Hemp may have a certain reputation in the U.S., but that is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act imposed strict regulations and restrictions on the sale of all types of cannabis, including hemp. The Controlled Substances Act, passed in 1970, repealed this act but classified cannabis instead as a Schedule I substance, making it illegal to possess, sell, or use the substance. Other Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

 

The thing that these acts fail to recognize is that there is a distinct difference between marijuana and hemp. One of the main differences between marijuana and hemp is in their chemical makeup. Most marijuana has a THC content between 5-30 percent, whereas hemp usually contains <0.3 percent.. The other difference is their use. While marijuana is used medicinally and recreationally, hemp has over 25,000 different uses. The main ones include textiles, paper products, and body care.

 

Some of the more revolutionary uses for hemp include construction material. “Hempcrete” is created using the fibrous, inner part of the stalks, mixed with lime and water. It offers great insulation, is mold and pest proof, and seems to be almost completely fire resistant. The insulation provided by hemp can greatly reduce the need for heating and air conditioning, keeping a relatively stable temperature year-round. Creating hempcrete has a smaller carbon footprint than alternatives and is toxin-free. Hemp structures have been around since the Romans but they’re catching on in the new world, too.

 

Vice president of the Hemp Industries Association and hemp law specialist, Joy Beckerman, told the New York Times, “In many climates, a 12-foot hempcrete wall will facilitate approximately 60-degrees indoor temperatures year-around without heating or cooling systems… The overall environmental footprint is dramatically lower than traditional construction.”

 

Not only does the wide variety of uses provide environmental benefits, hemp also has benefits within its cultivation. It can grow in a variety of climates, making it very easy to cultivate. It can grow in tightly packed clusters where it has the ability to outcompete weeds and use significantly less land coverage than other plants. Hemp is also naturally pest resistant and needs little to no herbicide or pesticide application. It can be used by farmers in their crop rotations to lessen weed cover and loosen and improve soil quality for future plantings. Due to its low lignin content and naturally lighter color, it can be pulped with much less chemicals than material like wood.

 

These benefits make hemp an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional materials.

 

Due to the highly restrictive environment surrounding hemp production, most of the hemp products in the U.S. are imported largely from China. However, recently there have been strides to legalize the growth of hemp. A provision in the “Farm Bill” has allowed for the growth of industrial hemp for research purposes, such as a pilot program, if the act is legal in the state in which they do so. This seems like the first step in legalizing one of the oldest industrial crops and opening a new market within the U.S.