The HIA® Launches National Campaign Aimed at Changing Facebook’s Advertising Policy for the Hemp Industries
|
|
|
|
Thursday, May 30, 2019
FACEBOOK: STOP CENSORING HEMP
Source: thehia.org
Monday, May 27, 2019
Newly legalized hemp industry set to create a jobs boom in the US
By Bob Woods
Source: cnbc.com
Source: cnbc.com
KEY POINTS
- A provision in the 2018 Farm Bill makes hemp, marijuana’s no-buzz cousin, no longer a federally illegal substance.
- It allows farmers and other cultivators to grow the leafy, lanky plant and sell its harvest to processors so they can make hemp-based products ranging from foods, beverages and cosmetics to paper, clothing and building materials.
- Twenty-four states have hemp farming.
- CareerBuilder, Indeed, ZipRecruiter and other mainstream job websites list hemp openings.
Damian Farris, co-owner of Colorado Cultivars Hemp Farm, looks at the crop before it is harvested on September 5, 2017 in Eaton, Colorado.
RJ Sangosti | Denver Post | Getty Images
It won’t get you high, but lots of people are high on hemp. Thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill last December, hemp — marijuana’s no-buzz cousin — is no longer a federally illegal controlled substance. A provision in the bill allows farmers and other cultivators to grow the leafy, lanky plant, cannabis sativa L, and sell its harvest to processors, who in turn extract and market raw materials to producers of hemp-based products, everything from foods, beverages and cosmetics to paper, clothing and building materials.
Another by-product of legal hemp will be tens of thousands of new jobs across multiple sectors in the very near future. Besides hiring workers in agriculture, processing and manufacturing, the still-budding industry — with $1.1 billion in revenues 2018, estimated to more than double by 2022 to $2.6 billion, according to New Frontier Data — will need accountants, lawyers, compliance officers, government regulators, IT specialists, financial and insurance experts, transporters, researchers and lab technicians, marketers, CFOs, CEOs and various retail employees.
Some of those workers will be hired by existing companies, such as banks, truckers, farm equipment makers and drugstore chains, while others will employed by opportunistic start-ups.
“Job creation is going to happen in every economic bracket,” said Erica McBride Stark, executive director of the DC-based National Hemp Association. She had just returned from the 6th annual NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver, twice the size of last year’s, drawing more than 225 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees. “The hemp industry will create high-skilled management jobs, labor-type jobs and everything in between,” Stark said. “It’s going to touch all of society.”
WATCH NOW
The foundations are in place for tremendous job growth in the coming months. Indeed reported a spike in hemp-related job openings early this year, and HempStaff has seen its hemp jobs double from a year ago, now representing 16% of its recruiting business. Still, it will take at least a year to gather hard data from government and independent sources. “I expect job growth will more dramatically move in the second half of this year as more processors come online and as we approach harvest of hemp plants,” Stark said.
The marijuana economy
Of course, there’s already a separate and thriving industry for legal marijuana, to date approved for medicinal use in 34 states and recreational adult use in 10 states and D.C. Retail sales at regulated marijuana dispensaries reached around $9 billion last year, according to Marijuana Business Daily. Note, though, that pot remains a federally illegal Schedule I controlled substance, so factor in the nebulous black market and that sales figure may be as high as $52.5 billion.
It should be noted, too, that despite hemp’s new federal status, the Farm Bill stipulates that individual states can choose to establish their own agriculture and commerce programs, or not. As of February, 41 states allowed cultivation of hemp for commercial, research or pilot programs, although only 24 states had farmers actually growing hemp last year. Total hemp acreage in the U.S. was at 78,176 acres, up from 25,713 in 2017, the advocacy group Vote Hemp estimates, and the acreage should be considerably higher in the coming years.
In this July 5, 2018 photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell inspects a piece of hemp taken from a bale of hemp at a processing plant in Louisville, Ky. McConnell led the push in Congress to legalize hemp.
AP Photo | Bruce Schreiner
Ever since the Farm Bill passed, we have seen a huge increase in hemp clients coming forward, saying they need staff now or in the next few months.
James Yagielo
CEO OF HEMPSTAFF
In January, Canopy was granted a license by New York State to process and produce hemp, the first step in the company’s plan to invest $100 million–$150 million in the state’s economically distressed Southern Tier region.
“Wow, do they need work,” remarked Bruce Linton, co-CEO and chairman of Canopy, adding that 200 people will initially be hired primarily in farming and processing. Hemp is going to create jobs where they’re needed, he opined, because growing, processing and making hemp products will be more cost-effective in depressed areas versus cities with higher real estate prices and labor costs.
That strategy was likely on the mind of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as he championed the Farm Bill’s hemp legalization provision, seen as a job-creating boon among the Bluegrass State’s dwindling tobacco farmers and coal workers. A major producer before hemp was outlawed in 1937, Kentucky has been cultivating hemp under a pilot program in the 2014 Farm Bill.
This year its department of agriculture approved more than 42,000 acres for hemp, based on applications from 1,035 farmers and 130 processors, with expectations that 20,000 acres will ultimately be planted this spring and summer for fall harvest. That compares to 6,700 planted acres in 2018, comprising 210 farmers and 72 processors. “It’s not uncommon to see a lot of former tobacco farmers looking at industrial hemp as an opportunity,” said Ryan Quarles, the department’s commissioner.
One of them is Joe Sisk, 45, who last planted tobacco on his farm near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1998 and is now dedicating about 40 acres to hemp, alongside traditional crops. “Hemp is here to stay,” he said, adding that he hears talk of other tobacco farmers switching to hemp. “This is not some fad. Kentucky will have a very substantial hemp industry.”
For more on tech, transformation and the future of work, join CNBC at @ Work: Human Capital + Finance Summit in Chicago on July 19.
Hemp micro-decorticator unveiled by Latvian entrepreneur
Source: hemptoday.net
The HurdMaster Micro Decorticator, a small-scale fiber processing unit designed by Latvian entrepreneur Kristaps Eglitas, was unveiled today at HempToday’s Hemp Machines & Technology Summit.
The machine is designed for flower and seed growers who want to monetize leftover fiber from their harvests, Eglitis said. It is intended for farms of 2-5 hectares (about 6-10 acres).
Hemp stakeholders from 12 countries attended the Summit at HempToday Center in Poland.
“We’re getting excellent hurds for hempcrete,” Eglitis told attendees at the Summit before demonstrating the sleek, boxy, stainlesss-steel unit, which is small enough to fit in a car. “We processed some fiber to insulate my own house which we’re now working on, and the hurds’ performance in the mix was excellent,” Eglitis said.
The HurdMaster was inspired in part by Eglitis’ research of a decorticator project started by Australian-Latvian Voldemars Cirulis, who built a much bigger machine while living in Australia in the early 2000s.
Eglitis designed the HurdMaster with help from a student at Latvian Technical University after intense research on decortiation technology.
He eventually bought the machine from Cirulis and studied its components and how it functions – research he said was critical in the design process.
