Thanks to the Agricultural Act of 2018 removing hemp from the list of controlled substances, hemp has once again been allowed opportunities to not only be researched for therapeutic and medicinal qualities, but also as a lucrative crop for farmers across the country.
At its core, the push to legalize hemp came from the need to create large scale hemp farms across the country after the recent slump of the tobacco industry. Many farmers and community leaders realized the potential of hemp farming and how easily they could convert their tobacco farms into hemp farms. The possibilities of what can be done with this plant are incredible. Even those who have never farmed before are gaining interest in the industry. With it’s multitudes of uses, it really opens up possibilities to potential hemp farmers interested in using this ancient plant for modern purposes.
There are different options on how to grow hemp. While many farmers choose to grow outdoors on traditional farms, many are choosing to grow indoors using greenhouses. So which is better in the long run? As with most things, it depends on each individual purpose.
The Basics
Even if the hemp growers eventually plan to move the plants outside, there are many benefits that come with starting the growth inside a greenhouse. When plants are started indoors they are more likely to properly germinate and root, meaning for stronger and healthier plants once they are moved outdoors. While the overall cost to start plants indoors before moving them outdoors is higher, the benefits far outweigh that one negative. In the end growers may even find they are saving time and money by concentrating on greenhouse seedling starts before starting an outdoor crop.
However, when grown entirely indoors farmers are given more options when it comes to the growth cycle of their hemp plants. One of the biggest benefits is controlling the time it takes to sow the seed and when that process happens. When growing outdoors, the time to do that is based on weather patterns and seasonal changes. When growing indoors, the schedule belongs to the growers instead of mother nature. Ultimately this can save weeks on each season when they plant seedlings or clones indoors rather than out. When hemp is planted outdoors, growers must adhere to a somewhat strict schedule in order to ensure that they don’t plant too early, which could mean the hemp would flower too early, degrading the crop.
Growing hemp in a greenhouse also allows more control over the kind of crop being cultivated. When the plants are controlled indoors it’s easier to determine the sex of each, decreasing the odds that male plants will find their way into that year’s crop, potentially ruining it.
Growing young plants indoors can also be a tricky process, so many growers choose to specialize in doing just that and focus on selling these young seedlings to other growers who either don’t have the resources to start their own plants indoors, or would rather leave it to someone else so they can concentrate on their outdoor crop. Either way, the process works out well for both types of growers, since they are able to help each other out with a common goal and business.
Greenhouses Moving to Hemp
The process of growing seedlings is called propagation, and experienced propagators can actually help farmers maximize their quality of plants by providing them with improved germination rates and consistent rooted cuttings with controlled growth by temperature and light acclimatizing them to outdoor growth before ever making it to their final farm for outdoor planting.
This process saves the farmer production costs and risks associated with propagating on their own. It’s not uncommon for entire crops to be ruined by a single dry period that causes premature flowering or genetic issues down the road.
With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, many commercial greenhouse growers specializing in ornamentals or vegetable industries are making the transition into hemp. This can be especially beneficial to new hemp farmers because many of these established greenhouses have years of experience and know how to produce healthy seedlings. Having those experienced greenhouse operators available to them will really give the hemp industry the boost it needs as a relatively new and growing corner of the industry.
The Cost Difference
As a young industry, hemp growers have already faced some challenges. There were some years where seeds proved themselves unreliable, but now that it’s gained some traction, hemp growers are finally getting the higher quality plants they need to boost their production and overall quality. Of course, higher quality generally means higher cost, and that goes for hemp cultivation as well.
As the industry grows and demand increases, growers will find themselves faced with acknowledging the benefits of guaranteed quality and stability. Even though this will often come at a higher price to them, it also means there is always a support system in place to make sure they are taken care of if something goes wrong. When running any kind of business, that type of assurance is necessary.
