How to Use Hemp and Marijuana Plants

Cannabis, or marijuana, as it is more familiarly known, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. Three species are recognized: cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. This genus is widely accepted to have originated in Asia. Hemp is the name used to refer only to varieties used for non-drug use.

An example of this is industrial hemp, which is used to make products from plants with abundant fiber. Some hemp varieties are also grown for their medicinal uses. All hemp products are considered legal in the US by the federal government because they produce less than .3% THC. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the term used to measure the strength of the drug produced by the marijuana plant's resin when harvested. These plants will not produce a "high" if smoked or ingested.

Hemp

Hemp is used as a building material because its long, strong fibers give it strength and durability. Its light weightiness, mold resistance, and breathability make hemp products versatile. It is used as insulation material, used when making concrete (hempcrete) due to its lightness (being 7X lighter than concrete) and strength, used as a plaster, used as an oil or varnish for treating wood when protecting flooring or wall boards from water, pests, mold, and wear. It's also used as a wood replacement material as the fibers can be pressed into a tight wood alternative to wood frame construction, wall/ceiling paneling, and flooring. It is a biodegradable alternative to regular plastic and may potentially replace PVC plastic. As a building insulation, its flexibility and toughness during compression allow for more straightforward implementation within structural framing systems. When used as insulation, hemp weakens airborne sound waves, thus doubling as a sound barrier.

Sustainability is another factor that sets hemp above other building products. It has numerous positive effects on the environment, such as using a minimal amount of water to grow hemp plants to maturity and not relying on pesticides for proper growth. Some of its benefits on the farm are weed suppression, anti-erosion, and the ability to drain the soil of poisonous substances and heavy metals. The plant can also absorb large amounts of CO2, improving air quality. The processing of hemp is done mechanically with a minimum harmful effect on the environment.

The incredibly versatile plant is used to make rope, paper, jewelry, textiles, food, shoes, animal bedding, water and soil purification, weed control, and biofuels. Hemp is commonly blended with other fibers, such as cotton, silk, or flax, as well as virgin and recycled polyester, to make woven fabrics for apparel and furnishings.

As a food, hemp seed can be eaten raw, ground into hemp meal, sprouted, or made into dried sprout powder. As a food source, hemp seed can be made into a slurry used for baking and beverages such as hemp milk. Hemp's nutritional value is well documented as high in protein (31%), providing 64% of the daily value needed per 100-gram serving. It is also a rich source of dietary fiber, B vitamins, and minerals. The amino acid profile of hemp seeds is comparable to that of other protein-rich foods such as meat, milk, eggs, and soy.

Hemp jewelry has come of age.Bracelets, necklaces, anklets, rings, and watches are some ways hemp is used when making jewelry. Some countries where hemp is produced commercially are the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Russia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. France is the leading producer in Europe.

Marijuana

Marijuana has many street names like weed, pot, bud, dope, ganja, and skunk. Marijuana has been used as a psychoactive recreational drug for many years but is coming of age today as a medicinal drug too. It goes back many centuries BC as a therapeutic or medicinal agent. Medical marijuana is available at dispensaries as an oil, pill, nasal spray, and edibles like gummies, cookies, or brownies.

Many states have legalized this drug for medicinal/recreational use, but federally it remained a Schedule 1 drug. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive ingredient. When inhaled, the THC rapidly passes from the lungs to the bloodstream and then to specific receptors in the brain leading to the "high" that users experience. Other effects can be memory, concentration, pleasure, coordination, sometimes dizziness, often an increase in appetite, and perhaps a distorted perception of time. For medical ailments, marijuana may be used to help alleviate some health conditions such as cancer-related pain, depression, glaucoma, MS, ALS, PTSD, seizures, Tourette's Syndrome, and panic disorders. It is important to note that smoking marijuana while driving can be dangerous, with drivers sometimes having slower reaction times. In children, we need to realize that the brain is not fully developed until age 25, and children may negatively affect learning, memory, and problem-solving.

Marijuana is a drug that has an almost unlimited number of uses. Like any other drug, it should be used cautiously. It has been shown to provide relief and pleasure, and if overused, it can be destructive.

As time goes on, the reputation and the uses of the cannabis plant have become more and more well-known, appreciated, and excepted.