He is collaborating with Peruza (peruza.com/products) a leading manufacturer of machinery for fish processing, developing engineering enhancements that will reduce the HurdMaster’s weight while boosting efficiency. While Eglitis is satisfied with hurd quality turned out by the machine, planned adjustments to improve the quality of technical fiber output are still being worked out, he said. Plans are in the works to build a bigger model decorticator as well, Eglitis said.
Just last month, Eglitis secured an EU grant he’ll use to build an engineering building, he said.
While Eglitis has now lost contact with Cirulis, 96, who is blind and infirm, he knows the old inventor would be proud. “Voldemars would be happy to see that his work has inspired me to move forward,” Eglitis said.
The HurdMaster Micro Decorticator, a small-scale fiber processing unit designed by Latvian entrepreneur Kristaps Eglitas, was unveiled today at HempToday’s Hemp Machines & Technology Summit.
The machine is designed for flower and seed growers who want to monetize leftover fiber from their harvests, Eglitis said. It is intended for farms of 2-5 hectares (about 6-10 acres).
Hemp stakeholders from 12 countries attended the Summit at HempToday Center in Poland.
“We’re getting excellent hurds for hempcrete,” Eglitis told attendees at the Summit before demonstrating the sleek, boxy, stainlesss-steel unit, which is small enough to fit in a car. “We processed some fiber to insulate my own house which we’re now working on, and the hurds’ performance in the mix was excellent,” Eglitis said.
Orders begin in July
Orders for the purchase of the HurdMaster will begin in late July, Eglitis said, with delivery two months from the order date. He expects to ship the first machines in September.The HurdMaster was inspired in part by Eglitis’ research of a decorticator project started by Australian-Latvian Voldemars Cirulis, who built a much bigger machine while living in Australia in the early 2000s.
Eglitis designed the HurdMaster with help from a student at Latvian Technical University after intense research on decortiation technology.
He eventually bought the machine from Cirulis and studied its components and how it functions – research he said was critical in the design process.
Engineering collaboration
Eglitis, who designs and builds metal interior features such as staircases, has worked in metal constrution for more than 20 years.He is collaborating with Peruza (peruza.com/products) a leading manufacturer of machinery for fish processing, developing engineering enhancements that will reduce the HurdMaster’s weight while boosting efficiency. While Eglitis is satisfied with hurd quality turned out by the machine, planned adjustments to improve the quality of technical fiber output are still being worked out, he said. Plans are in the works to build a bigger model decorticator as well, Eglitis said.
Just last month, Eglitis secured an EU grant he’ll use to build an engineering building, he said.
While Eglitis has now lost contact with Cirulis, 96, who is blind and infirm, he knows the old inventor would be proud. “Voldemars would be happy to see that his work has inspired me to move forward,” Eglitis said.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Square Quietly Launches Program For CBD Cannabis Company Credit Card Processing
By Tom Angell
Source: forbes.com
The latter problem could be solved under a new pilot program that has quietly been launched by the payment processing service Square.
When asked about the reasons for the launching the new program, which comes after years of refusing to work with CBD companies, the spokesperson said that the company closely watches evolving public policies and strives to create new opportunities for clients.
In any case, Square's beta effort comes just at the right time for businesses in the growing CBD space. This month, US Bank subsidiary Elavon, which has until recently handled payment processing for companies selling products with the non-intoxicating cannabis compound, is moving to shutter those accounts.
Source: forbes.com
Companies that sell cannabis products—even those consisting of CBD derived from hemp, which was legalized in the U.S. through the Farm Bill late last year—are continuing to have trouble accessing basic financial services that are available to businesses in other sectors. That includes being able to maintain bank accounts and process their customers' credit cards.
Getty
When asked about the reasons for the launching the new program, which comes after years of refusing to work with CBD companies, the spokesperson said that the company closely watches evolving public policies and strives to create new opportunities for clients.
In any case, Square's beta effort comes just at the right time for businesses in the growing CBD space. This month, US Bank subsidiary Elavon, which has until recently handled payment processing for companies selling products with the non-intoxicating cannabis compound, is moving to shutter those accounts.
Is Hemp Stronger Than Steel?
By Kayla Burns
Source: marijuanabreak.com
Humanity has made more than a handful of blunders, and not fully realizing the potential of industrial hemp certainly belongs on the list of worst mistakes made in the last 100 years. It seems too incredible to be true, but hemp IS stronger than steel, and significantly so. Hemp is also the perfect substitute for trees when making paper, and at least 75% of all paper made in the United States pre-1833 came from hemp.
Government studies from over 100 years ago found that an acre of hemp equated to four acres of trees and at that time, it was predicted that all paper could come from hemp by the 1940s. This would have meant minimal cutting down on trees, and a far healthier planet for generations to come.
Instead came the so-called War on Marijuana, which was really a means of solidifying the fortunes of William Randolph Hearst and the DuPonts, among others. As well as making paper, hemp was responsible for 80% of all fabrics, linen, clothes, and textiles until the development of the Cotton Gin in the 1790s.
For all the remarkable properties of the hemp plant; however, few are more impressive than its strength. When you hear that hemp is stronger than steel; it is NOT hyperbole, it is a fact!
The second method of measuring strength is bending and mending. When you put a lot of pressure on certain materials, they will bend rather than breaking, and can potentially be mended.
In simple terms, it takes twice as much pressure to crack and break hemp than steel. Furthermore, hemp ‘bends and mends’ approximately six times better than steel. To be clear, we are not saying that the hemp plant is harder to bend than steel. What we are saying is that hemp fibers have a better strength to weight ratio than steel, and it is far cheaper to manufacture.
You may have heard about how Henry Ford created a plastic hemp car that was ten times stronger than steel. Of course, this isn’t the full story. Ford’s famous ‘hemp car’ consisted only of a small amount of hemp.
Ford’s dream was to create a vehicle from farm products during the Great Depression to help out America’s farmers. At the time, the car was an estimated 300 pounds lighter than the steel cars of the day. In a 1941 interview, Ford said his car would be lighter, safer, and less expensive than his other cars.
While the vehicle itself was real, it wasn’t made entirely from hemp. Other materials included wheat, soy beans, and corn. There were promotional videos which showed the incredible strength of the car but sadly, it never came to fruition.
Fast forward to 1958, and Roger Bacon expanded on the experiment by creating ‘whiskers’ with triple the stiffness of steel, and 10 times the tensile strength. It was eventually manufactured into a substance we know as carbon fiber. However, hemp has an even greater tensile strength!
A new material was ‘discovered’ by the journal Science in 2004. Known as graphene, this material is a form of carbon which exists as a sheet with the thickness of an atom. It is said to be 100 times stronger than steel, AND it conducts electricity better than copper. All it takes is 1% of graphene mixed into plastics to provide conductivity.
Graphene is a ‘super-material,’ yet hemp can mimic many of its best properties. For example, waste fibers from hemp crops could be turned into high-performance energy devices. At an American Chemical Society meeting in 2014, a team of researchers produced the results of a remarkable experiment. They subjected cannabis bark to high temperatures to turn the material into carbon nanosheets, and were able to create supercapacitors at a level equal to, or greater than, graphene.
