As the industrial hemp industry continues to blossom in the US, questions about hemp abound. From 1937 until 2018, growing hemp was against the law. However, thanks to the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill, there have been numerous changes in how we view hemp. With this in mind, we take a look at 5 of the top questions about cannabis Sativa L. (hemp).
1. What Is the Difference Between Industrial Hemp and Marijuana?
This is the number one question about industrial hemp. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the cannabis Sativa L. (hemp) plant is not the same as the cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant. While they may be part of the same family, they are genetically different. Each has its own unique properties and uses, including medicinal.
Farmers grow industrial hemp for its fibers, shivs, and seeds, all of which have many uses. People cultivate marijuana plants for the large buds they produce that contain the psychoactive compound THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the compound responsible for the “high” associated with consuming “pot.”
2. Can I Get High From Smoking Cannabis Sativa L.?
Unlike marijuana plants, industrial hemp plants do not contain high levels of THC. Instead, most have been genetically modified to produce high levels of CBD (cannabidiol). CBD oil offers a wide range of natural medicine options to many of the different pharmaceuticals in use today. Simply put, you couldn’t smoke enough hemp to get even the slightest bit high.
3. Since Marijuana Is Still Illegal, Is Industrial Hemp Legal in the US?
For almost 100 years, hemp has not been a legal crop according to a federal law enacted in 1937. However, the 2018 Hemp Farming Act made it legal to once again farm and process hemp. It is now legal in 46 out of 50 states with Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and South Dakota still banning it. Why do these four states still ban industrial hemp? Their legislative bodies continue to consider hemp under the same umbrella as marijuana. This despite the scientific evidence to prove otherwise.
4. What Is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is one of the hundreds of phytocannabinoids found in the industrial hemp plant. These compounds work with the endocannabinoid receptors in your body to help regulate sleep, appetite, mood, and boost your immune system. Endocannabinoid receptors exist all through your body and brain. The phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant work with these receptors to help support your body’s natural balance or homeostasis.
Marketers cannot advertise hemp or CBD oil as being suitable for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. This despite the fact there are hundreds of studies and ancient texts that prove the potential benefits of cannabidiol.
CBD oil, however, is legal in many states, the only medicine containing hemp oil is Epidiolex. Doctors are using this drug to help treat a variety of rare forms of childhood epilepsy. The two it is currently in use for are Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. The child must be at least 2 years of age before treatment can begin.
Cannabidiol is not the only phytocannabinoid found in hemp. Others include CBC (cannabichromene), CBDV (cannabidivarin), CBN (cannabinol), and CBG (cannabigerol). All of these work together with CBD to keep your body’s systems balanced.
5. If I Use CBD Oil Will I Fail a Drug Test?
When conducting a drug test, the laboratory is searching for THC in your blood or urine, not CBD. According to the regulations, CBD (cannabidiol) products can contain no more than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). While this tiny amount of THC is not enough for most tests to detect.
However, it does depend on the type of testing. If you are concerned about not passing a drug test, there are CBD oil products on the market that are certified as containing zero THC. Remember, it’s the cannabidiol that’s responsible for the therapeutic effects of hemp, not the THC.
Bonus Question
6. People Say the Declaration of Independence Is Written On Industrial Hemp Paper, Is This True?
This rumor has been circulating for decades with many people convinced that it’s true. However, while there is a little truth to this, it’s not what you think. According to historians, the first two drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper from the Netherlands. However, the final document, the one with so many prominent people placed their signature on is written on parchment.
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