Hemp is the term used to describe a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species which contains less than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive compound that is found in higher concentration in marijuana. By contrast, hemp naturally has higher levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound known for having many beneficial medicinal properties.
A millennia old crop, hemp has been grown throughout history to be used as paper, textiles, and cordage. With it being used in approximately 25,000 products, such as, hemp clothing, construction materials, paper, biofuel, plastic composites, and more, hemp plays an important role in the U.S. economy. Its ability to assist fertilizing the soil and grow with little water, and because it does not require pesticides, hemp is a valuable crop for farmers to rotate through their fields. As regulations continue to loosen on the cultivation of cannabis and farmers begin taking advantage of their ability to grow this beneficial crop, it will assist in the creation of jobs in communities throughout the U.S.
Hemp is an excellent renewable resource. It is valued for the speed with which it grows and because all parts of the plant have purposes in different industries. That means no waste! When the flower of the hemp plant is harvested and processed, the remainder of the organic material is called Hemp Biomass, which typically goes on to make many of the hemp products you are familiar with today.