For the record, supercapacitors are energy storage devices which transform the way your electronics are powered. Old-fashioned batteries store reserves of energy and drip-feed it slowly. In contrast, supercapacitors discharge their full load, which makes them ideal for machines such as electric cars where quick bursts of power are essential.
Graphene makes excellent supercapacitors but is incredibly expensive to produce. While hemp is unable to do everything graphene can, it works just as well for energy storage and costs a few hundred dollars per ton.
Industrial hemp is inexpensive to produce, and it takes just a few months for it to grow. The plant has an incredible number of applications, and it is about time they were finally used. It seems astonishing to learn that hemp fibers are superior to steel on a strength to weight ratio. It is something we have known for a very long time, and it is a tragedy that hemp has remained relatively unused over the last century or so. The Farm Bill of 2018 will see a revival of industrial hemp growth in what is a case of ‘better late than never.’
Source: marijuanabreak.com
Humanity has made more than a handful of blunders, and not fully realizing the potential of industrial hemp certainly belongs on the list of worst mistakes made in the last 100 years. It seems too incredible to be true, but hemp IS stronger than steel, and significantly so. Hemp is also the perfect substitute for trees when making paper, and at least 75% of all paper made in the United States pre-1833 came from hemp.
Government studies from over 100 years ago found that an acre of hemp equated to four acres of trees and at that time, it was predicted that all paper could come from hemp by the 1940s. This would have meant minimal cutting down on trees, and a far healthier planet for generations to come.
Instead came the so-called War on Marijuana, which was really a means of solidifying the fortunes of William Randolph Hearst and the DuPonts, among others. As well as making paper, hemp was responsible for 80% of all fabrics, linen, clothes, and textiles until the development of the Cotton Gin in the 1790s.
For all the remarkable properties of the hemp plant; however, few are more impressive than its strength. When you hear that hemp is stronger than steel; it is NOT hyperbole, it is a fact!
Why is Hemp Stronger Than Steel?
When measuring strength, we fall back on one of two methods. The first involves cracking and breaking, like a dry tree branch which is stiff and doesn’t bend. You need to apply a significant amount of pressure to have an impact. Ultimately, the branch cracks and breaks rather than bending.The second method of measuring strength is bending and mending. When you put a lot of pressure on certain materials, they will bend rather than breaking, and can potentially be mended.
In simple terms, it takes twice as much pressure to crack and break hemp than steel. Furthermore, hemp ‘bends and mends’ approximately six times better than steel. To be clear, we are not saying that the hemp plant is harder to bend than steel. What we are saying is that hemp fibers have a better strength to weight ratio than steel, and it is far cheaper to manufacture.
You may have heard about how Henry Ford created a plastic hemp car that was ten times stronger than steel. Of course, this isn’t the full story. Ford’s famous ‘hemp car’ consisted only of a small amount of hemp.
Ford’s dream was to create a vehicle from farm products during the Great Depression to help out America’s farmers. At the time, the car was an estimated 300 pounds lighter than the steel cars of the day. In a 1941 interview, Ford said his car would be lighter, safer, and less expensive than his other cars.
While the vehicle itself was real, it wasn’t made entirely from hemp. Other materials included wheat, soy beans, and corn. There were promotional videos which showed the incredible strength of the car but sadly, it never came to fruition.
Hemp is Stronger Than Other Manmade Materials, Too
Thomas Edison stumbled upon the ability to made a new super-strength material way back in 1879 during a light-bulb filament experiment. Edison heated splinters of bamboo to incredible temperatures, and the result was strands of carbon capable of withstanding tremendous heat; the material was also able to conduct electricity.Fast forward to 1958, and Roger Bacon expanded on the experiment by creating ‘whiskers’ with triple the stiffness of steel, and 10 times the tensile strength. It was eventually manufactured into a substance we know as carbon fiber. However, hemp has an even greater tensile strength!
A new material was ‘discovered’ by the journal Science in 2004. Known as graphene, this material is a form of carbon which exists as a sheet with the thickness of an atom. It is said to be 100 times stronger than steel, AND it conducts electricity better than copper. All it takes is 1% of graphene mixed into plastics to provide conductivity.
Graphene is a ‘super-material,’ yet hemp can mimic many of its best properties. For example, waste fibers from hemp crops could be turned into high-performance energy devices. At an American Chemical Society meeting in 2014, a team of researchers produced the results of a remarkable experiment. They subjected cannabis bark to high temperatures to turn the material into carbon nanosheets, and were able to create supercapacitors at a level equal to, or greater than, graphene.
For the record, supercapacitors are energy storage devices which transform the way your electronics are powered. Old-fashioned batteries store reserves of energy and drip-feed it slowly. In contrast, supercapacitors discharge their full load, which makes them ideal for machines such as electric cars where quick bursts of power are essential.
Graphene makes excellent supercapacitors but is incredibly expensive to produce. While hemp is unable to do everything graphene can, it works just as well for energy storage and costs a few hundred dollars per ton.
Final Thoughts on Hemp
While we continue to waste millions of dollars trying to find new super-materials, there is a natural alternative growing readily around us. The Farm Bill of 2018 has finally legalized the growth of industrial hemp in the United States, which is great news going forward. It is about time that America followed the lead of China, where hemp is widely cultivated. Even our neighbors, Canada, are getting in on the act as their textiles industry grows.Industrial hemp is inexpensive to produce, and it takes just a few months for it to grow. The plant has an incredible number of applications, and it is about time they were finally used. It seems astonishing to learn that hemp fibers are superior to steel on a strength to weight ratio. It is something we have known for a very long time, and it is a tragedy that hemp has remained relatively unused over the last century or so. The Farm Bill of 2018 will see a revival of industrial hemp growth in what is a case of ‘better late than never.’
Hemp oil misconceptions
Source: augustafreepress.com
As the hemp oil industry builds, so are hemp oil misconceptions. It’s hard to know the difference between fact and fiction. Through this guide, we’ll tackle some of the biggest misconceptions and help you understand why they’re false or which might be half-truths.
Our goal is to help educate you about hemp oil, what’s fact, what’s fiction and how to buy the best hemp oil product for your individual needs.
Hemp oil is in the spotlight around the world. Its potential is still being discovered. Misconceptions seem to pop up almost daily.
The federal government has recognized that other cannabinoids have healing potential. Even medications that contain intoxicating cannabinoids have been approved for wide distribution.
This is why it’s often said that hemp oil is non-psychoactive, but in reality – it is. It’s a positive psychoactivity aimed at supporting appropriate responses. Hemp oil may support better responses to stress, anxiety, depression, inflammation and other actions/reactions in the body. Alterations in response occur.
Studies have proven that a combination of cannabinoids is superior to a single cannabinoid in terms of efficacy. Every cannabinoid has a unique profile. Those profiles, when combined, sometimes act as double power when supporting systems and functions in the body.
