When many hear the word hemp, they think marijuana or cannabis. I did as well until I researched the hemp plant and the many relevant remedies the plant offers. The definition of hemp is clean but somewhat vague. The definition states a tall, tough, widely cultivated Asian herb of the Cannabis Sativa family. The hemp family is known as a low growing densely branched species or Indica, grows quickly and can be used for everything from clothing to paper to canvas along with a large variety of synthetics and textiles. The Republic of China has been the largest hemp producer over the past few years with Australia and Canada a close second. China considers hemp a “cash crop” because of the many uses for the plant, fiber, seeds and the diverse soils that it can grow. The first known use of hemp shows prior to the 12th Century. We are not surprised that in January 2017 the Drug Enforcement Agency published a rules update that classified hemp extracts and Cannabidiol (CBD) as schedule 1 drugs and dropped in the same basin as heroin & cocaine (Morris, 2017). In completing the
research on hemp, which is found usually on a website right next to cigarettes, Colorado beers and the cannabis encyclopedia, no wonder there is no clear definition and continued confusion clearly within the health industry. The cultivation of industrial hemp has been used in many civilizations for over 12,000 years (Hemp.com, 2017). The plant is multi-functional (Hempoilremedies, 2017) suggesting it can be used to remedy and benefit: HIV-positive status, AIDs, Hepatitis C, Anorexia, Severe Muscle Spasms, Spastic Disorders, Acute Glaucoma, various fuels, lubricants, plastics, fiber board, pet & human foods, along with all-purpose rope. Even if hemp is not a remedy for half of the ailments mentioned here, even half the list is a long one.
Okay, then should the question be, how on earth did we get to the opioid level that we are now? Why and what was the decision to produce opioids instead of using what was already here, in abundance minus the side-effects? Money? What a national and overdosed issue that decision turned out to be. In the US, Colorado
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