CBD Oil News
7 Hemp Myths and Legends: Fact or Fiction?
Oct
Despite the fact that hemp has been around for years, it’s still shrouded in myth. There are tons of hemp myths and legends that live on, still considered truth by many!
It’s time for a little myth busting – but read on, we’ve thrown some legends in here too!
Hemp Myths and Legends
#1: Hemp and Marijuana are the Same
This one’s a myth.
Fact: While hemp and marijuana are both members of the cannabis family, they’re not the same plant.
Hemp is a term that describes varieties of cannabis that contain less than 0.3% THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Marijuana is a term used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain more than 0.3% THC.
They’re also are grown differently and look quite different when they’re ready to be harvested.
#2: 17th Century Property Owners in the U.S. Had to Grow Hemp.
It may sound crazy, but this one’s totally true!
Hemp was a stable crop relied upon heavily in the United States. Well, technically this was pre-United States, but still.
In 1619, King James I declared that every property owner in Jamestown had to grow 100 hemp plants. Jamestown was England’s first permanent settlement in North America.
#3: Hemp Can Get you High
Nope. Because hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, there isn’t enough to make you feel those psychoactive effects.
#4: Farmers Often Hide Marijuana in Hemp Fields
If this happens, it isn’t common AT ALL.
Hemp on it’s own is an incredibly valuable crop, and hiding marijuana in the field can greatly devalue it. Cross-pollination between hemp and marijuana negatively impacts the THC level of both plants, potentially decreasing the value of both.
But that’s not the only reason this one is false. Both are grown differently. Hemp needs far less room to grow than marijuana, and hemp grows tall and skinny whereas marijuana is more of a bush-like structure. Thanks to these differences alone, if a plant was hidden, it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
#5: Hemp is the Male Cannabis Plant
Another myth.
Fact: While another common misconception about hemp, this one’s also false.
In fact, hemp plants can be either male or female (or both in some species). Marijuana plants can also be male or female. Male hemp plants die off quickly after they’ve finished pollinating, while the female plants live on. The female plant is grown to maturity. It’s what’s used for CBD or textiles like rope or paper.
#6: Buying and Selling Hemp is a Legal Grey Area in the U.S.
Luckily, no.
Fact: Industrial hemp products are completely legal to buy and sell in the U.S. This includes everything from hemp seeds to hemp rope to hemp building materials!
That said, if you plan on growing hemp, make sure you have the proper licenses.
#7: Henry Ford Built a Car Completely Out of Hemp
Sounds pretty cool, no? We think it’s definitely one of the best hemp myths out there. And, it’s actually a half truth.
The legend goes that Henry Ford built a car of hemp, to run on hemp fuels. It’s mainly fuelled by a Popular Mechanics article from 1941 which said that Ford had designed a concept car, partly to help find metal alternatives during the war years.
The truth is, Ford’s car was partially made of plastic. The prototype never really went anywhere, but he did take a sledgehammer to it to show how strong it was! And it’s just another example oh how much hemp can be used for!
Hemp Can Save the World: Fact or Fiction?
This may be shooting for the stars, but we definitely think it has potential. Hemp is an incredible plant with value as a sustainable resource, a healing natural supplement, and of course as the source of CBD!
Long Live Hemp!
