History Of Hemp

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The first traces of hemp can be found way back in 8000 B.C.E. In and around the Asian regions that are now modern China and Taiwan. The oldest discovery to date are hemp chords used in pottery and records that show that hemp seed and oil were used as food in China. Throughout history hemp continued to spread across civilizations. There have been evidence of materials found in Asia, Europe, Africa, and in South America. North America was first introduced to Hemp in 1606. American farmers grew hemp which was used for multiple different products, such as paper, lamp fuel, and ropes. In the 1700s, farmers were even legally required to grow hemp as a staple crop. Many of our founding fathers grew hemp and advocated its uses and benefits. Even Thomas Jefferson wrote the draft of the declaration of independence on hemp paper.

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However in the 20th century, the United States went from a huge supporter of hemp to completely banning it in the 1970s. Even though hemp was a big part of the early history of the US, attitude towards the crop started to change in the 1900s when the US government increased it’s resolve to fight against drugs such as marijuana. Hemp somehow got grouped with its cannabis cousin. The Marijuana Tax act of 1937 started the major decline of the hemp industry as all hemp sales started to get heavily taxed on. There has been some controversy over this bill, as some have argued that this policy was to reduce the size of the hemp industry in order to help the emerging plastic and land industry gain market share. Last commercial hemp farm in the US was planted in Wisconsin in 1957. Hemp farming was eventually officially banned all together 1970 with the passage of the controlled substances act and hemp was included as a schedule one drug, grouping this crop with drugs like heroin and LSD.

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However the people in our government are realizing hemps potential to make a positive impact on our health, economy, and environment. After almost 30 years of being forbidden, the US allowed businesses to import dietary hemp products in 2004. Application of hemp started to diversify as hemp fiber was imported to be used for clothing and textiles. The first big win for US farmers came in 2017 when two North Dakota farmers were granted hemp licenses for the first time in over 50 years. Building on this in 2014 the farm bill was signed into law, which allowed hemps cultivation as part of University research and states that permitted hemp farming. Just in the last few years momentum for hemp has continued to grow.

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Many states and (now federally) have passed legislation to legalize hemp production under specific circumstances, such as research, academic or government institutions. In 2016, the United States was the only industrialized country that does not allow hemp farming. Other countries and regions have their farmers and are now profiting from the harvest and development of hemp applications. However the US is starting to notice that this plant is very beneficial and considers it the “miracle crop”. The key benefit of hemp is that it is such a sustainable and eco-friendly crop as well as being so useful. Hemp will be a key ingredient as we find global warming and climate change.

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What Makes Hemp Different From Marijuana? Is Hemp And Marijuana The Same?

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No, they are just both part of the cannabis family. Hemp is completely different from marijuana in its function, cultivation and application. But these differences didn’t stop our political leaders from getting confused and accidentally grouping all cannabis species as a Schedule I drug and banning it in 1970 under the Controlled Substance Act. Even after 45 years, the government still seems to have some confusion in distinguishing the two plants.

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Although legislation is being made, progress has been slow. In its application, hemp and marijuana serve completely different purposes. Marijuana, as it is widely known, is used for medicinal or recreational purposes. Hemp is used in variety of other applications that marijuana couldn’t possibly be used in. These include healthy dietary supplements, skin products, clothing, and accessories.

 

Can You Get High Off Of Hemp?

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No, your lungs will fail before your brain attains any high from smoking industrial hemp.

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Chemical Makeup

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The main difference between the two is in its chemical composition, specifically in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the chemical responsible for marijuana's psychological effects. An average batch of marijuana contains anywhere from 5 to 20% THC content. Some premium marijuana can have up to 25 to 30% THC. Hemp on the other hand, has a max THC level of 0.3% essentially making impossible to feel any psychoactive effects or get a “high”. This threshold is heavily regulated in other countries that have legalized hemp. Hemp also has high cannabidoil (CBD) content to act as THC antagonist, essentially making the minimum amount of THC useless. CBD was also recently found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety properties without any psychoactive effects. Thus, it has recently gained popularity as a medical supplement and is now one of the leading applications of hemp in the US.

*Most CBD oil in the US market are imported, making it difficult to control and regulate its quality. We recommend being very cautious and doing your due diligence before purchasing CBD oil.

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So What Is The Endocannabinoid System?

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Let's look at the word "endocannabinoid." "Cannabinoid" comes from "cannabis," and "endo" is short for "endogenous," which means that it is produced naturally inside of your body. So "endocannabinoid" simply means cannabis-like substances that naturally occur inside us.

