Exploring the Uses of Hemp: Nature’s Swiss Army Knife

Hemp, part of the cannabis sativa species, is a plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years around the world. It is technically the same species as marijuana, with the only difference being that hemp contains relatively low levels of THC (the primary psychoactive compound). According to U.S. law, cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC are classified as hemp.

This easy-to-grow annual crop reaches up to five meters tall, with hollow, cane-like stalks and greenish, resinous flowers. It uses far less water than other comparable crops (like cotton), and because you can grow one or more crops a season, hemp is a highly renewable resource.

Name a material, and hemp can likely make a more sustainable alternative. Throughout its relationship with humans, this plant has evolved into one of the most versatile on earth.

The oldest evidence of humans using cannabis comes from roughly 2500 BC, discovered in Central Asia. Here, archeologists found hemp stalks used as fiber and residue from its flowers burned in spiritual ceremonies.

Not much later in India, researchers found cannabis’ first known appearance in the religious scriptures, dated between 2000 and 1400 BC. In these texts, cannabis was described as a “gift,” “sacred grass,” and “food of the gods.”

Later, it became the sails for European ships starting in the 16th century and was also pounded in between the slats to make these vessels watertight.

By the 19th century, “cannabis was the second most commonly used ingredient in medicines offered by European and American pharmacies,” according to the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Barcelona (which, of course, ended with the prohibition in 1937).

Now, with production once again legal, its stalks, leaves, flowers, and hemp seeds are transforming into thousands of new applications, from industrial products to textiles to edibles.

It's one thing to describe hemp as versatile; it's entirely another to see all the forms it can take. With hemp finally getting the attention it deserves, let's look at just what kind of products it's making its way into.

Long before people thought of environmental friendliness or specific fabric strengths, hemp was made into clothing, rope, and other fabrics, dating back thousands of years. When hemp made its way to America with the first colonies, it was explicitly grown for its fibers. Hemp fabric was actually used for one of the early prototypes of the American Flag.

Every part of hemp is usable, but for clothing and textiles, the hemp stalk gets processed into a remarkably strong and long-lasting fiber. It's better than cotton and linen in terms of sheer strength and can last 20 to 30 years with proper care. And before anyone tries to tell you that hemp clothing is rough and scratchy, the beauty of hemp is that it becomes softer with every wash.

It's also much more sustainable than many of the textiles used in the industry today. Compared with cotton, hemp uses 50 percent less water and doesn’t need all the pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that cotton requires.

Hemp fabric isn't just for hippies; it's quickly becoming a go-to option for the country's leading brands. Just look at Levi's. This legendary blue jean company has launched a hemp jeans line.

Hemp stalks share many characteristics with wood, which is why they are such a great material for paper products. This isn't just a new discovery; there is actually evidence that hemp was made to create the world's first paper in China around 150 BCE. 

But hemp may turn out to be even better for paper products than wood. This is because the fibers are longer, stronger, and more durable than wood fiber. It also has a lower lignin content, making it easier to process.

And just like hemp textiles, hemp paper is more eco-friendly than the treed alternative because hemp yields three to four times more usable fiber per hectare annually compared to forests. Plus, hemp paper can be recycled up to eight times compared to just three times for wood-based papers. It also requires fewer chemicals and no toxic bleaching.

Until 1883, 90 percent of all paper worldwide was made with hemp fiber. Thanks to the rise of legal hemp, hemp-based papers are starting to experience a bit of a resurgence. Today, you’ll find it in stationary, packaging, and other paper products. 

Did you know that hemp is already fueling vehicles? Hemp biodiesel and hemp-ethanol are made from the plant's stalks, seeds, and flowers, using a process known as cellulolysis and dry distillation to create a sustainable renewable biofuel. Hemp naturally has a high cellulose and hemicellulose content, making it ideal for biofuel production.

There are other crops getting transformed into biofuels, including sunflowers, soybeans, peanuts, and canary seed. Still, hemp’s per-hectare yield is much greater.

It's also worth mentioning that hemp is a phytoremediator, which means it helps clean soils from contaminants like heavy metals, chemicals, and radiation. Growing hemp for biofuels is the perfect solution when the environment is too dirty for other crops.

This plant produces many powerful wellness products, from hemp oils pressed from the seeds to the CBD oil extracted from the flower.

Let’s start with hemp oil for skin care. Hemp seed oil is rich in fatty acids that help hydrate and nourish dry skin and hair. Many of its benefits come from its ability to hydrate the skin's outer layer, improving its ability to retain moisture. 

You’ll find hemp oil alongside other healthy oils in top-tier skin care products, like anti-aging creams, face masks, soaps, and moisturizers.