What This Means
Even though hemp has been around for centuries, in its current iteration it’s only been legal for a small amount of time. The processes are being learned and the industry is growing. With growth comes new knowledge and of course growing pains. Having the option to start plants in a greenhouse will give growers the peace of mind knowing that their plants start out healthy and established for healthy growth. These strict greenhouse starts ensure the plant is consistent, uniform, and will be expected to to perform within specific parameters guaranteed to give growers optimal results. Having that predictability is essential for profits, as well as for allowing for appropriate planning and organization of the crop to ensure the highest quality product possible after cultivation.
While the upfront cost may be slightly higher than it would be otherwise, the benefits are well worth it, especially in a new industry like hemp cultivation. This industry may be seeing many newcomers, many without extensive propagation or farming experience. Leaving that part up the experts will help these new growers learn as they build their business, ultimately providing excellent skills to the grower and high quality results to the consumers.
Conclusion
The farm bill legalized the cultivation of hemp, but it is still a highly regulated industry and individuals are not allowed to grow plants at home. Hemp can only be grown on registered farms and is federally monitored for cultivation and production. It is legal to transport across state lines for both commercial and personal use, just as long as those hemp products are produced in a manner consistent with the law. Since the process is still so new, there are going to be speedbumps and parts of the process that need a more detailed look. Farmers and the government are doing their best to work with each other to make the coming years as problem-free as possible for a brand new and booming industry.
The 2018 Farm Bill gave hemp the comeback it deserved. The new bill established federal regulation of hemp and legalized it nationally for commercial cultivation, removing hemp and hemp seeds from the DEA schedule of Controlled Substances where it had been listed alongside marijuana. The bill made hemp eligible for crop insurance and allowed for hemp to be moved across state lines. In short, it opened up the opportunity for hemp to be the strong agricultural product it was centuries ago.
This promising new bill has made hemp especially interesting to existing farmers and to those looking to get into cannabis or agricultural farming. It’s a brand new industry with almost limitless possibilities for the future, yet also one that has lots of history and stories of both success and failure. One thing is for sure, hemp is on the tip of everyone’s tongues and it’s quickly finding its place in the world of American agriculture.
A Brief History of Hemp
For centuries hemp was successfully harvested for its fiber, seeds, and flowers. Hailed as a plant with endless possibilities, hemp fiber can produce textiles, rope, clothes, paper, plastic composites, building construction materials, animal bedding, food, drinks, and agricultural supplies.
Hemp seeds can produce a number of items, including food, edible oil, personal care products, and industrial fluids. Hemp seed is often used for essential oils, pesticides, livestock feed, bird seed, and amazingly as fuel for cars and for bioremediation of soil containing heavy metals.
Hemp is one of earliest plants to be cultivated in the world and was a popular crop in early American history. Seeds arrived with the Puritans for the purpose of planting to cultivate strong hemp crops to use as they built up their settlements and repaired ships. Shortly thereafter, the British colonies in America were legally required to grow hemp as it was found to be particularly useful in maritime endeavours, largely because of its natural decay resistance and how easily it adapts to cultivation.
Even after the American Revolution, hemp continued to be an important part of daily life. Farmers felt it was their patriotic duty to grow hemp and were even allowed to pay their taxes with it. George Washington advocated for hemp and praised its usefulness in making rope and fabric, and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and eventually improved on hemp varieties.
Hemp was a flourishing crop in America, however between the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and the popularity of synthetic fibers in the following years, hemp saw a dramatic decrease in popularity and the industry soon found itself in decline. In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act essentially ended the hemp industry in the United States by banning cannabis of any kind, including hemp.
The Process
Growing hemp is not as easy as following a list of instructions, unfortunately. Every grower uses a different method, often based on what type of function they need the hemp to perform and how well the plant grows in their local climate. Some farmers grow for hemp fibre, while some grow for CBD. The key is first determining what the end goal of the hemp plant will be.
Planting
Which month the farmer chooses to plant will very much depend on the climate of their farm and the local weather patterns, but overall most planting happens at the end of May or the beginning of June. Hemp is usually planted into rows on flat ground, with somewhere between 1,500-4,000 plants per acre.
