What is hemp?

To kick off these hemp facts, let’s define what it is first. Hemp refers to the non-drug variant of cannabis which is often used to produce fibers, biodegradable plastics, health foods, and more. Legally, hemp is defined as cannabis containing less than .3% THC by dry-weight.

Hemp has over 25,000 known applications — none of which get you high. Although hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants (cannabis sativa), they have very different functions and applications. The hemp plant is undoubtedly diverse, and the applications range from clothing, lotions, protein powders, milk, among various other essentials beneficial for day-to-day life! Basically, you can’t get high off hemp, but it can definitely be used for a significant number of household and personal items as well as offer a number of health benefits.

Hemp as a superfood?

Speaking of health benefits, hemp is a nutrient-dense powerhouse. Hemp seeds are full of omega-3, omega-6, iron, vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, vitamin B6, zinc, beta-carotene, and also serve as a great source of protein. All of these nutrients are required for a healthy diet.

Hemp seeds are rich in compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce blood pressure, and support brain function. This all-encompassing food deserves the title of a superfood.

Hemp to clean the ground?

There have been claims that industrial hemp has the ability to naturally clean up soil contaminated with toxins, heavy metals or undesired chemicals — a process referred to as phytoremediation. Although this concept is still undergoing testing within various studies, data indicates that this hemp fact is true. Hemp has the ability to extract compounds, such as lead and arsenic from the soil.

Because of the potential for hemp to pick up compounds from the environment, consumers should be aware of the risks and only consume products with transparent lab-testing standards. Recreational marijuana states like California require cannabis products to undergo testing for heavy metals and pesticides. We hold our Cannadips CBD products to the same safety standards set for our Cannadips THC products.

Marijuana hide-outs in hemp fields?

There has been some concern surrounding hemp fields and farmers growing marijuana within hemp fields to hide it better. While possible, it is not a very smart business decision. With all the interest in CBD, the farmer will make more money just growing hemp these days!

Marijuana farmers avoid growing hemp near their crop because the plants react in a way that reduced the potency of marijuana. Also, cross-pollination lowers the potency of future marijuana plants as cannabis is known to grow and reproduce very quickly. This all results in lower value marijuana. The farmer could constantly replace the adulterated marijuana plants, but they would soon find their clever plan to be very unprofitable.

Additionally, Hemp grows well in a variety of climates. Marijuana requires an optimal environment, and therefore it is often grown indoors in highly controlled conditions. When marijuana is grown outdoors, it is usually done in small amounts so farmers can tend closely to the plant — thus driving up the costs. Potent marijuana also produces noticeable smells and would quickly garner attention from neighbors, whereas hemp is not typically fragrant. Again, the farm would quickly find that the profits are not worth the risks.

Are Hemp oil and CBD oil the same?

Hemp and CBD products are both derived from cannabis, and both can be obtained from either Industrial Hemp or Marijuana strains, yet the products vary significantly.

The extraction processes are distinct. Hemp oil is extracted by pressing hemp seeds and capturing the run-off oil, similar to the method for olive oil. There are no cannabinoids naturally occurring in the seeds, and it is rare that hemp oil will contain cannabinoids like CBD at all. Instead, these little seeds have other fantastic nutrients.

CBD oil is extracted from the cannabinoid-rich regions of the plant called the flowers and tips. In large amounts, these parts of the plant are referred to as biomass. This biomass is sealed into a container, and a solvent is pumped in under extreme pressure which separates the desired oily compounds from the biomass, resulting in a thick oil called crude. In a process call distillation, heat is then methodically applied to the crude oil to cook off the undesirable compounds. The result is a more pure oil, called distillate or extract, which is used for consumer products.

Consumers should be aware that not all companies are honest with their labels. Hemp and CBD are sometimes interchanged on labels so the brand can get around legal limitations. While Cannadips fully supports people having access to cannabis-derived products, we also believe consumers should know exactly what they are buying so they can make informed, safe purchases.

Become familiar with your favorite brands and know the different benefits of Hemp-oil and CBD-oil products.

There you have it — Cannadips favorite hemp facts!