What if your state prohibits specific cannabinoids? Well, this is a rather simple solution. Yes, some states do restrict some cannabinoids (the intoxicating ones), but it’s okay. All you need to do is choose a full spectrum or broad spectrum hemp oil product that also includes plant-based terpenes, like those offered right here at ILGM. The entourage effect is still achievable with a variety of cannabinoids and plant-based terpenes.
Yes, it’s a big one of the hemp oil misconceptions that a single cannabinoid is more beneficial for the body than a combination.
Small doses of hemp oil could actually be energizing – debunking this myth.
Without multiple cannabinoids being present, the entourage effect is impossible. The entourage effect refers to a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes working together creating synergy in the body. A single molecule cannot do that. This is why whole plant medicine (full and broad spectrum hemp oil preparations) is touted as being superior to isolate options.
Psychoactivity is often misunderstood. It’s often thought that you have to “feel” the effect of a pharmaceutical or other therapeutic property to induce psychoactivity, and that just isn’t the case. With hemp oil, the psychoactivity noticed could be instances like healthier responses to stress by remaining calm, better responses to pain by inhibiting inflammation and better responses to depression-like responses with happiness and calm.
Using hemp oil is just as individualized as using prescribed pharmaceuticals is.
Microdosing is ideal for some people, while it might not be the right approach for others.
As the hemp oil industry builds, so are hemp oil misconceptions. It’s hard to know the difference between fact and fiction. Through this guide, we’ll tackle some of the biggest misconceptions and help you understand why they’re false or which might be half-truths.
Our goal is to help educate you about hemp oil, what’s fact, what’s fiction and how to buy the best hemp oil product for your individual needs.
Hemp oil is in the spotlight around the world. Its potential is still being discovered. Misconceptions seem to pop up almost daily.
Hemp Oil is Purely for Medical Use
There are several cannabinoids in the hemp plant. The intoxicating cannabinoid is stigmatized as being merely recreational, but this is not true. All of the cannabinoids in the hemp plant have therapeutic or supportive value. Hemp oil isn’t used only for supportive purposes.The federal government has recognized that other cannabinoids have healing potential. Even medications that contain intoxicating cannabinoids have been approved for wide distribution.
Hemp Oil Isn’t Psychoactive
It’s often said that hemp oil isn’t psychoactive, but this one of the biggest hemp oil misconceptions. It’s just non-intoxicating, it’s not non-psychoactive. Psychoactive is defined as “altering the mind”. The change that occurs, however, does not need to be one that causes fogginess, impairment or intoxication.This is why it’s often said that hemp oil is non-psychoactive, but in reality – it is. It’s a positive psychoactivity aimed at supporting appropriate responses. Hemp oil may support better responses to stress, anxiety, depression, inflammation and other actions/reactions in the body. Alterations in response occur.
Hemp Oil Works Best Alone
Some say that the dominant cannabinoid in hemp oil works best all by itself, but this isn’t necessarily true. Sure, a single cannabinoid might work a little bit for some people, but it really does work best when combined with other cannabinoids and terpenes to generate the entourage effect.Studies have proven that a combination of cannabinoids is superior to a single cannabinoid in terms of efficacy. Every cannabinoid has a unique profile. Those profiles, when combined, sometimes act as double power when supporting systems and functions in the body.
What if your state prohibits specific cannabinoids? Well, this is a rather simple solution. Yes, some states do restrict some cannabinoids (the intoxicating ones), but it’s okay. All you need to do is choose a full spectrum or broad spectrum hemp oil product that also includes plant-based terpenes, like those offered right here at ILGM. The entourage effect is still achievable with a variety of cannabinoids and plant-based terpenes.
Yes, it’s a big one of the hemp oil misconceptions that a single cannabinoid is more beneficial for the body than a combination.
Hemp Oil is a Sedative
Hemp oil itself isn’t sedative, so this is another one of the popular hemp oil misconceptions. In higher doses it might appear more relaxing, but it’s not sedating. Myrcene as an ingredient may induce a sedative effect, but this plant-based terpenes also has a lot of value on its own. It’s a terpene to look for if sleep seems to be the enemy or pain takes over from time-to-time.Small doses of hemp oil could actually be energizing – debunking this myth.
Single Molecule Pharmaceuticals are Superior
This is one of the hemp oil misconceptions that is laughable. The federal government and Big Pharma have both acknowledged that single cannabinoids have applicable value but they also say that the cannabinoid profile of an entire plant does not. How does this make sense? It doesn’t.Without multiple cannabinoids being present, the entourage effect is impossible. The entourage effect refers to a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes working together creating synergy in the body. A single molecule cannot do that. This is why whole plant medicine (full and broad spectrum hemp oil preparations) is touted as being superior to isolate options.
Psychoactivity is a Bad Thing
It’s said that psychoactivity is a negative effect, but in the case of hemp oil, this just isn’t true. Psychoactivity just refers to an altering or change in the mind – it doesn’t mean someone has to be impaired by something for it to be psychoactive. Hemp oil is psychoactive, as we mentioned above, but not in a bad way. It promotes healthy responses to stimulants, actions and functions that could trigger negative actions/reactions in the body.Psychoactivity is often misunderstood. It’s often thought that you have to “feel” the effect of a pharmaceutical or other therapeutic property to induce psychoactivity, and that just isn’t the case. With hemp oil, the psychoactivity noticed could be instances like healthier responses to stress by remaining calm, better responses to pain by inhibiting inflammation and better responses to depression-like responses with happiness and calm.
Hemp Oil is Best Used in High Doses
Everyone has an individual ideal dose of hemp oil. Sure, some people’s bodies might need higher doses, but others might prefer or experience satisfaction with moderate to small doses. The thing about hemp oil is that two people can take the same exact dose and experience different levels of satisfaction. The same goes for pharmaceuticals. For some, a standard dose does just fine and others, a standard dose might cause impairment.Using hemp oil is just as individualized as using prescribed pharmaceuticals is.
Microdosing is ideal for some people, while it might not be the right approach for others.
Hemp Oil Converts to Other Cannabinoids in the Stomach
This is another one of the laughable hemp oil misconceptions. Hemp oil cannot become another cannabinoid in the stomach. Decarboxylation can cause some cannabinoids to convert to others during heating, but the stomach digests – it does not heat cannabinoids. Every cannabinoid is different and few are capable of converting via degradation or decarboxylation (activation via heat).Closing Thoughts
We hope you had a laugh at some of these hemp oil misconceptions. We sure did. We also hope that this information has helped clear up any questions you might have regarding things you’ve heard or stories about hemp oil that seem “off”.Happiness is Hemp
By Chris Allen
Source: villagemagazine.ie
Use of wonder material, hemp, is burgeoning but its potential is being undermined by corporate interests and antiquated legislation
Marcus McCabe in hemp fields at Clones in County Monaghan, Ireland
IRISH AGRICULTURAL policy over the past decade has generated unsustainable levels of dairy and beef production. The national herd is approaching 8 million in number and each cow produces 2 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. Industrial-scale farming has resulted in serious climate and national food-security issues which now must be addressed by incentivising the diversification of agricultural land-use and agricultural food production. The search for viable alternatives, capable of supporting Ireland’s rural economy, has led many farmers to consider the potentials of hemp. Hemp is a high value, cash crop with massive economic potential and it can also deliver substantial environmental benefits.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Rudolph Diesel designed his engine to run on hemp oil. Henry Ford experimented with hemp to build car bodies. But it was as good as prohibited in the United States by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, until it was in effect revoked in December. Hemp is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. Its tight-spacing squeezes out weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It produces up to four tonnes per acre per year. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop.