Growing
After the plants are in the ground, the farmer must ensure that the hemp has adequate water reaching its roots. This is where it can get tricky. Hemp prefers hot and sunny weather, so it doesn’t like its roots to stay moist. This means a drip irrigation system like what is used for crops such as corn or beans just won’t work well for hemp. Instead, the soil must be allowed to become completely depleted of moisture before more is added. Using this process will help keep the plant healthy and pests and disease away.
Once hemp starts growing, options for treating the plant are extremely limited. Hemp growers don’t use herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides on their plants, so tending the plants is all done naturally or by hand. Even weeding must be done by hand. The key for growers is to do their best to avoid any issues beforehand, because once a problem presents itself there is very little chance of doing anything but just sitting back and waiting to see what happens.
The first 60 days of the grow cycle are impressive for hemp plants. They can grow as tall as 6’ and as wide as 5’ in a short amount of time. Soon after, the plants will reach sexual maturity and farmers growing for CBD must once again be alert to what is happening in their crop and ready to remove any male plants before they pollinate the area. CBD production comes only from the flower and biomass of female plants, so even one male plant in the field can trigger seed production in the females and decrease the number of flowers it produces and the overall concentration of CBD.
Harvesting
After just 100-120 days, the plants are ready to harvest. Because hemp is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and cannot legally contain more than 0.3% THC, the USDA must see test results from the growers that proves the THC in their plants falls below those levels before they are allowed to harvest. Once that test clears the regulatory process, the growers are free to move forward and harvest their crop.
Harvesting takes time and patience. Since this industry is new, there are little to no standards for the harvesting process. Harvesting time on a farm with hundreds of acres can take anywhere from 5-7 weeks and is done in a way that is often planned as the crop is being pulled.
As time progresses and the industry grows, as will the standards for harvesting. Being a brand new industry, the logistics are still being figured out, but with so many bright entrepreneurs in the game it won’t take long for the industry to find its process.
Drying
As the crops are cut from the field, they are brought down in wagons or trailers and hauled indoors for drying. Dying is another area where the process will vary greatly from grower to grower. Some choose to grow on a warehouse floor, or in tobacco barns or sheds. Some use dehumidifiers, fans, or mechanical dryers. The choices are many and overall up to the growers and the climate they live in and facilities they have available.
As long as weather cooperates, plants can be done drying in about two weeks. After they are fully dried, they are stripped of all green material and put through a hammer mill, which is a machine used to crush material into smaller pieces using the repeated blow of small hammers inside the machine. From there, the materials can be used for the CBD extraction process.
The Risks
Hemp is a young industry with a turbulent past. While the future looks incredibly bright for it, it is still in its beginning stages and anyone joining the industry now can expect some ups and downs while it gets established. For instance, hemp grown for CBD is a young crop and prices for the plant can and do change by the month, and sometimes by the week. Eventually this may level out, but while the industry finds its feet hemp growers can expect a lot of unknown.
The best way to mitigate risk is to start small. Instead of buying up hundreds of acres of farmland to cultivate hemp, just start with a few acres. Use that as a starting point to get an idea of how the process works, how it would be able to scale, and what kind of profit to expect. It’s also a great opportunity to find a processor who is reliable, knowledgeable, and timely in their work. This is often an aspect of the process that growers overlook, but one that can make or break their business.
While the risks are many, the rewards can be equal. Not only is the industry blooming, it’s also a product that is doing actual good for the people and the environment.
The 2018 Farm Bill, or Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was a huge turning point for the hemp industry in the United States. The bill established a hemp regulatory system under the US Department of Agriculture. For hemp farmers and the industry as a whole, this opened up opportunities for individuals to start growing industrial hemp to sell commercially. The regulations set in place are meant to oversee the cultivation, processing, and marketing of hemp products in the wake of CBD’s increasing popularity, along with other increasingly popular hemp items.
Under the Farm Bill, hemp is now eligible for federal crop assistance in times of need, and also allows hemp and hemp-derived products to cross state lines as long as the hemp was farmed legally under the USDA restrictions.
