For hundreds of thousands of years, hemp has been one of our most valuable crops. Throughout recorded history in the UK and Europe, hemp has been at least as common as wheat, barley or any other grain crop. Around 100 years ago, for reasons that are now known to be misguided, governments started to introduce a ban on the plant that has led to exactly the same problems, divisions in society and criminal activity that we saw with alcohol prohibition.
Until the 1930’s hemp was widely used as medicine, food, for humans and animals, as nature’s strongest fibre, as a building material and as a crop that has immense ecological and environmental benefits. According to some data, Before 1930 over 70% of medicines contained hemp/ cannabinoids.
It appears it has been an enormous mistake, a failure of policy for which we are only now beginning to understand the consequences. It’s only 30 years ago that the endocannabinoid system was discovered and we now realise how important cannabinoids are in our diet. Some researchers now believe that the removal of hemp from our diet has led to an upsurge in disease, possibly caused by endocannabinod deficiency. It is thought that this could be at the root of an increase in autoimmune conditions such as MS and Crohn’s.
In times gone by, cannabinoids from hemp would have supplemented our endocannabinoid system and helped to keep us healthy.
It was only in 1993 the Home Office begun granting licences for the purposes of cultivating and processing Hemp. Hemp products do not require a licence, such as CBD.
Thankfully the new CBD industry is now reintroducing cannabinoids as a food supplement and, just as you take vitamin or mineral supplements, you can now use CBD oil to help in maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.