What is Hemp?

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Let’s be honest: CBD oil is derived from hemp. But we understand how that might be very confusing for you. Over the last 120 years, a lot has been made over this mysterious plant: everything from being beneficial for everyday purposes to its condemnation as an illicit drug.

Do you know the true origin of hemp? Did you also know that hemp is not marijuana? Read on for an interesting look at what is hemp!

The Origins and Rise of Hemp

The many uses of hemp date back almost as long as time. Hemp plants have been cultivated by humanity for over 10,000 years. In fact, hemp was documented as a medicinal plant as far back as 2700 BCE by Chinese emperor Shen Nung.

But its use by humans for its potential benefits is far smaller than its industrial uses. Because hemp creates strong fibers, some of the earliest products were made from this plant. Through the Roman era, hemp plants were cultivated to create many of the things that we take for granted today, including clothing, rope, and even sails.

Today, many nations allow hemp growth for many different reasons. Farmers grow industrial hemp not just for fiber or CBD, but because it’s a great rotational crop. Industrial hemp can restore natural minerals into the soil and can serve as a great cover for fields in harvesting. Bees are also attracted to hemp for its natural sugars, encouraging pollination and honey production wherever it goes.

Industrial hemp also contains cannabidiol, the main cannabinoid found in organic, full spectrum CBD oil. When plants reach maturity, the CBD can be harvested and converted into valuable CBD oil, which peer-reviewed studies suggest could have valuable benefits.

How is Hemp Different Than Marijuana?

Although industrial hemp and marijuana are often confused for one another, these two plants only share one common bond: their genus. Outside of being from the same plant family, hemp and marijuana are grown and harvested for two completely different reasons.

One of the two biggest differentiators between industrial hemp and marijuana is their legality in the United States and around the world. In the United States, industrial hemp can be grown under federal law for research by state departments of agriculture and universities. State law may also encourage industrial hemp growth as a new source of revenue for American farmers. Other parts of the world, including Canada and the European Union, have much more liberal laws.

The second biggest difference between industrial hemp and marijuana is its THC content. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis sativa plants. In marijuana, the THC levels are often concentrated, with certain strands containing much more than others. But in industrial hemp, the THC level has been reduced to nearly zero. As an international standard, industrial hemp contains less than 0.3% THC. Thus, when organic, full spectrum CBD oil is harvested from industrial hemp plants, users get the prospective benefit from all the cannabinoids without getting the “high” sensation.

The Potential Benefits of Hemp

As noted from research, there’s a lot of potential good that can come from growing industrial hemp in the United States. Not only is it a good way for farmers to maintain their fields and ensure long-term sustainability, but there may also be some health benefits as well.

Over the last 20 years, doctors and researchers have focused hours of time studying one of the primary chemical compounds of industrial hemp: cannabidiol. The work has paid off in many different ways. In 2019, the first prescription medication based on cannabidiol – Epidiolex – was allowed on the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although it has only been approved to treat two different kinds of seizures from epilepsy, its approval has opened doors to further research.

Much of that research has been focused on the potential benefits of organic, full spectrum CBD oil for both humans and animals. Researchers at the Colorado State University report some very promising results from using CBD on dogs. In May 2019, their small study on 16 pets showed massive results when using CBD to reduce seizures.

And going back to a 2010 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study – the same kind required in the approval of prescription medication – researchers discovered CBD might be beneficial to those with cancer-related pain. Those that were given full spectrum CBD oil reported improved pain management compared to those taking a placebo or just THC.

By understanding what hemp is and its potential benefit, you can understand its growth across America and its potential for even more. When you buy CBD oil or hemp oil, you’ll see why hemp’s future is bright.

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