The 2018 Farm Bill also removed hemp and hemp seeds from the schedule of controlled substances, legalizing it federally. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had previously listed hemp along with marijuana as a schedule 1 narcotic. An important rule of the new hemp regulatory restrictions requires hemp to be analyzed and certified as having less than 0.3% total THC on a dry weight basis in the product. THC is the cannabinoid that holds all the psychoactive properties of cannabis, so by limiting this compound the intoxicating effects will also be stifled.
Current Testing Regulations
Because the Farm Bill legally restricts hemp THC values to less than 0.3%, hemp farmers must have their products analyzed by accredited laboratories to ensure those numbers are factual and that no products that could potentially cause intoxication are sent out to consumers. Since the Farm Bill was passed, farmers have been using local laboratories to run these analyses and produce Certificates of Analysis (COA) to prove their products follow the necessary guidelines.
Hemp farmers are also required to dispose of any product that tests higher than 0.3% THC. While the farmers specifically cultivate their crop to stay below this limit, there is a chance that weather conditions or other factors could affect the THC level in hemp, thereby creating hemp products that have an illegal level of THC. When that happens, the farm must properly dispose of the product to make sure it is not ingested. Currently farmers may use the following methods of disposal, which are considered legal and compliant by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):
Plowing Under – this method rotates the soil and buries the crop underneath.
Mulching or Composting – this involves cutting the crop and then blending it with manure or another biomass material and leaving it to decompose naturally.
Disking – named after the attachment used on the tractor, this method levels the field and destroys the crop, leaving it there to feed the soil below.
Bush Mower or Chopper – this process uses a commercial lawn mower to shred and mix the crop.
Deep Burial – fields would be trenched and the crop and surface soil are buried at least 12” underneath.
Burning – this process involves using a controlled fire to burn the field or a pile of crops.
Proposed Regulations
In October 2019 the USDA published an interim final rule (IFR) that upset the hemp industry; the new rule requires hemp producers to only use laboratory testing facilities that are registered with the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The rule also requires hemp production facilities to dispose of non-compliant plants by using a DEA-registered reverse distributor or law enforcement rather than the methods they’d previously been using for disposal.
The hemp industry immediately cried out with widespread criticism of the new rule. The main concerns being the likelihood of bottlenecks causing dramatic delays as hemp producers from all over the country were forced to send their product samples to only a small number of approved laboratories. These DEA approved laboratories are often located in a different state than the hemp farm, sometimes as far as two states away. With specific deadlines for sample testing and a high risk of backlog at each laboratory, hemp farmers predicted a catastrophic result.
The potential risks included not only the delays and supply interruptions for current farms, but also made entering the industry more difficult in general. If entry is seen as too risky, fewer entrepreneurs and agricultural professionals will choose to enter the market, one that is potentially very lucrative for individual business owners and the country as a whole.
Currently there are only 47 laboratories in the United States registered with the DEA, with many states not having a registered testing facility at all. This would mean law enforcement agents would be responsible for moving these products over state lines within 15 days to get them to the DEA registered labs for testing.
Another concern caused by the new rule is in regards to the disposal limitations. Again, just like with the DEA-registered laboratories, using only the limited number of DEA reverse distributors or law enforcement will not only delay the disposal process, it also adds a substantial cost to the farmer and government entities.
With the entire industry crying out that the timing wasn’t right, the USDA decided to delay its new rule. Stating that they fully understood the potential problems that could come with running a high volume of samples out of a small number of laboratories, they decided to postpone this decision in order to allow more labs in more states to get registered with the DEA in anticipation of the booming industry and future regulation restrictions. In the coming year the DEA will encourage states to work with their laboratories to ensure they are able to get the proper DEA certification for the 2021 crop year.
The USDA also decided to delay the disposal restrictions, allowing farmers to continue using the previously approved on-farm methods that don’t require specially registered facilities or law enforcement. Farmers are still required to document and report their disposed plants by filling out a disposal form and submitting it to the USDA.
