Why Hemp
Traditional Roots
Since many centuries ago, Hemp fiber, seeds, flowers, and stems have played
an important role in historic events around the world.
Columbus, for example, could never have reached America without strong hemp ropes and sails. And throughout history, education in China was fostered using cheap hemp paper to spread information.Alongside bamboo, hemp is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, and It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. Unfortunately, 1937’s anti-drug laws change everything for this traditional and successful industry. although it contains little to no THC, the psychoactive substances present in Cannabis, by its association with the marijuana plant Hemp was basically outlawed for more than 50 years.
What can you do with hemp?
- Bast fibers can be used to make textiles that either 100% hemp or blended with other fibers like flax, cotton or silk, and even virgin and recycled polyester.
- The inner two fibers of the plant are woodier and have many industrial applications, like mulch, animal bedding, and litter.
- When oxidized, Hemp oil from the seeds becomes solid and can be used to manufacture oil-based paints, moisturizing agent for creams, for cooking, and in plastics.
- Hemp seeds have been used in bird feed mix as well.
- In construction Concrete-like blocks made with hemp and lime have been used as an insulating material for construction.
- In the Automobile industry, A mixture of fiberglass, hemp fiber, kenaf, and flax has been used since 2002 to make composite panels for cars.
- Sometimes called “hempoline”, biodiesel can be made from the oils in hemp seeds and stalks. Alcohol fuel like ethanol can also be made by fermenting the whole plant.
The Future of Hemp is Now
Today we are seeing a definitive change in the tides. Old laws have been abolished and new ones have been made to promote and support the Hemp industry once again, turning Marijuana’s “sober cousin” into a real industrial revolution.
Currently, America imports most of its hemp seed and hemp oil from China and Canada. By 2011, the U.S. imported $11.5 million worth of hemp products. But now that laws against industrial hemp have changed, especially in Texas, the country can develop a whole new powerful and sustainable industry, create hundreds of domestic jobs, and capitalize on a potential industrial hemp market of almost $500 million per year.