So what exactly is Industrial Hemp? For most people, the first thought which comes to mind when someone mentions “industrial hemp” to them is – marijuana. It differs from marijuana because it contains very small amounts of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical that causes a high.
Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa, the same species as marijuana, but it is genetically different and has distinct uses and chemical makeup. The Industrial Hemp Program registers growers and tests crops to ensure THC levels do not exceed 0.3% by dry weight, whereas marijuana can contain 6-20% THC or more. That’s the long answer on the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana. The short answer is that you could consume a field of organic hemp and wouldn’t be high.
If hemp isn’t psychoactive, what can you use it for? Ever since the Neolithic Age when farmers in China first cultivated this plant, the use of hemp grew in order to fulfill many different needs people had through history. Today, people use hemp to make clothing, biofuels, foods, health products, body care items, and even plastic composites. One source says this ‘magical plant’ is used to create over 25,000 products, rivaling petroleum. The U.S. hemp industry, valued at around $500 million in annual retail sales in 2012, is rapidly growing, according to the Hemp Industries Association.
6 different types of Industrial Hemp Seed varieties
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