Going Forward
While the delay helps hemp farmers this year, there is no guarantee about what will happen next year or the year after that. The USDA has officially put a deadline on the delay of October 31, 2021 or until the final rule is published, whichever comes first. Without knowing what the final rule could entail or even when it will go into effect, hemp industry professionals are doing their best to plan their businesses around whatever regulations might be proposed.
This current iteration of hemp production is very new, after being considered illegal for decades. This means it’s going to take everyone involved an undetermined amount of time to work out how to regulate or restrict this product. This can be nerve-racking for those already inside the new hemp market, or those looking to enter. As with any new industry, if limitations present themselves it can be hard for a business to be successful.
The USDA has stated these steps are temporary while they work to draft a final rule and figure out a way for regular enforcement. And as such, they are planning to reach out again in the fall of 2020 and get more comments from those in the industry about plans for the upcoming year and input about the most recent production season.
While there are sure to be many changes to the industry going forward and the USDA is able to change the testing and sampling requirements as part of their agency power over the regulation of hemp, they are unable to change the other aspects of the rule, such as the 0.3% THC testing limit that came with the 2018 Farm Bill. The only way that number can be changed is by the U.S. Congress.
One thing is for sure, the federal government understands that Americans are interested in hemp products and want to keep consuming them, especially CBD. In a new industry that is already proving extremely popular, the regulators are struggling to keep up pace with the demand while trying to work out the best possible way to manage the industry safely and fairly. This will be a process that takes time and patience from those within the industry and those in the government who are trying to find a way to responsibly regulate it.
For centuries hemp (Cannabis sativa L) has been harvested for its fiber, seeds, and flowers. A plant with seemingly endless possibilities, hemp fiber can produce textiles, rope, clothes, paper, plastic composites, building construction materials, animal bedding, food, drinks, and agricultural supplies.
Origins
It’s commonly believed that hemp is one of earliest plants to be cultivated in Asia, where it is believed to have originated. Recent analysis of fossil pollen has suggested that cannabis specifically originated high on the Tibetain Plateau. For years researchers have concluded the plant evolved out of Asia, but they were unable to pinpoint a more exact location as there isn’t much of a cannabis presence in fossil impressions left behind in rocks. Scientists did, however, have plenty of data on fossil pollen. After narrowing down the fossil pollen locations to those in treeless habitats, researchers were able to conclude that the earliest cannabis fossil pollen was 19.6 million years old and came from northwestern China. Scientists noted, however, that cannabislikely split from the Humulus genus (the genus responsible for the hops used in beer) at some point around 28 million years ago, so there is a chance it originated somewhere else while still a part of that plant family [1].
Movement
First most widely used for medicinal and spiritual purposes, hemp quickly spread around the world. With its origins in China, in 2000 B.C. it was brought to South Asia by the Aryan invading forces. Between 2000 B.C. and 1400 B.C. cannabis made its way to the Middle East by a nomadic Indo-European group, who then also took the plant into Russia and Ukraine. Germanic tribes brought cannabis into Germany, and from there it crossed into Britain during the 5th century Anglo-Saxon invasions. Over the following centuries, cannabis moved across the globe, from Africa to South America and eventually North America [2].
Products
Hemp seeds are used for a variety of products including:
Food: Hemp seeds are a nutritious high protein food that can be eaten raw or ground into meal. They are easily liquified for use in baking or for milk substitute products. While not as nutritious or popular as the seeds, hemp leaves can be consumed raw in salads or pressed into juice. Hemp seeds are notably high in fiber, vitamin B, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. They also have an amino acid profile that rivals meat, milk, eggs, and soy.
Fiber: One of its earliest products, hemp fiber has been used throughout history. Hemp fiber was especially useful in the production of rope, fabrics, and canvas for ship sails. With a texture similar to linen, hemp fiber is both durable and comfortable. In modern culture, hemp fiber is popular for clothing, shoes, accessories, and household decor.
Building Materials: Hemp is mixed with lime and manufactured into a concrete-like block and used for building insulation. While not strong enough to support structural elements, hemp has been shown to be as usable as a wood replacement for many types of homes, especially those being built green or needing excellent circulation.
