Centuries ago, the hemp plant fibers were used extensively to produce textiles, clothing, papers, and others. Also, the hemp plant is rich in substances that the body finds useful, which makes it a widely accepted food. There are ingredients in it that are helpful to the skin and explain why it is common in soaps and lotions.

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Currently, there is comprehensive cultivation of hemp to meet the demand for CBD. Despite the popularity and use of hemp in our present world, there are still many misconceptions about this plant. But before then, a little information about the hemp plant will set a good foundation.

The Hemp Plant

Hemp is different from marijuana. This is the most common confusion about this compound. However, hemp and marijuana are plants from the same family – cannabis Sativa, one of the three offspring of the cannabis plant. Hemp stands out in many ways, which makes it different.

The amount of THC in hemp is negligible as a result; hemp and its products will not make you high. While marijuana might have up to 30% THC, the percentage of THC in marijuana is below 0.3%. Hemp is, however, rich, the non-intoxicating cousin of THC responsible for many medical uses of hemp.

Hemp, in addition to the oil, has fibers that are used in making clothes, rope, and various textiles. There are indications that it can serve as a material for organic construction. It has edible seeds with high nutritional value, rich in protein, dietary fiber, and polyunsaturated fats.

The plant is strong and resilient, resistant to drought and hearty. As a result, it thrives well in hot climate conditions. It doesn't need any special care, soil type, or specific climate to grow. Typical hemp has a pretty fast growth rate with an average of a 105-day harvest cycle. This makes it possible to have about two or three harvests every year.

Myths about Hemp

Having laid the foundation about the hemp plant, here are some common misconceptions about the plant:

1. Hemp Needs no Pesticide or Irrigation.

Many people believe that the hemp plant needs little water to grow, and it can survive with little pesticides. This would have been great, making it the easiest plant to cultivate in the world, it is not true. On the contrary, the plant needs abundant rainfall, especially during the early weeks of cultivation. As a result, it is not a dry-land crop that can survive without irrigation.

However, once the hemp plant gets adequate rainfall in the first six weeks, it can withstand prolonged drought. Adequate watering, however, ensures that you have a tall and thick plant, explaining why irrigation is essential. There are cannabis plant problems one can expect along the way, making it vital to consider pesticides.

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1. Marijuana and Hemp are from the Same Plant

This is one of the significant confusion that has been accepted about hemp, even though it is a misconception. While marijuana and hemp are from the same plant species (Cannabis Sativa), they are pretty different. Generally, it is accepted that cannabis that contains a considerable amount of THC, which makes it psychoactive, is called marijuana. On the other hand, the plant with THC in trace amounts, making it non-psychoactive, is hemp. In other words, they are in the same family but different plants.

Legally, a cannabis plant is classified as industrial hemp as long as the THC level is within 0.3%. Over the centuries, hemp plants have been cultivated for their medicinal properties. They also serve as a source of textile, durable fibers, insulation, and other material. With improvement in research, hemp has been developed to biofuel – a modern and eco-friendly form of fuel.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is known, cultivated, and used majorly for its psychoactive potential.

2. Hemp products do not have any Medicinal Value.

With how popular CBD is, some medical practitioners have not accepted that CBD has any real medical benefits. Many argue that the supposed health benefits of CBD lack any significant scientific backing. Series of media outlets have also raised the warning without mincing words that “CBD offers no Real Health Benefit.”

These claims, however, are far from the truth as there are many pieces of research and clinical trials that support the health claims of CBD. It is safe to assume that research for CBD is in its infancy, which explains the reluctance of some health practitioners to recommend CBD for any specific health condition.

Yet, there are series of CBD studies that have revealed the effectiveness in addressing health issues like chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, eczema, muscle spasm, inflammation, and others. Besides, the FDA already approved a drug centered on CBD – Epidiolex for treating seizures. Truly, more research will help establish the health benefits of CBD and hemp products, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Hemp is an Ingredient to Sprinkle on Food

The versatility and sustainability of hemp made it applicable in many areas. As a result, it is more than a food product. Still, it can be used as a fabric, medicine, plastics, ropes, building materials, etc. Hemp weighs less than plastic and metal, which explains why Mercedes Benz is adopting it in the manufacture of their vehicle. The lightweight and biodegradability boost the fuel efficiency of their car.

Even as a food source, hemp is pretty versatile, especially the seed. This part of the hemp plant is so versatile as it can transform to oil by cold pressing and ground to form flour and powder. As a result, hemp stands out in its usefulness as a food substance. The seed can be consumed raw and added to any meal. There are many applications of hemp food as it can be used as milk, butter, curries, bread, burgers, dips, smoothies, dressing, and many more.

4. Hemp can get You High.

Generally, hemp plants are cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC, the primary psychoactive part of the marijuana plant. The USDA considers this a trace amount, which will not get users high, like what you would expect when you smoke weed.

The trace amount of THC in the hemp plant makes the human body process and absorb them faster. As long as the hemp plant is well cultivated, the THC level will be negligible. As a result, buying and selling hemp in all 50 states is legal at the federal level.

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Conclusion

Even though there are a series of confusions about hemp, many of these are not true. This article has explored five of the most common untrue facts about the hemp plant.

5 Common Myths about Hemp You Should Know