It's all about carbon capture technology this decade and industrial hemp just might be the most practical and useful "Carbon Sink" we have at our disposal. For example, one hectare of industrial hemp absorbs over 24 tons of CO2 and makes approximately 7,500 Jung Tees. As we work together to address climate change let's remember to look to Mother Nature for the solutions already available to us. There are many benefits of hemp, but here are a few key ones:
Hemp is a natural fiber that thrives almost anywhere, with very little impact to the environment.
Hemp grows naturally without the need for irrigation, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMO seeds, producing fabric that is gentler on sensitive skin.
Hemp has over 25,000 reported uses. It can make textiles, rope, beauty products, paper, building materials, biofuel, foods and more.
Hemp is one of the world’s oldest crops. Remnants of hemp cloth from 8,000 B.C. were found in Mesopotamia, where it was used to make tunics and sailcloth.
Hemp agriculture was an American staple until the 1930s. Washington and Jefferson grew hemp, and Virginians paid their taxes in hemp.
Hemp is a phyto-remediation plant, meaning it restores balance to environments by cleaning the soil, air and water. It was planted at Chernobyl to reduce soil toxicity.
Hemp has antibacterial properties, is naturally resistant to mold and breathes beautifully to be conducive to healthy skin.
Hemp gets softer with each wear, and its strong fibers last through loads of washes.
Industrial hemp contains CBD but almost no THC, so it’s non-psychoactive. CBD won’t get you high, but can improve immunity and reduce inflammation–along with many other health benefits.
Hemp plants and marijuana plants are different terms used to classify varieties of Cannabis. Hemp is defined as a cannabis plant that contains 0.3 percent or less THC, while marijuana is a cannabis plant that contains more than 0.3 percent THC. They both grow prolifically, thriving almost anywhere with very little water. That's how Marijuana got the nickname 'weed'. It's important we distinguish between these two types of Cannabis, as confusion between the two has led to unnecessary regulations that hinder the Industrial Hemp Economy.
With so much at stake, shouldn’t our clothing reflect how we feel about the planet? Hemp has the potential to mitigate climate change, since it absorbs more carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere than trees and other plants.
Want to learn more about how you can get involved in hemp advocacy efforts? Here are some of our favorite organizations and resources:
Rodale Institute. Industrial Hemp Research Project. 2017. Rodaleinstitute.org
| Ehrensing, Daryl T. 1998. Feasibility of Industrial Hemp Production in the United States Pacific Northwest. Corvallis, Oregon: Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 681. | The People’s History. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Thistle. Volume 13, Number 2: Sept. /Oct., 2000.