Plastic Materials: By mixing together fiberglass, hemp fiber, kanag, and flax to create a composite, many automobile manufacturers use hemp as a component in automobile panels. Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, and Volkswagen all use hemp in their cars.
Paper: Hemp paper is created by using the pulp obtained from industrial hemp fibers. It is generally used as a speciality paper for things like cigarette paper and banknotes. Hemp paper has a longer fiber than wood paper and a higher tear resistance and tensile strength. It’s production costs run about 4 times higher than wood paper, however, so it is not used for large production products like printing or writing paper.
Biofuels: Hemp seeds and stalks can be used to produce a biodiesel product called hempoline. It’s also possible to ferment the entire plant and create ethanol or methanol alcohol fuel. This fuel can be used to power diesel engines.
Early American Cultivation
American Colonies
British ships never left without a stockpile of hemp seeds and ship captains were ordered to spread hemp seeds widely in order to ensure there was fiber available in any land they may visit in case a ship needed repairs.
Seeds first arrived in the United States with the Puritans for the purpose of planting to cultivate strong hemp crops for use in producing clothes, shoes, ropes, paper, and food. Hemp fiber was found to be particularly useful in maritime endeavours, largely because of how easily it adapts to cultivation and its natural decay resistance. The Mayflower itself was constructed with hemp fiber in its lines, sails, and caulking.
Since all British colonies were legally required to grow hemp, by the mid-1600s it had become a major part of the New England economy and had expanded down to Maryland and Virginia. In the years leading up the Revolutionary War, the colonies were responsible for producing the rope, canvas, cloth, and paper that was sent back to Britain for its use.
American Revolution
After the American Revolution, hemp continued to be an important part of daily life in the young country. In fact, the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper. The first currency in the United States was reportedly printed on hemp paper, as were all sail canvases and much of the clothing. Farmers were told it was their patriotic duty to grow hemp and were allowed to pay their taxes with it. George Washington himself grew hemp and pushed for its growth and praised its usefulness in making rope and fabric. Even Thomas Jefferson grew hemp, eventually improving hemp varieties and inventing a special brake for crushing the stems during fiber processing.
Hemp in the 19th Century
Hemp crops remained popular and over the years spread into the American south. Settlers from Virginia brought the plant to Kentucky and started what would become one of the long-standing hemp states in America. By the late 1800s, however, demand for sailcloth and rope decreased as steam ships became the maritime transport of choice. As the Civil War ended, Kentucky was the only state still producing substantial amounts of hemp.
Hemp in the 20th Century
Early
Hemp had lost some of its popularity from previous centuries, but was still a versatile and flourishing crop in America in the early 20th century. However, in 1937 the United States passed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 which lumped hemp in with marijuana and taxed anyone who dealt commercially in it. This law was a major blow to the hemp industry adding a tax that most farmers simply could not afford to pay.
Added to the sting of the new tax was the increasing popularity of synthetic fibers and new innovations in the timber industry, creating opportunities for cheaper and more efficient paper pulp. Between new increased and often impossible operating costs and reduced popularity nationwide, the hemp industry found itself in decline.
During World War II, however, when supply lines were cut off by Japan, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was temporarily suspended and hemp grown on U.S. soil was used extensively to make uniforms, canvas, and rope for American troops. Hemp had a temporary resurgence as it became renowned as a necessary crop to win the war, but unfortunately after the war ended the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was reinstated and hemp farmers were once again taxed heavily for their crops.
Mid to Late
In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act put the final nail in the coffin of the United States hemp industry by banning cannabis of any kind, including hemp. Under the new law, all cannabis was given a Schedule 1 classification, putting it in the same category as heroin, LSD, and Ecstasy. This classification declared cannabis as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Even though the hemp variety of cannabis had no psychotropic effects, it was still bundled into the cannabis classification with marijuana and outlawed. Hemp remained illegal under the Controlled Substances Act for the remainder of the century.
