35 Reasons to Love Hemp
Hemp is a supercrop. From supplying cannabinoids and terpenes to nourishing your skin and helping the planet, this nutrient-rich plant makes a positive difference in so many ways. Here are a few examples.
1. Hemp is a rich source of cannabinoids and terpenes.
2. The cannabinoid content includes delta-9 THC – the type typically associated with the term THC – though in lower concentrations than female cannabis plants.
3. By sourcing delta-9 from hemp, brands like KANHA can produce gummy products that are more widely available online and at retail.
4. Hemp also increases the concentration of endocannabinoids, which are naturally produced by the body and typically bind to the same receptors as plant-based cannabinoids.
5. The wine cellar at Château Maris in France is made almost entirely of hemp-straw bricks.
6. These bricks help capture carbon dioxide (CO2), reduce soil erosion, require no pesticides or fertilizers and naturally maintain temperature and humidity levels without the use of air conditioners or heaters.
7. The New York Times describes eco-friendly hempcrete as flexible, airtight yet breathable, impervious to mold and pests, fireproof and free from toxins.
8. With the longest and strongest fiber in the world, hemp provides sturdy material for making surfboards and skateboards.
9. The famous 19th-century stud dog Old Hemp – a name meant to convene strength – was responsible for the prestigious Border Collie breed.
10. Henry Ford built a car in 1941 that featured hemp parts and ran on biofuel made with hemp and other plants.
11. Motive Industries introduced the Kestrel in 2013, dubbed the “World’s Most Eco-Friendly Car,” made entirely out of hemp.
12. Other modern car brands that utilize hemp include Bugatti, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volvo, Peugeot, Audi and Volkswagen.
13. SpaceX rocketed hemp seeds to the International Space Station in 2019.
14. Hemp oil is naturally rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) that may increase moisture and decrease damaging oxidation on your skin.
15. Hemp nutrients include vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and many others.
16. Hemp seeds, by weight, contain as much protein as beef.
17. The combination of essential fatty acids + nutrients + high protein content make hemp a superior food choice for vegetarians and vegans.
18. Due to its healthy content, hemp is also a good pollen source for bees.
19. Hemp seed oil helps treat atopic dermatitis (a skin condition that produces red and itchy skin), and its antioxidant activity may reduce the oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
20. Cotton plants, which require up to 80 percent more water than hemp, grow on three percent of all crop-based land yet receive 35 percent of the world’s insecticides and pesticides.
21. The Journal of the International Hemp Association says hemp plants are natural pest repellents that act as their own pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer.
22. The cotton industry reportedly receives billions in government subsidies each year, whereas hemp thrived for decades without subsidies before the 2018 farm bill.
23. Adding hemp to crop rotations can improve the soil and help farmers grow other crops more effectively.
24. The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) found that hemp leaves a smaller ecological footprint than cotton and polyester.
25. Hemp pulls unhealthy toxins from the soil, which is why scientists grew hemp plants around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to reduce the soil’s toxicity.
26. Hemp, one of history’s first cultivated crops, was likely an early American crop as well. Christopher Columbus packed the Santa María with hemp seeds and planted them in newly discovered territories.
27. Hemp was once the second-most common material (behind wood) in ship building. Famous vessels made with hemp fiber include the MayFlower and the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).
28. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are both on parchment, but several drafts were written on hemp paper, as were early printings of the King James and Gutenberg Bibles.
29. Many of the Founding Fathers grew hemp, and George Washington advised his gardener to sew hemp seeds everywhere.
30. Hemp even helped protect at least one president. As noted by the L.A. Times in 2014, “The hemp webbing in his parachute saved George H.W. Bush’s life in World War II.”
31. The U.S. Army and Department of Agriculture launched the “Hemp for Victory” campaign in 1942, which included a pro-hemp propaganda film and resulted in more than 100,000 acres of hemp crops.
32. Hemp played a role in the early adventures of the wild frontier as early pioneers headed west in hemp canvas-covered wagons.
33. Early colonists could pay taxes with hemp, which was considered legal tender.
34. A hemp flag flew over the Capitol building on Independence Day in 2013.
35. More than 25,000 products can be made with hemp, making it a natural job creator.