Many people are under the impression that hemp is only a part of the cannabis plant, yet they do not realize that hemp is not marijuana. You cannot get "high" from smoking hemp, yet it is illegal in many countries because it is attributed to the cannabis plant. People are under the misconception that hemp has Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. So now that you know hemp cannot get you stoned, then why is it illegal? Recently, the ban has been lifted and hemp has become legal in the United States.

First let me explain all the valuable uses hemp has. Hemp can be used to create over 25,000 different products! It is superior to cotton; it can be made into rope, paper, concrete, toiletries, paint, and so much more. It is amazing how one plant can be so resourceful and useful, yet remain so controversial.

The short version of why hemp is illegal is because the cotton farmers in the early 1900’s, the wealthy class, protested the newly found material, hemp, from the cannabis plant. Since the wealthy did not want to change their plantations, they lobbied the government (paying them off in handouts) to keep the plant and any offspring of it illegal. Luckily, now most countries realize the benefits of hemp and are making it legal once again.

Cotton is a good product, but a better textile is hemp. Natural hemp grows much quicker than cotton, is a lot stronger, and lasts longer than cotton does. Hemp makes excellent textiles that adapt to the environment. What this means is that when it is sunny outside the hemp will reflect the sunlight, keeping you cool. In contrast, when it is cold out, the hemp will prevent your natural body heat from escaping through your clothing.

Hemp has a much faster growing season than cotton; while producing higher yields. Cotton can take anywhere from six to eight months to harvest, while hemp only needs three months. Natural hemp grows twice as fast as cotton! Cotton also uses tons of pesticides and herbicides to manage weeds, bacterial growth, fungal diseases, and insects. Hemp is naturally grown organically, so the product is much cleaner and healthier to use.

With all these benefits, it is surprising to see that the majority of products that can be improved using hemp are not. Hopefully, spreading the word and lobbying the government will help increase the usage of organic hemp products. Not only will you be saving the environment, but you will have far superior products than those in the past.