Hemp thrives without chemical additives or fertilisers and requires minimal use of natural resources. When used as a break crop, hemp significantly increases the yield of rotation crops and as biomass it is a fully renewable energy resource. Hemp promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health in marine environments as well as on land. And a growing body of international research also demonstrates that commercial hemp farming has a significant positive impact on the regeneration of rural communities.
Hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare than any forest or commercial crop – it is the ideal carbon sink. Its bioremediation and soil-decontamination potential is prolific and its capacity to impact industrial carbon emissions is immense. Hemp is the most complete plant-based protein we have, it contains all nine essential amino acids and has considerable nutritional, health and medicinal properties.
Outside of its enormous potential as biofuel, hemp is currently used in construction, car manufacturing, paper, food, animal-bedding, clothing, drinks, health, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and there are solid indicators that it will replace other carbon intensive processing in a further range of industrial applications. Petrol-based fibreglass, for example, is more than 400% more expensive to produce than hemp-based fibreglass of superior strength and quality. Rapid advances in hemp technology are bringing production costs well below carbon-based equivalents and the industry is now the fastest growing employment provider in the US, outperforming the US tech industry by a ratio of 2:1 in 2017.
The rapid growth of global hemp markets has not by and large followed sustainable development pathways and huge environmental benefits have been squandered. Global policy and regulatory reforms aimed at removing historical barriers to trade – hemp is an agricultural crop with no narcotic value but is treated as a controlled substance – have tended to militate against small, high-quality producers and to favour the growth of corporate actors in the pharmaceutical, drinks and tobacco industries.
Ireland is very well suited to hemp and last year, agricultural activity in the Irish hemp sector increased by more than 200% and over the past few weeks there has been another huge increase in the number of Irish farmers enquiring about HPRA hemp-licencing procedures. Many of these are looking to diversify and view hemp as a viable alternative to carbon-intensive dairy and beef production. However, the lack of even the most rudimentary supply chain to support the growth potential is hugely concerning.
Insufficient technological capabilities and over-restrictive regulatory requirements limit the Irish hemp industry’s capacity to benefit the environment. They fuel negative public perceptions and are constructive barriers to a full realisation of hemp’s environmental potential. Consequently, the Irish hemp industry is perilously underdeveloped and without state support it will not survive the attentions of global giants now poised to enter the European market. The development of new agricultural systems capable of realising Ireland’s climate transition goals must be supported by financial mechanisms to enable Irish farmers to deliver on environmental policy objectives.
The hemp industry requires coordinated development of supply-chain infrastructure to enable a progressive transition toward fully integrated farming and industrial practice consistent with environmental ethics, and capable of realising climate policy objectives. Producer and processor incentives will also be needed to underpin an incubation period, until markets and supply-chains are mature enough to support market-led growth. Measures will be required to educate and inform the public and to promote European and global market penetration of Irish hemp products. It is also hugely important that the forthcoming legislation to allow for access to medical cannabis also protects the environmental, social and rural economic potentials of the Irish hemp industry.
Hemp is the wonder material for our times. It needs only a fair regulatory tail wind.
Source: villagemagazine.ie
Use of wonder material, hemp, is burgeoning but its potential is being undermined by corporate interests and antiquated legislation
Marcus McCabe in hemp fields at Clones in County Monaghan, Ireland
IRISH AGRICULTURAL policy over the past decade has generated unsustainable levels of dairy and beef production. The national herd is approaching 8 million in number and each cow produces 2 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. Industrial-scale farming has resulted in serious climate and national food-security issues which now must be addressed by incentivising the diversification of agricultural land-use and agricultural food production. The search for viable alternatives, capable of supporting Ireland’s rural economy, has led many farmers to consider the potentials of hemp. Hemp is a high value, cash crop with massive economic potential and it can also deliver substantial environmental benefits.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Rudolph Diesel designed his engine to run on hemp oil. Henry Ford experimented with hemp to build car bodies. But it was as good as prohibited in the United States by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, until it was in effect revoked in December. Hemp is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. Its tight-spacing squeezes out weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It produces up to four tonnes per acre per year. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop.
Hemp thrives without chemical additives or fertilisers and requires minimal use of natural resources. When used as a break crop, hemp significantly increases the yield of rotation crops and as biomass it is a fully renewable energy resource. Hemp promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health in marine environments as well as on land. And a growing body of international research also demonstrates that commercial hemp farming has a significant positive impact on the regeneration of rural communities.
Hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare than any forest or commercial crop – it is the ideal carbon sink. Its bioremediation and soil-decontamination potential is prolific and its capacity to impact industrial carbon emissions is immense. Hemp is the most complete plant-based protein we have, it contains all nine essential amino acids and has considerable nutritional, health and medicinal properties.
Outside of its enormous potential as biofuel, hemp is currently used in construction, car manufacturing, paper, food, animal-bedding, clothing, drinks, health, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and there are solid indicators that it will replace other carbon intensive processing in a further range of industrial applications. Petrol-based fibreglass, for example, is more than 400% more expensive to produce than hemp-based fibreglass of superior strength and quality. Rapid advances in hemp technology are bringing production costs well below carbon-based equivalents and the industry is now the fastest growing employment provider in the US, outperforming the US tech industry by a ratio of 2:1 in 2017.
The rapid growth of global hemp markets has not by and large followed sustainable development pathways and huge environmental benefits have been squandered. Global policy and regulatory reforms aimed at removing historical barriers to trade – hemp is an agricultural crop with no narcotic value but is treated as a controlled substance – have tended to militate against small, high-quality producers and to favour the growth of corporate actors in the pharmaceutical, drinks and tobacco industries.
Ireland is very well suited to hemp and last year, agricultural activity in the Irish hemp sector increased by more than 200% and over the past few weeks there has been another huge increase in the number of Irish farmers enquiring about HPRA hemp-licencing procedures. Many of these are looking to diversify and view hemp as a viable alternative to carbon-intensive dairy and beef production. However, the lack of even the most rudimentary supply chain to support the growth potential is hugely concerning.
Insufficient technological capabilities and over-restrictive regulatory requirements limit the Irish hemp industry’s capacity to benefit the environment. They fuel negative public perceptions and are constructive barriers to a full realisation of hemp’s environmental potential. Consequently, the Irish hemp industry is perilously underdeveloped and without state support it will not survive the attentions of global giants now poised to enter the European market. The development of new agricultural systems capable of realising Ireland’s climate transition goals must be supported by financial mechanisms to enable Irish farmers to deliver on environmental policy objectives.
