Whats hemp
Hemp , Cannabis sativa , also called industrial hemp , plant of the family Cannabaceae cultivated for its fibre bast fibre or its edible seeds. Hemp is sometimes confused with the cannabis plants that serve as sources of the drug marijuana and the drug preparation hashish. Although all three products—hemp, marijuana, and hashish—contain tetrahydrocannabinol THC , a compound that produces psychoactive effects in humans, the variety of cannabis cultivated for hemp has only small amounts of THC relative to that grown for the production of marijuana or hashish. The hemp plant is a stout, aromatic, erect annual herb.
What’s the Difference Between CBD and Hemp?
Hemp , Cannabis sativa , also called industrial hemp , plant of the family Cannabaceae cultivated for its fibre bast fibre or its edible seeds. Hemp is sometimes confused with the cannabis plants that serve as sources of the drug marijuana and the drug preparation hashish. Although all three products—hemp, marijuana, and hashish—contain tetrahydrocannabinol THC , a compound that produces psychoactive effects in humans, the variety of cannabis cultivated for hemp has only small amounts of THC relative to that grown for the production of marijuana or hashish.
The hemp plant is a stout, aromatic, erect annual herb. The slender canelike stalks are hollow except at the tip and base. The leaves are compound with palmate shape, and the flowers are small and greenish yellow. Seed-producing flowers form elongate, spikelike clusters growing on the pistillate, or female, plants. Pollen-producing flowers form many-branched clusters on staminate, or male, plants.
Hemp originated in Central Asia. Hemp cultivation for fibre was recorded in China as early as bce and was practiced in the Mediterranean countries of Europe early in the Christian era, spreading throughout the rest of Europe during the Middle Ages. It was planted in Chile in the s and a century later in North America. Hemp is grown in temperate zones as an annual cultivated from seed and can reach a height of up to 5 metres 16 feet.
Crops grow best in sandy loam with good drainage and require average monthly rainfall of at least 65 mm 2. Crops cultivated for fibre are densely sowed and produce plants averaging 2—3 metres 6—10 feet tall with almost no branching.
Plants grown for oilseed are planted farther apart and are shorter and many-branched. In fibre production, maximum yield and quality are obtained by harvesting soon after the plants reach maturity, indicated by the full blossoms and freely shedding pollen of the male plants. Although sometimes pulled up by hand, plants are more often cut off about 2. Fibres are obtained by subjecting the stalks to a series of operations—including retting , drying, and crushing—and a shaking process that completes separation from the woody portion, releasing the long, fairly straight fibre, or line.
The fibre strands, usually over 1. The fibre, longer and less flexible than flax , is usually yellowish, greenish, or a dark brown or gray and, because it is not easily bleached to sufficiently light shades, is rarely dyed. It is strong and durable and is used for cordage —e. In Italy some hemp receives special processing, producing whitish colour and attractive lustre, and is used to make fabric similar to linen. Hemp fibre is also used to make bioplastics that can be recyclable and biodegradable, depending on the formulation.
The edible seeds contain about 30 percent oil and are a source of protein , fibre , and magnesium. Shelled hemp seeds, sometimes called hemp hearts, are sold as a health food and may be eaten raw; they are commonly sprinkled on salads or blended with fruit smoothies.
Hemp seed milk is used as an alternative to dairy milk in drinks and recipes. The oil obtained from hemp seed can be used to make paints, varnishes, soaps, and edible oil with a low smoke point. Article Media. Info Print Print. Table Of Contents. Submit Feedback. Thank you for your feedback. Introduction Physical description Cultivation and processing Products and uses Other hemps.
Hemp plant. See Article History. Alternative Titles: Cannabis sativa, Indian hemp, industrial hemp. Read More on This Topic. Probably the most widespread plant having psychedelic properties and used in cults is Indian hemp, Cannabis sativa, which grows all…. Get exclusive access to content from our First Edition with your subscription. Subscribe today. Learn More in these related Britannica articles: drug cult: Hemp, mushrooms, cacti, and their derivatives.
Probably the most widespread plant having psychedelic properties and used in cults is Indian hemp, Cannabis sativa , which grows all over the world except in very cold climates. It is used in religious practices in India and Africa and…. Flax, hemp, jute, and kenaf are characterized by a high proportion of long, flexible bast fibres that are readily separated and purified from the other materials in the plant.
