Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Hemp

Cannabis is an industry clouded by years of confusion, prohibition, and a lack of information. Hemp, the non-psychoactive strain of marijuana, has countless applications across industry and medicine. CBD extracts from hemp cannot make you high and are trusted by many for their health and mood benefits. We’ll be answering the top ten frequently asked questions about hemp and CBD so that you understand this booming new industry completely. 

What is hemp?

Hemp is a non-psychoactive strain cultivated for thousands of years. As one of the oldest crops in existence, hemp has uses spanning textiles, printing, manufacturing, medicine, and countless other industrial applications. This term commonly refers to industrial or agricultural hemp, hemp which has been grown for fiber. It is extremely low in THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, and hemp requires minimal care to grow.

Is hemp legal?

The 2018 Hemp Farming Act which makes a part of the U.S. Farm Bill passed by president Donald Trump in December 2018 makes hemp a legal crop throughout the USA. Even though hemp is legal, it is still under regulation. The United States Department of Agriculture set forth to develop a framework of regulations through the course of 2019. CBD oil derived from hemp is legal in 50 States across the US, grown by the Farm Bill regulations. Cannabis was illegal for many years mainly due to the effects and benefits being misunderstood. Without the psychoactive effect, not even social issues are at risk of falling out of balance due to bad habits or poor lifestyle choices.

When and why was hemp illegal?

There are many speculations as to what made hemp and all other varieties of cannabis illegal. However, the only acceptable conclusion without pointing fingers and casting blame is to say that marijuana was largely misunderstood. Perhaps the threat of its many applications across printing, construction, and both home and enterprise-level industry made it a threat in the eyes of early leaders, leading to propaganda and prohibition. For years, the medical benefits of cannabis with or without THC were only known to those open enough to investigate without a predisposition. Today, the evidence is emerging across all fields and sciences indicating the many applications and health benefits that cannabis and cannabis extracts hold. 

Can Hemp make you high?

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the psychoactive component of cannabis. Marijuana of the hemp variety contains less than 0.3% THC which means that only trace elements enter the bloodstream. This is nowhere near enough to induce any hallucinogenic or mind-altering effects. When someone ingests cannabis with a conventional concentration of THC (around 12%), THC binds to receptors in the brain governing pleasure, memory, and other facets of cognition. The characteristic ‘high’ arises due to the stimulation of dopamine production as THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. CBD extracted from hemp has no such effect, instead it benefits the body through the way that it works synergistically with the endocannabinoid system.
Will hemp extracts or CBD oil cure my / treat my…?

DSHEA compliance means that we cannot endorse any specific treatment or medicinal benefit of CBD or hemp oil. There are, however, many reputable scientific studies which have motivated the legalization of cannabis in its entirety throughout the US and other parts of the world. For example, take a look at these recent studies:

• The endocannabinoid system supports the whole body bridging the mind and body, bolstering the nervous system & immune function 
• CBD helps regulate insulin production and raises HDL cholesterol which reduces the risk of diabetes and obesity
• Low-dose cannabinoids slow the progression of atherosclerosis and other conditions due to the immunomodulatory action
• CBD oil is also believed to be an aid to cancer therapy, an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and a preventative agent against mental degeneration and degenerative diseases. 

Are hemp extracts and CBD oil addictive?

Absolutely not. The only way that you can ingest hemp is by means of CBD oil. You can’t smoke industrial hemp. Regardless, cannabidiol is non-addictive, and hemp extracts can’t make you high. CBD and cannabis use rather assist the process of withdrawal, easing symptoms and benefitting recovery without any dependency forming. 

What effects can I expect from using hemp extracts or CBD oil?

Just like you get Sativa strains for athletes and specific types of marijuana for certain medical conditions, you can expect a steady range of benefits from CBD oil as well. There are no mind-altering effects. CBD oil combats fatigue, bringing on a subtle and slow energizing effect. Mental clarity is promoted by stimulating feelings of well-being. Social anxiety drops and depression also eases away. Nausea drops thanks to the interaction between serotonin receptors and CBD, and CBD helps you get over insomnia making it easier to fall asleep, or stay awake. 

Is CBD from hemp and CBD from cannabis the same thing?

Cannabinoids are cannabinoids. CBD from hemp and cannabis is the same thing. Hemp is a variety of cannabis sativa which is very low in THC. There is no difference in purity nor potency. CBD oil and other extracts taken from industrial hemp are always free from THC and many of the other compounds and phytocannabinoids in other strains of cannabis. The only CBD which is different is CBD which is manufactured synthetically. When you use CBD extracted from the plant, you benefit from the entourage effect believed to vastly increase the medicinal and therapeutic effects of cannabis.

Does CBD and hemp extracts interact with other medications?

Yes. The cytochrome P450 enzyme production is inhibited by CBD. P450 is a live enzyme which affects the way that a large number of medications metabolize. Whenever a medicine enters the body, it becomes broken down into metabolites by the liver and other parts of your molecular pathways. Enzymes help the body get rid of foreign molecules arising as metabolites. As the P450 enzyme goes to work, medications their compounds oxidize which means that an extra oxygen atom enters their molecular structure. This generally makes them more water-soluble which in turn means that they’re easier for the kidneys to flush. A person supplementing with CBD will experience an increase in action, duration, and effect of their medication. This is the same enzymatic action that occurs when eating grapefruit. The contraindications for eating grapefruit with certain prescription medication like the blood thinner warfarin will occur. Physicians normally advise patients to stay away from grapefruit and grapefruit juice completely; otherwise, the blood thinner will thin the blood for longer. Always adjust your dosage as per the advice of your doctor if this interaction applies to your medication.

How large is the hemp industry?

The hemp industry is gigantic. After all, the first two drafts of the declaration of independence of the United States of America were on Dutch hemp paper. Hemp’s uses span:

• Paper

• Textiles

• Biodegradable plastics

• Construction

• Health 

• Food

• Fuel

In the US alone, hemp is estimated to expect a boom over the next year at an estimated $800 million, reaching twenty billion dollars by 2022. Hemp seed is a rich source of fatty acids, holding all the essential amino’s to prevent deficiency diseases. Hemp seed oil is a fantastic source of biofuel, and while not as high energy, it is sustainable. Unlike conventional fossil fuels, using hemp for energy farming is a clean source of power as well. This is a crop which is easy to grow, withstanding disease and taxing conditions extremely well across a range of different climates. 

What happened to growing HEMP in Idaho? 

Find it All Online

US residents you can find CBD oil at local health stores. There are many companies that sell full spectrum CBD oil online. Outside the US you can find hemp derived CBD oil and conventional strains of all types readily available online at Ontario cannabis. This is especially handy for people living in Canada and other areas of the world where cannabis is legal. With the world’s best cannabis on order, you’ve got the flexibility and ease of selecting the ideal product for your physical or recreational needs.

Author Bio 

Jessica has been closely studying the cannabis industry trends from quite some time. Intrigued by the booming growth of this sector, she takes an interest in penning down her views providing quality insight on current marijuana trends, particularly medical cannabis.