T.L.Z. (2016) 9 health benefits of Hemp oil that you should know. Available at: https://www.zliving.com/wellness/natural-remedies/9-health-benefits-of-hemp-oil-that-you-should-know (Accessed: 27 October 2016).