Over 100 cannabinoids are found in the Cannabis sativa plant – from which both cannabis and hemp are derived – including the two most commonly discussed compounds, THC and CBD.
THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive ingredient that causes euphoria or a “high”; while CBD or cannabidiol is a chemical obtained mainly from hemp, a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant that only contains smaller or trace amounts of THC.
These two distinctly different cannabinoids are key to understanding that not all marijuana byproducts are the same. This, in turn, can help clarify the misconceptions between recreational marijuana use – which involves high THC levels – and the benefits of medical marijuana, which has low THC and high CBD levels.
CBD has been used for anxiety, pain, the muscle disorder dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and many other conditions, but there is not enough long-term scientific evidence to support all these applications.
One specific form of CBD, however, is already approved as a drug in the United States in prescription form, and is used for epilepsy.
Hemp history
Prior to suffering the fate of being guilty by association, hemp was cultivated and fabricated into rope and paper for thousands of years.
By the 1700s, farmers in many British colonies including America were tasked and legally required to grow hemp for English naval lines, rigging, hull caulking, and sails.
The widespread use of this plant’s durable fibre grew to include clothing fabric, building material, and even lamp fuel. Even the 1776 US Constitution was drafted on hemp, a gentle nod to its place in history as one of the world’s most versatile crops.
Hemp vs cotton
Beyond its medical use, hemp makes a compelling case as a valuable cash crop. Two pertinent examples would be for the paper and textile industries.
With deforestation being an ongoing global concern, hemp represents an opportunity to reverse the course of destruction while offering a more sustainable alternative.
With a four-to six-month harvesting cycle, it grows quickly and produces four times as much paper per half hectare, versus trees that require 20 to 80 years to mature.
Hemp paper does not require harmful bleaching and can be recycled up to eight times, compared with only three times for the wood-derived variety.
Meanwhile, cotton plants are grown on about 3% of all crop land but account for a staggering 35% of all insecticides and pesticides used.
In comparison, hemp reuses its own fibre, leaves, and hurds (stalk), which can be ploughed back into the soil as fertiliser, improving fecundity for the next round of crops. It even absorbs unhealthy toxins such as copper, lead, and cadmium from the soil.
Hemp produces about 1,200kg of fibre compared with 540kg of cotton fibre per half hectare. Every kilogramme of cotton requires 9,758 litres of water versus as little as 2,401 litres for each 1kg of hemp – or about four times less consumption.
As a finished fabric product, hemp breathes well, offers UV protection, and is even antibacterial. It holds its shape better than cotton, with three times more tensile and flexible strength, and becomes softer after each wear and wash.
Hemp at home
In Malaysia, the first meeting of the Cannabis and Ketum Industry Development Committee was scheduled to be held last Monday (July 25), and the ministry aims to begin the registration of certain CBD products by next year.
They also plan for the framework for CBD-product registration to be available later this year in conjunction with National Pharmaceutical Regulation Agency-assessing proposals.
With medical marijuana and CBD at the forefront and leading the conversation, hemp may once again be recognised as the wonder plant it has been all along.
Reg Ching is a walking quadriplegic (OKU), digital business consultant, medical cannabis advocate, and cryptocurrency enthusiast. Follow his journey at regching.com.