In 1985 a book called The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer was published after he spent years compiling historical data about cannabis and its use as hemp and as a drug. The book was extremely popular and positioned Jack Herer to be known as the “Emperor of Hemp” as he became a well-known cannabis rights activist.
Hemp in the 21st Century
The Agricultural Act of 2018
The Agricultural Act of 2018, or 2018 farm bill, removed hemp from the Controlled Substances list, allowing more opportunities for hemp to be researched and used for its potential medicinal qualities. The push to legalize hemp came from the need to create large scale hemp farms across the country. With the recent slump of the tobacco industry, many farmers and community leaders again realized the potential of hemp farming and the possibilities of the plant.
While the farm bill does legalize the cultivation of hemp, it is still a tightly regulated industry and individuals are not allowed to grow plants at home. Hemp can only be grown on registered farms and is federally monitored for cultivation and production. It is legal to transport across state lines for both commercial and personal use, just as long as those hemp products are produced in a manner consistent with the law.
2020 and Beyond
Currently, the hemp industry is gaining in popularity as CBD becomes more recognized for its therapeutic benefits and wide array of potential medicinal properties [3]. Since hemp is an excellent source of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids like cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC) it has been the plant of choice for supplying cannabinoid products like CBD oils, tinctures, flowers, and salves. Hemp has also seen a resurgence of interest in industrial applications, textiles, and food, as well as new interest in hemp-derived personal care and supplemental products. As hemp continues to be recognized for its usefulness in our changing world, it’s possible more uses will be found for it in the upcoming years and its popularity will continue to grow.
Hemp is a popular plant for many reasons, one of them being its use as a valuable source of sustainable and renewable resources. It has always been a plant with many uses, but after a surge in popularity in the United States, followed by a dramatic decline and categorization as an illegal substance, all of its benefits haven’t been fully utilized in recent years. That is now changing as laws are reformed and people become aware of its many benefits.
History
Throughout history hemp has been harvested for its bounty of beneficial resources. Hemp is a plant with seemingly endless possibilities, with fiber that can produce textiles, rope, clothes, paper, plastic composites, building construction materials, animal bedding, food, drinks, and agricultural products. Hemp seeds are used to produce food, a variety of oils, personal care products like shampoo or soap, and industrial fluids that can be used for varnishes, sealants, and lubricants. It is even used for essential oils, pesticides, animal feed, bird seed, fuel for cars, and for bioremediation of soil.
Since early in American history, hemp has been one of earliest plants to be cultivated and for centuries was an extremely popular crop. Seeds first arrived in the United States for the purpose of planting in order to breed and maintain strong hemp crops for new settlers. Soon after the original settlers built up their communities, the colonies were required to grow hemp for use in maritime endeavours. Hemp has a natural decay resistance and easily adapts to cultivation, making it a highly desirable crop in those times.
Hemp was a versatile and flourishing crop in America. Unfortunately the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and the rising popularity of synthetic fibers caused a severe decrease in hemp popularity and the industry soon found itself in decline. In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act banned cannabis of any kind, including hemp. This essentially caused the entire industry to grind to a halt and cultivation and production to cease across the country.
Legalization
Between 1970 and 2018 the DEA classified hemp as a schedule 1 drug, on the same list as heroin and marijuana. The Agricultural Act of 2018 removed hemp from that list, allowing more opportunities for hemp to be researched for therapeutic and medicinal qualities.
At the core of it, the push to legalize hemp came from the need to create large scale hemp farms across the country after the recent slump of the tobacco industry. Many farmers and community leaders realized the potential of hemp farming and how easily they could convert their tobacco farms into hemp farms. The possibilities of what can be done with this plant are so incredible, in fact, that even those who have never farmed before are gaining interest in this crop. With it’s multitudes of uses, it really opens up possibilities to potential hemp farmers interested in using this ancient plant for modern purposes.