The hemp industry requires coordinated development of supply-chain infrastructure to enable a progressive transition toward fully integrated farming and industrial practice consistent with environmental ethics, and capable of realising climate policy objectives. Producer and processor incentives will also be needed to underpin an incubation period, until markets and supply-chains are mature enough to support market-led growth. Measures will be required to educate and inform the public and to promote European and global market penetration of Irish hemp products. It is also hugely important that the forthcoming legislation to allow for access to medical cannabis also protects the environmental, social and rural economic potentials of the Irish hemp industry.
Hemp is the wonder material for our times. It needs only a fair regulatory tail wind.
How Hemp Fabric Is Made & Why It’s Better
By Ellijah Pickering
Source: ministryofhemp.com
Hemp fabric could be crucial to creating a more comfortable, more sustainable world.
What would you do if we told you that you could buy a T-shirt that lasts longer, is cheaper, and harms the environment less than your average cotton T-shirt? You’d probably tell us that’s impossible, but you’d be wrong. So very wrong.
That’s because hemp clothing exists, and it has all of those advantages listed above and more.
Hemp fabric is deliciously soft on the skin, and is known for growing softer with each wear. It’s also naturally resistant to bacteria and provides natural UV protection. That means it protects your skin, and retains color better than other fabrics. As you can see, hemp fabric is quite practical. It literally prevents you from getting stinky, gets softer with more use, and is stronger and longer-lasting than cotton.
And it’s not only practical but stylish too. Hemp fashion is a real thing, and there are many companies that produce appealing hemp clothing. To name a few: Hemp Horizon, iLoveBad, and Patagonia’s hemp clothing collection. These companies are producing awesome clothing; clothing that makes us want to drop hundreds of dollars on sweaters and underwear. Just look at Patagonia’s Fog Cutter Sweater, it’s perfect for Michigan’s chilly fall weather.
Style isn’t the biggest upside of hemp, though. The biggest advantage of hemp fabric is its production methods and hemp’s environmental impact (or lack thereof).
Let’s take a quick dive into how hemp textiles are produced.
Recreator, another hemp brand we love, outlined how hemp fabric is produced:
Cotton: Cotton is grown in fields, like hemp, and is harvested by cotton harvesters, those big machines that can harvest cotton at a super-human rate. Then, like hemp, cotton is put through a “ginning” process, in which the fibers are separated from the seeds. The fibers are put through multiple processes that further refine them, like scutching, hackling and roving. Once the cotton is ready, it is spun into fabric.
Wool: This material is easier to process, as it takes less steps to reach its final product. One needs to harvest the wool, then process it via techniques called ‘carding’ and ‘combing’ that smooths and refines the wool, and then weave or knit it into the fabric. Although easier to process, sheep farming creates its own carbon foot print and a great deal of waste. Not only do you have to use energy and water to process wool, but you have to feed, clean, and maintain the sheep. Sheep who produce methane-dense waste and require more resources to survive than a plant.
Right now, most hemp products in the U.S., especially outside of CBD oil, are made from imported hemp. This increases both the carbon footprint, or environmental cost of making hemp products, and the final cost that you, the consumer, pay to buy them. We hope that some of this changes as hemp is fully legalized in the U.S. in the near future.
Hemp uses about 5% the amount of water it takes to grow cotton and can often be rain-fed. Hemp can grow in almost all soil conditions, and unlike cotton (which depletes the soil of nutrients) hemp’s deep-reaching roots preserve the topsoil and subsoil. Hemp grows densely as well, leaving no room for weeds and competing plants and is less vulnerable to insects, which means little to no use of pesticides. Lastly, hemp grows extremely fast, only needing 120-days to be ready for harvest. We’ve compared hemp and cotton before, and while not everyone agrees, we think hemp is the winner.
Don’t forget that we’re only talking about the stalk of the hemp plant, which is the part used to make hemp fabric. The leaves and seeds are used to make hemp oil, hemp fuel, and other products that each have their own benefits.
We’ve come again to a conclusion that we’ve come to many times before: hemp is a super-plant. From its practical uses to environmental sustainability, the hemp plant comes out on top, out-performing all competitors.
Hemp fabric could be crucial to creating a more comfortable, more sustainable world.
What would you do if we told you that you could buy a T-shirt that lasts longer, is cheaper, and harms the environment less than your average cotton T-shirt? You’d probably tell us that’s impossible, but you’d be wrong. So very wrong.
That’s because hemp clothing exists, and it has all of those advantages listed above and more.
WHAT MAKES HEMP FABRIC BETTER?
Hemp clothing has numerous advantages.Hemp fabric is deliciously soft on the skin, and is known for growing softer with each wear. It’s also naturally resistant to bacteria and provides natural UV protection. That means it protects your skin, and retains color better than other fabrics. As you can see, hemp fabric is quite practical. It literally prevents you from getting stinky, gets softer with more use, and is stronger and longer-lasting than cotton.
And it’s not only practical but stylish too. Hemp fashion is a real thing, and there are many companies that produce appealing hemp clothing. To name a few: Hemp Horizon, iLoveBad, and Patagonia’s hemp clothing collection. These companies are producing awesome clothing; clothing that makes us want to drop hundreds of dollars on sweaters and underwear. Just look at Patagonia’s Fog Cutter Sweater, it’s perfect for Michigan’s chilly fall weather.
Style isn’t the biggest upside of hemp, though. The biggest advantage of hemp fabric is its production methods and hemp’s environmental impact (or lack thereof).
HOW DO YOU MAKE HEMP FABRIC?
The production of the clothes that we use everyday aren’t something most people think about. Clothes are simply things that we buy and wear. Most of us aren’t aware of the hyper-complex supply chain systems needed to bring that simple cotton t-shirt to our local Walmart. That sentiment is true of all fabrics, including hemp.Let’s take a quick dive into how hemp textiles are produced.
A dense field of green bamboo-like industrial hemp stalks grows tall in the summer sunshine.
Industrial hemp can be harvested for thousands of uses.
Recreator, another hemp brand we love, outlined how hemp fabric is produced:
- Cultivation
- Harvesting
- Retting (The process whereby naturally occurring bacteria and fungi, or chemicals, break down the pectins that bind the hemp fibers to be released. Common techniques consist of soaking in water, or laying on the ground and letting dew do the ‘retting’)
- Breaking
- Scutching (Beating stems, which separates the desired fibers from the hemp’s woody core)
- Hackling (combing of the stems to remove unwanted particles)
- Roving (improves strength)
- Spinning (can be wet and dry spun)
HOW HEMP FABRIC COMPARES TO OTHER NATURAL FABRICS
How does hemp production compare to other textiles?Cotton: Cotton is grown in fields, like hemp, and is harvested by cotton harvesters, those big machines that can harvest cotton at a super-human rate. Then, like hemp, cotton is put through a “ginning” process, in which the fibers are separated from the seeds. The fibers are put through multiple processes that further refine them, like scutching, hackling and roving. Once the cotton is ready, it is spun into fabric.