 

The ECS itself is made up of three parts:

• Endocannabinoids

• Receptors in the nervous system and around your body that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids bond with

• Enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids and cannabinoids

 

Not only is the ECS it a natural part of our bodies, it's a crucial one. To understand the ECS, it first helps to understand what homeostasis is. Basically, homeostasis is your body's efforts to keep everything in the right zone. It tries to keep your internal environment stable and optimal no matter what's going on in the environment around you. Think of all the gauges in the dashboard of a car. Those all tell the operator whether things are—or aren't—operating in the proper zone. Just like the electronics in a car, your body works continuously to monitor important levels and functions in your body. When something is operating outside of the right range, your body activates the ECS to help correct it. So when you're really hot and begin to sweat, thank your ECS for working to cool you down. Stomach growling? That's your ECS helping remind you to eat because you need fuel.

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The ECS does this via cannabinoid receptors found in select tissues. We have two types of cannabinoid receptors:

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CB1which is in the central nervous system (brain and nerves of the spinal cord)

CB2 which is in the peripheral nervous system (nerves in your extremities), the digestive system, and specialized cells in the immune system

Cannabinoid receptors are believed to be among the most plentiful in our central nervous system. Through those receptors, the ECS helps regulate a lot of important functions, such as:

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• Appetite

• Digestion

• Immune function

• Inflammation, including neuro inflammation

• Mood

• Sleep

• Reproduction/fertility

• Motor control

• Temperature regulation

• Memory

• Pain

• Pleasure/reward

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Your body activates the ECS with precision so that it impacts only what it needs to. For example, if your reproductive hormones are out of whack, it will work to regulate them without altering your digestion or immune system. Then, once the endocannabinoids have done their job and brought things into balance, certain enzymes come along to break them down and prevent them from going too far and upsetting the balance in the opposite direction. It's a precise response. Homeostasis is essential to our health and survival, so when the ECS isn't working properly, it can cause a lot of problems for you.

 

As medical science has learned more about the ECS, it's also discovered several conditions that appear to be related to deregulation of the system, which is called clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD). CECD isn't a disease itself but is an umbrella term encompassing conditions with this common feature. The CECD conditions include Fibromyalgia, Migraine, and IBS.

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Cannabinoids are being researched as potential treatments for all kinds of conditions, not just those involving endocannabinoid deficiency. Some of the illness they're being researched for include: Alzheimer's disease; Cardiovascular disease; Neurological, neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric illnesses; Acute and chronic Kidney disease; Autoimmune diseases; chronic inflammatory diseases; and chronic pain conditions. CBD is already being used for pediatric epilepsy, pain, inflammation, acne, asthma, and a host of other conditions.

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My Story

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I personally struggle with PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, anxiety and depression, low energy, and horrible premenstrual symptoms. Even though I have used many modalities for these issues, such as therapy, music, herbal remedies, essential oils, diet and exercise, supplements, and other body work, I still struggled to keep my moods stabilized and my energy going. I had used CBD products in the past for my anxiety and while they were helpful, I was more interested in having a product that I could go to knowing it was organic, non gmo, and easily accessible for myself and for others. You don't always know where your CBD products come from or if they are a holistic company. In the summer of 2018, I decided I would try it and see what happened. Within the first day I could already tell a difference in my energy level and stabilization in mood. Throughout the next 30 days I would experience consistent mood stability, no anxiety, no crying spells, minimal pain and maximum fluidity, higher energy levels, and felt very motivated, so much so I started back on an exercise regiment. When it came to my monthly cycle, my premenstrual symptoms, flow, and pain were lessened. When I ran out of the CBD bottle, within the first few days of not having it, I could tell a difference. My mood was up and down, my anxiety symptoms started to come back, and I felt less motivated. So I ordered a new bottle and within the next two days it came in the mail.

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Within the next few months of using CBD, I continued to see my mood, motivation, and energy stabilize, but I also stopped taking a pro-biotic, because my stomach issues had ceased, my focus became clearer, my allergies were lessened, and I got back into a full time routine and life after being so depressed and only able to work part time for the previous year. I am now getting up early in the morning and function productively through my entire day. I am a firm believer of Hemp and its benefits!

 

Ask me how you can benefit from Hemp too!

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SAFE.

LEGAL.

LIFE CHANGING.