Discover Why Hemp is a Hugely Useful Plant

                                                                                         

Hemp has been used for hundreds of years for a variety of tasks. Its robust nature combined with its various applications has meant that for large sections of history this was a plant in demand. This article will look at some historic and modern day uses for hemp, and discuss whether is has a long term future.

The many elements of hemp have had a number of different applications over the years. Its rate of growth has been a beneficial factor as has the huge strength of its fibres (often referred to as bast) which has meant that it has been put to work in such applications as ropes for sailing ships. This use was not totally suited though, as hemp ropes become famous for failing due to rot. Their construction means they have a tendency to hold water at their core, which can allow rot to set in and, ultimately, for the ropes to fail. One technique used to protect the rope from moisture was tarring; a process that involved applying a protective cover to stop moisture reaching the core of the fibre. Hemp was also in use as a medium for making paper although it has now been completely replaced by wood pulp based paper.

One new growth area for hemp has been in introduction into the building materials world. These new substances are partly made using hemp and can be used for insulation and construction. These building material blocks are not only carbon negative (they actually use up more carbon in their creation than application) but they also have other qualities such as good strength and flexibility. This makes them particularly good for use in earthquake susceptible regions.

Hemp is grown in many countries around the world, its low THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol, the active psychoactive drug in cannabis) means that many countries have allowed its cultivation. Some of the main hemp producing countries in the world today are (in no particular order) – France, China, Canada and Australia.

Although growing hemp in the US has restrictions, during world war 2 the US department of agriculture produced a 16 minute film called ‘Hemp for Victory’. Showing how hemp is grown, a history of hemp, and its real-world applications such as cloth and rope. It was hoped to encourage farmers to help the war effort by planting hemp.

Hemp is a massively versatile plant with a huge array of potential uses. Its flexibility means that cannabis seeds will in no doubt be planted for industrial uses for many years to come (Although growing THC rich sensi seeds will no doubt remain a crime throughout most of the world).

About the author:
Sam Qam is a pro-hemp activist and collector of cannabis seeds (including sensi seeds).


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