Consequently, such fibres have long been used for textiles and rope making. Most of this fibre reaching…. Hemp , one of the most ancient plants domesticated in India, is an example of a multipurpose plant: oil is obtained from its seeds, fibres from its stalk, and the narcotic hashish from its flowers and leaves. History at your fingertips. Sign up here to see what happened On This Day , every day in your inbox! Email address. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.
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Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown Yet, consider the possibility that there was a way to deal with deliver the greater part of what we utilize causes a negative greenhouse impact. “Hemp” is another name for the Cannabis sativa plant and its products. This same species of plant is also called marijuana. Is hemp the same.
The marijuana plant has many uses apart from drug use. Hemp has as low as 0. In fact, hemp produces a cannabinoid called CBD.
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Hemp actually refers to the industrial variant which is cultivated for its fiber, hurd, and seeds, as well as the other natural healing compounds found in its leaves. The seed is mainly used in dietary products. Hemp seeds are typically hulled and use in variety of ways.
What’s the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?
Hemp , or industrial hemp , is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. Although cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol THC , they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content. In those languages "hemp" can refer to either industrial fiber hemp or narcotic cannabis strains. Hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel. The inner two fibers of the plant are woodier and typically have industrial applications, such as mulch, animal bedding, and litter.
Hemp 101: What Is Hemp, What’s It Used for, and Why Is It Illegal?
You might know that the Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp, which effectively legalized CBD, too. Although cannabis the drug and industrial hemp both derive from cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol THC , they are distinct strains with unique compositions and uses. In short, neither hemp nor CBD will get you high. Hemp has been grown for thousands of years in Asia and the Middle East, but it also has a history in the U. For example, hemp was used by the U. These days, hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, paper, insulation and biofuel. Plus, hemp seeds can be eaten raw or made into a liquid and used for baking or for beverages such as hemp milk. They can also be made into oil for shampoo, soap or body lotion. The Farm Bill changed hemp from a controlled substance to an agricultural commodity, legalizing hemp federally, which made it easier for farmers to get production licenses, loans to grow hemp and federal crop insurance. CBD oil, for example, is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.
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Although hemp and marijuana are both classified biologically as cannabis, there are a number of important differences between them. These differences are evident in the way each variety is used. The differences are also documented in the language, laws, and regulations that apply to both. We break down the anatomy, history, use, and legality of the hemp plant to get to the heart of not only what distinguishes it from marijuana, but also what makes it such a viable, versatile commodity.
Hemp vs Marijuana: Is There a Difference?
February 15, There's been a lot of discussion about hemp recently, since the Farm Bill made it legal for farmers to grow industrial hemp for the first time since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act or, practically speaking, since the Marihuana Tax Act. There are still quite a few restrictions and regulations associated with growing hemp, but the fact that hemp is now legal — while marijuana is not — has raised a lot of questions. That puts us in a position to help answer some of the most common hemp questions. Hemp and marijuana are, taxonomically speaking, the same plant; they are different names for the same genus Cannabis and species. By comparison, marijuana typically contains 5 to 20 percent THC. You can't get high on hemp. In other words, Cannabis plants with 0. Cannabis plants with more than 0. In North Carolina, licenses must be approved by the state's Industrial Hemp Commission, which is affiliated with the N.
What Farmers Need to Know About Growing Hemp
Farmers have a lot of questions about hemp, so we asked expert Michael Bowman, founding chair of the National Hemp Association, to answer a few. MB: Hemp was poised to be a billion-dollar crop in the s with Henry Ford a big supporter, but the Marijuana Tax Act of killed the growth of the industry. We had a brief respite during WWII with the Hemp for Victory campaign, in which we grew hundreds of thousands of acres in six Midwestern states, but the tax was reenacted after the war. Then in , President Nixon included hemp in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act as his middle finger to the anti-war people. MB: In , on the heels of Colorado being the first state to legalize industrial hemp, I wrote the language for Section of the Farm Bill, a provision that grants U. MB: Production in will be limited by seed supply, but we could see , to , acres.
