Industrial vs Medicinal Hemp
08 August 2018
The term 'Hemp' commonly refers to the industrial/commercial use of the cannabis stalk and seed for textiles, foods, papers, body care products, detergents, plastics and building materials. Hemp fibre is the longest, strongest and most durable of all-natural fibres. Hemp cultivation requires no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. Grown in rotation with other crops such as corn, hemp farming is completely sustainable. Although better known for its industrial uses, hemp is also making waves in the medicinal fields.
What is industrial hemp
Industrial hemp is technically from the same species of plant that medicinal marijuana comes from. However, it is from a different variety, or subspecies that contains many important differences.
Industrial hemp has low THC levels compared to marijuana specifically cultivated for medicinal use. The reason for the low THC content in hemp is that most THC is formed in resin glands on the buds and flowers of the female cannabis plant. Industrial hemp is not cultivated to produce buds, the focus is on the stalk which produces the fibres. The plants are generally grown at 10cm intervals encouraging the plants to grow upwards as opposed to outwards.
What is medicinal hemp
As discussed with industrial hemp the focus is on the stalks, whereas Medicinal hemp is hemp that is grown with the purpose of producing flowers/buds which in turn are used to produce CBD oil.
Plants are generally grown at 2m intervals, which provides them with space to allow them to bush out (maximize sunlight exposure) producing heavy flowers (buds) full of crystals. These buds are used to produce CBD oil that contains just enough THC to render the CBD effective, this is known as the entourage effect. At 3% and higher THC becomes psychoactive, but THC is still necessary in the production of CBD oil that is effective. For CBD oil to become as effective as it can be it should contain a THC level that sits between 0.3% and 2,5%. Some seed banks have successfully managed to breed terpenes (flavour) into hemp, meaning it has added medicinal value as well as great flavour and aroma.
CBD oil is a natural pain reliever, contains anti-inflammatory properties and is currently being used, sometimes in conjunction with western medicine, to treat many ailments such as arthritis, insomnia, anxiety, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and epilepsy to name a few.
Whether hemp is grown upwards or outwards, it results in a multifunctional product that can aid us in all spheres of life.