Wool: This material is easier to process, as it takes less steps to reach its final product. One needs to harvest the wool, then process it via techniques called ‘carding’ and ‘combing’ that smooths and refines the wool, and then weave or knit it into the fabric. Although easier to process, sheep farming creates its own carbon foot print and a great deal of waste. Not only do you have to use energy and water to process wool, but you have to feed, clean, and maintain the sheep. Sheep who produce methane-dense waste and require more resources to survive than a plant.
Right now, most hemp products in the U.S., including hemp fabric, are imported from China,
increasing cost and carbon footprint. That could change with total hemp legalization.
Right now, most hemp products in the U.S., especially outside of CBD oil, are made from imported hemp. This increases both the carbon footprint, or environmental cost of making hemp products, and the final cost that you, the consumer, pay to buy them. We hope that some of this changes as hemp is fully legalized in the U.S. in the near future.
HEMP IS A SUPER PLANT & FABRIC IS JUST THE BEGINNING
While hemp is harvested and processed similarly to other fabrics, its main advantage is through the hemp plant itself.Hemp uses about 5% the amount of water it takes to grow cotton and can often be rain-fed. Hemp can grow in almost all soil conditions, and unlike cotton (which depletes the soil of nutrients) hemp’s deep-reaching roots preserve the topsoil and subsoil. Hemp grows densely as well, leaving no room for weeds and competing plants and is less vulnerable to insects, which means little to no use of pesticides. Lastly, hemp grows extremely fast, only needing 120-days to be ready for harvest. We’ve compared hemp and cotton before, and while not everyone agrees, we think hemp is the winner.
Don’t forget that we’re only talking about the stalk of the hemp plant, which is the part used to make hemp fabric. The leaves and seeds are used to make hemp oil, hemp fuel, and other products that each have their own benefits.
We’ve come again to a conclusion that we’ve come to many times before: hemp is a super-plant. From its practical uses to environmental sustainability, the hemp plant comes out on top, out-performing all competitors.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
CBN: What is it and can it help me sleep?
By Lisa Smalls
twitter handle @smallzsaysthis
Source: direct from the author
twitter handle @smallzsaysthis
Source: direct from the author
Photo by Stefan
Rodriguez on Unsplash
Thirty-five percent of
American adults don’t get the recommended seven-plus hours of sleep each
night, and nearly forty percent of adults have experienced acute or chronic
sleep deprivation brought on by insomnia sometime over the course of a year.
A
lack of sleep prevents your body from being able to go through the crucial
stages of sleep that help manage inflammation, repair damaged tissue and
muscles, organize thoughts and memories, and even improve creativity. During
the day, you lose cognitive ability, lack focus and motivation, are fatigued,
and can have difficulty maintaining balance after a night of poor sleep.
Unfortunately,
sleep comes at a premium for people who experience insomnia. But there are
all-natural solutions to help solve issues of troubled sleep. One of those
solutions is the use of CBN.
What is CBN?
CBN (Cannabinol) is one of over 80
cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Until recently, the most popular
cannabinoid, THC, was the most widely understood chemical due to both it
medicinal and mind-altering effects. However, recent research has shown
significant benefits from other cannabinoids such as CBD and CBN. CBD has already been proven to create a
calming and relaxed behavior that helps ease the mind and therefore promote
sleep. The claims regarding CBN might be even more favorable.
CBN
is a cannabinoid that is produced when THC oxidizes. While initially considered
a bad thing due to the reduction in the effects of THC, recent research has
shown CBN offers several unique benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, stimulating appetite,
promoting the growth of bone cells, and its behavior as a sedative.
How does CBN help you sleep better?
CBN,
especially when combined with THC, has shown in lab results to have substantial
sedative properties. While the details of research are scarce, CBN is quickly
becoming a popular point of interest in research studies which provide a long
list of benefits unique to the cannabinoid.
Curiously,
CBN has multiple benefits that may someday prove to be an essential chemical to
manage sleep disorders. This is because the effects of CBN help assuage not
only insomnia itself, but the root cause of the insomnia. For example, CBN
eases inflammation, reduces stress, and is shown to have some anti-anxiety
benefits—all of these conditions (inflammation, stress, and anxiety) trigger
insomnia. With the power to heal a number of physical and mental conditions
that lead to troubled sleep combined with the sedation properties, CBN shows
great promise to help those who suffer from both acute and chronic sleeping
disorders.
Is CBN available to the public?
The
short answer to this question is yes. Although CBN can be found for purchase,
it is usually available combined with THC or CBD. In fact, as of recent the
dosages of CBN have increased to support a higher level of CBN in these
products. As further studies are revealed to show the potential benefits CBN,
it is likely that CBN will be more readily available.
CBN
is growing in popularity as a cannabinoid, and is being combined with THC and
CBD products more and more. While CBN has shown to have both minimal and
significant effects on chronic conditions such as arthritis, seizures, and
Crohn’s disease, it is the sedative properties of this substance that are
garnering the most attention. So, is CBN destined to become an insomniac’s
dream medication in the future? It’s sure looking that way.
The Amazing World of Hemp: The Solution to Our World’s Massive Plastic Problem
By Zoe Biehl
Source: cannabistech.com
From building materials and clothing to environmental God-send, in our final article in a three-part series on hemp, we explore the potential of hemp-based bioplastics.
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in global awareness of plastic pollution. The world is starting to take note of the size and scale of its plastic waste problem and is taking action. The European Union banned single-use plastics in March, with other countries such as Australia considering doing the same. Consumers and legislators are looking to reduce or eliminate the use of all petroleum-based plastic materials.
Although these moves are great news for the planet, some are worried that this will create something of a void. Plastic, in its many forms, is an essential material with so many applications — not only at a consumer level, but an industrial one as well. From drinking bottles to car components, people will struggle to live without plastic. Could hemp be the solution?
In 2015, 322 million metric tons of plastic was produced, with experts predicting that annual production will quadruple by 2050. This creates extreme waste management problems which choke land, waterways and particularly the oceans — reportedly, 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute.
Plastics, or to be more precise polymers, are usually made from petroleum or natural gas. This means that not only do these products fail to biodegrade over time, adding to the plastic pollution problem, but their production is linked to ever-shrinking fossil fuel reserves. Plastic production makes up 4% of the total annual use of oil and gas worldwide.
Today, there are two giant patches of floating plastic debris which have collected together in the ocean, called the “North Atlantic garbage patch” and the “Great Pacific garbage patch.”
The latter is estimated to be more than twice the size of Texas.
The volume of plastics in the ocean is having hugely detrimental impacts on ecosystems, with deaths of countless marine animals, from turtles to whales, being linked to plastic ingestion, or being caught in plastic debris.
It is abundantly clear that something needs to be done to curb all this plastic waste. That’s why many are turning to hemp as a potential solution to our world’s plastic problem.
Hemp-based bioplastic materials could potentially replace plastics in several uses, being used to produce products from bottles and toys to household goods and even industrial components.
Hemp-based bioplastic is nothing new — hemp bioplastics were developed not long after petroleum-based polymers in the first half of the 20th century.
Hemp can be used to create a fiber-reinforced biocomposite — this is a polymer matrix reinforced with hemp fibers. The result is a durable product which looks and feels like the fossil fuel-based polymer plastics consumers are accustomed to buying.