Then, there are the benefits of CBD oil, a CBD-rich extraction with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Skincare companies are infusing their creams, serums, and more with CBD oil to reap these powerful benefits.

Hempcrete, a biocomposite material made from hemp hurds (woody core), lime, and water, offers the construction industry a valuable alternative to concrete.

Why build with hemp? Hempcrete is highly breathable and can regulate humidity to help improve indoor air quality. It also has excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties while being fire and mold-resistant.

There is also hemp insulation made from plant fibers rather than the woody core. Again, it has a high thermal resistance. Unlike traditional insulations, it's non-toxic and safe to handle without extensive protective equipment.

But above all else, hemp building materials are better for the environment. Hemp can be used to build carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative projects because it helps sequester CO2 emitted during production.

Another big win for the planet was the development of hemp-based plastics, which means we can all start to wean ourselves off such a reliance on fossil fuel-based materials. From hemp-plastic disposable cups to the door panels on a BMW, hemp plastic is beginning to pop up all around us.

And yes, you read that last bit correctly: Major manufacturers like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Lotus, Peugeot, and Volvo have integrated hemp composites into their vehicles. This includes hemp interior panels, door panels, instrument panels, and center consoles. 

Manufacturers like these have discovered that hemp offers a good strength-to-weight ratio and can be molded into virtually any shape, which means reducing vehicle weight, improving fuel efficiency, and enhancing the model's sustainability.

Unlike petroleum-derived plastics, hemp plastics offer a much more sustainable alternative. They are lightweight, durable, and biodegradable. Plus, unlike oil, hemp is one of the most renewable resources we’ve got. 

You’ve probably seen these trendy foods on the menu at your favorite juice bar or in the wellness aisle of your local grocery store. Hemp seeds emerged as a super-food shortly after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and for good reason.

Highly nutritious and versatile, these small and subtly nutty seeds are full of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. This means they can help promote healthy digestion and heart health, as part of a balanced diet. 

Since they contain all nine essential amino acids, they constitute a “complete” source of plant-based protein, making them the perfect supplement for vegans or those looking to build muscle. Not only do they outrank other seeds like chia and flax- hemp seeds have more grams of protein per serving than an egg!  

But the best part about hemp seeds is their wide variety of uses. You can top a smoothie bowl with hulled hemp seeds for a light crunch, bake them into a batch of banana nut muffins, or mix them into a savory dish. You’ll even find iterations of this super-food in milk, cheese, and other dairy alternatives.

By this point, it should be clear that hemp can be transformed into pretty much anything — and we haven’t even talked about its cannabinoids, aromatic terpenes, and remarkable flavonoids.

Hemp, like marijuana, produces compounds known as cannabinoids, which seamlessly interact within our bodies for pleasant effects. Hemp is specifically high in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound known to soothe and relax. 

But did you know you can also derive many other cannabinoids from legal hemp, which offer more uplifting and euphoric effects? These include delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC), and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), among others.

Legal, widely accessible, and each offering a unique experience, hemp-derived cannabinoids are helping millions of Americans live more relaxed and balanced lives.

Hemp is a uniquely versatile, eco-friendly crop that is set to (re)revolutionize textiles, paper, and plastics, and it's coming for more.

With its sustainability, low environmental impact, and wide-ranging applications, hemp continues to prove its value in modern times. Whether for paper, fuel, or wellness products, this is the new era of hemp. After almost a century of prohibition, hemp is stepping back into the spotlight where it belongs.

But there’s a problem. 

Although we mostly covered industrial hemp in this blog, both industrial hemp and consumable hemp’s fates are tied to one another. Simply put, if hemp-derived cannabinoids go down, so will all of these other innovative uses for hemp, along with future developments in industrial hemp. 

Yet, that’s not the bad part. 

The bad news in all of this is that despite the great strides that we as a country have made towards legalizing and normalizing cannabis, there are many special interest groups out there actively seeking to ban hemp-derived cannabinoids. If this happens, all of the hemp industry will go under. 

There are many interest groups after hemp for their own reasons, like in Texas, special interests want to destroy the hemp-derived cannabinoids industry (along with thousands upon thousands of jobs) in order to make a state-sanctioned monopoly, which will serve to make a handful of people into billionaires. 

Right now, we’re gearing up for another fight to protect hemp in Texas and on a federal level. If you’d like to pitch in, we’re offering “Don’t Mess with Hemp” t-shirts. Proceeds will go directly to our legal battle to protect hemp (while also helping you look stylish). 

Until next time, keep exploring the endless possibilities offered by hemp, and Mind your Mind.