The farm bill legalized the cultivation of hemp, but it is still a highly regulated industry and individuals are not allowed to grow plants at home. Hemp can only be grown on registered farms and is federally monitored for cultivation and production. It is legal to transport across state lines for both commercial and personal use, just as long as those hemp products are produced in a manner consistent with the law. Since the process is still so new, there are going to be speedbumps and parts of the process that need a more detailed look. Farmers and the government are doing their best to work with each other to make the coming years as problem-free as possible for a brand new and booming industry.
Parts of the Plant
Each part of the hemp plant has a purpose. This means an entire plant can be used leaving no wasted materials behind — a rare occurrence in modern times where we have adopted some very wasteful practices. Let’s discuss in more detail what every part of the plant can be used for:
Seed
After they’re harvested, hemp seeds can be left whole, hulled, or pressed. They contain the most natural amount of fatty acids of any botanical products. Seeds from a hemp plant have what some consider the perfect balance of omega-6 and omega-3, which gives the body the essential nutrients it needs on a daily basis. Hemp seeds are most often used for bread, granola, cereal, milk, protein powder, and as animal food and flour. When pressed, the oil from the hemp seed can be used for fuel, lubricants, ink, varish, paint, dressings, body lotions, and cosmetics.
Stalk
The hemp stalk contains two components that are useful: the fiber and the hurd.
Fiber (or bast fiber) are the long thin fibers that surround the outermost layer of the hemp stalk. This fiber is useful on its own or blended with other fibers and woven into a wide range of products like cloth, rope, canvas, biocomposites, clothes, shoes, and bags. It’s also a highly renewable source of paper; much more renewable than wood paper. Hemp fiber has an advantage over other types of fiber like flax and jute because of its length, strength, and strong antibacterial properties.
Hemp hurd is the hollow and woody inner core section of the stalk. It’s often used for things like biofuel, animal food, insulation, concrete, bedding, and even as a chemical absorbent. Like hemp fiber, hemp hurd has potent antibacterial and absorbency properties.
Even the hemp stalk itself is used for things like biofuel, paper products, cardboard, and filters.
Flower
The buds that form on hemp plants are called flowers. These flower buds are what manufacturers use to create the popular CBD items seen in stores throughout the country. While sometimes the flower is just dried and sold as-is, later being used to smoke or in edible products, they are also used as part of the extraction process used to create CBD oils for tinctures and capsules. The flower of the hemp plant contains many important terpenes, cannabinoids, and amino acids that have been found beneficial in the treatment of a number of conditions plaguing humans and animals.
Leaves and Roots
When the hemp plant is harvested, the leaves and roots are often left in the fields to break down and replenish the soil as they decompose into it. Since the hemp plant itself is so nutrient rich, it feeds those nutrients into the soil as it breaks down, giving the soil the added boost it needs to get ready for the next cycle of crops coming in.
Sustainable Product
As an interesting side note, hemp does not require pesticides, herbicides, or much water to grow. That combined with its ability to self-fertilize the soil it has just grown out of, makes it a very appealing crop for many American farmers. In fact, every product sourced from hemp is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Hemp is one of the planet’s best and most natural ground remediators and has been planted at the Chernobyl site to help clean the radioactive material from the ground.
Other materials like cotton, oil, paper (from wood pulp), and plastic absolutely do not come from renewable or sustainable sources, making hemp a better alternative. Many of the industries for the more popular resources are not only unsustainable, they are downright dangerous to the environment. Many of these industries prioritize profit over environment and in effect overuse and damage the land they produce on.
Future of Hemp
Now that hemp is back in business, the country can expect to see some very interesting things coming to the industry in the future. Even though a form of industrial hemp dates back centuries, after decades of being considered illegal and left with no forward movement, getting a handle on this new section of the business world will take some time for everyone involved. From the government looking to regulate it, to the farmers trying to figure out the best practices for their new business. However, at the core of it is the power of hemp and its ability to be a powerhouse in a number of different categories, one of the most important as a sustainable and renewable resource. Making sure to take advantage of its ability to have every part of the plant used will be the key to watching the industry grow and thrive, and opening up a world of environmental responsibility to future generations.