To date, the primary user of hemp-based bioplastics has been the automotive industry, but this versatile material has potential uses across many sectors. Hemp Business Journal has predicted that by 2022, the hemp bioplastics industry will reach $28 million.
Any type of bioplastic has significant advantages for the environment. Unlike traditional polymers, they are not made from fossil fuel products and do not produce carbon dioxide gas when they break down. As the world faces a climate crisis, bioplastics could be an essential part of the climate solution.
Additionally, most bioplastics (including hemp-based bioplastics) are biodegradable, meaning they will not contribute to the crippling levels of plastic waste and pollution across the planet.
Hemp is an ideal feedstock for bioplastics. It needs less water and pesticides compared to other raw materials such as cotton and corn, making it even more environmentally friendly. Its quick growth cycle and high fiber-per-acre ratio also make it a highly profitable crop for producers. With cellulose concentrations of 65-75%, hemp is one of the best sources for bioplastic fibers.
We are already seeing this vision becoming a reality. An Alaska-based eco-packaging developer, Best Practices Packaging, has announced they will soon increase the production of hemp-based plastics, while other eco-packaging companies like Sana Packaging already offer a range of hemp-based bioplastic products.
The use of these plastics has already been adopted in the automotive industry, including by some of the world’s most famous car makers — Porsche has announced that its new 718 Cayman sports car will have body parts made in part from hemp.
Other companies have indicated they are looking for environmentally responsible alternatives to plastic. For example, Lego has stated a commitment to using sustainable materials over plastic and is investing $150 million to do so, very recently announcing the upcoming release of its first sustainable collection, made from sugarcane-based polyethylene plastic. These moves from major companies represent significant potential for hemp-based bioplastic, which is a strong contender to be part of this solution.
Hemp-based bioplastics have massive potential as an alternative to the petroleum-based polymers, which are having a detrimental effect on the natural environment. Not only are hemp bioplastics biodegradable, but they also offer reduced water and pesticide use compared to other crops, at the same time as providing higher yields.
With applications from household goods to car components and everything in between, hemp-based bioplastics will likely play a vital role in reducing our planet’s plastic pollution.
Source: cannabistech.com
From building materials and clothing to environmental God-send, in our final article in a three-part series on hemp, we explore the potential of hemp-based bioplastics.
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in global awareness of plastic pollution. The world is starting to take note of the size and scale of its plastic waste problem and is taking action. The European Union banned single-use plastics in March, with other countries such as Australia considering doing the same. Consumers and legislators are looking to reduce or eliminate the use of all petroleum-based plastic materials.
Although these moves are great news for the planet, some are worried that this will create something of a void. Plastic, in its many forms, is an essential material with so many applications — not only at a consumer level, but an industrial one as well. From drinking bottles to car components, people will struggle to live without plastic. Could hemp be the solution?
The State of the Plastic Problem
In 2019, the world is literally drowning in plastic.In 2015, 322 million metric tons of plastic was produced, with experts predicting that annual production will quadruple by 2050. This creates extreme waste management problems which choke land, waterways and particularly the oceans — reportedly, 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute.
Plastics, or to be more precise polymers, are usually made from petroleum or natural gas. This means that not only do these products fail to biodegrade over time, adding to the plastic pollution problem, but their production is linked to ever-shrinking fossil fuel reserves. Plastic production makes up 4% of the total annual use of oil and gas worldwide.
Today, there are two giant patches of floating plastic debris which have collected together in the ocean, called the “North Atlantic garbage patch” and the “Great Pacific garbage patch.”
The latter is estimated to be more than twice the size of Texas.
The volume of plastics in the ocean is having hugely detrimental impacts on ecosystems, with deaths of countless marine animals, from turtles to whales, being linked to plastic ingestion, or being caught in plastic debris.
It is abundantly clear that something needs to be done to curb all this plastic waste. That’s why many are turning to hemp as a potential solution to our world’s plastic problem.
What is the Hemp-Based Bioplastic Solution?
Commentators estimate that addressing the world’s plastic problem is worth around $80 to $120 billion. These numbers spur many to come up with innovative solutions and plastic alternatives, including within the hemp industry.Hemp-based bioplastic materials could potentially replace plastics in several uses, being used to produce products from bottles and toys to household goods and even industrial components.
Hemp-based bioplastic is nothing new — hemp bioplastics were developed not long after petroleum-based polymers in the first half of the 20th century.
Hemp can be used to create a fiber-reinforced biocomposite — this is a polymer matrix reinforced with hemp fibers. The result is a durable product which looks and feels like the fossil fuel-based polymer plastics consumers are accustomed to buying.
To date, the primary user of hemp-based bioplastics has been the automotive industry, but this versatile material has potential uses across many sectors. Hemp Business Journal has predicted that by 2022, the hemp bioplastics industry will reach $28 million.
Any type of bioplastic has significant advantages for the environment. Unlike traditional polymers, they are not made from fossil fuel products and do not produce carbon dioxide gas when they break down. As the world faces a climate crisis, bioplastics could be an essential part of the climate solution.
Additionally, most bioplastics (including hemp-based bioplastics) are biodegradable, meaning they will not contribute to the crippling levels of plastic waste and pollution across the planet.
Hemp is an ideal feedstock for bioplastics. It needs less water and pesticides compared to other raw materials such as cotton and corn, making it even more environmentally friendly. Its quick growth cycle and high fiber-per-acre ratio also make it a highly profitable crop for producers. With cellulose concentrations of 65-75%, hemp is one of the best sources for bioplastic fibers.
The Future for Hemp-Based Bioplastic Alternatives
The 2018 Farm Bill represented a dramatic change for the hemp industry in general, and for the production of hemp-based bioplastic alternatives in particular. This legislation legalized the production of industrial hemp, opening up product innovation and creation of a variety of hemp-based products.We are already seeing this vision becoming a reality. An Alaska-based eco-packaging developer, Best Practices Packaging, has announced they will soon increase the production of hemp-based plastics, while other eco-packaging companies like Sana Packaging already offer a range of hemp-based bioplastic products.
The use of these plastics has already been adopted in the automotive industry, including by some of the world’s most famous car makers — Porsche has announced that its new 718 Cayman sports car will have body parts made in part from hemp.
Other companies have indicated they are looking for environmentally responsible alternatives to plastic. For example, Lego has stated a commitment to using sustainable materials over plastic and is investing $150 million to do so, very recently announcing the upcoming release of its first sustainable collection, made from sugarcane-based polyethylene plastic. These moves from major companies represent significant potential for hemp-based bioplastic, which is a strong contender to be part of this solution.
Hemp-based bioplastics have massive potential as an alternative to the petroleum-based polymers, which are having a detrimental effect on the natural environment. Not only are hemp bioplastics biodegradable, but they also offer reduced water and pesticide use compared to other crops, at the same time as providing higher yields.
With applications from household goods to car components and everything in between, hemp-based bioplastics will likely play a vital role in reducing our planet’s plastic pollution.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)