INTRODUCTION
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Cannabis Hemp really can provide all the basic 
necessities of life: food, shelter, clothing and medicine.
 It has been said that "anything made from a
hydrocarbon can be made from a carbohydrate."

Hemp is the cousin of marijuana. They are from 
the same plant- Cannabis sativa L. There are over 
400 strains of Cannabis Hemp bred for various uses.
Then term,"Hemp" refers to the industrial use of the stalk
 and seed. Cannabis or "marijuana" refers to the smoking of 
the flowers. Intoxication requires high levels
of THC- TetraHydraCannibinol. Industrial hemp contains 
only .3%-1.5% THC. By contrast, medicinal hemp contains 
5%-10% THC.

The plant itself is easy to grow in temperate climates, 
and requires the usual amount of fertilizer and water, but
 no pesticides nor herbicides. A hemp crop is
usually harvested in 120 days after reaching a height of
 10-15 feet. At that point one can make it into whatever 
suits their needs.
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FOOD
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The hemp seed is the only source of food from the
 hemp plant. It is not really a seed, but an achene- a 
nut covered with a hard shell. Hemp seed is used for
people and animal food, medicinal preparations, and 
industrial use. 

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WHOLE SEED
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The whole seed contains roughly 25% protein, 30% 
carbohydrates, 15% insoluble fiber, Carotene, 
phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium,
 iron and zinc, as well as vitamins E, C, B1, B2, B3, 
B6. Hemp seed is one of the best source of Essential 
Fatty Acids with a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-3 Linolenic
Acid, Omega-6 Linoleic Acid good for strengthening 
the immune system. Whole seeds are made into: 
snack bars, cookies, burgers and porridge, or they may
be roasted and consumed alone or in a trail mix. 
Wild and domestic birds love hemp seeds.

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Seed Oil
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If the seed is not eaten whole it is often pressed for 
its oil. Hemp seed is 30% oil, and is one of lowest in 
saturated fats making it good for lowering cholesterol
levels and strengthening cardiovascular systems. 
The oil has a pleasantly nutty flavor. Among the 
foods hemp seed oil is made into are: sauces, butter,
condiments and pesto.

Processing of hemp seed oil starts with drying the
 seeds to prevent sprouting. Hemp seeds imported 
to the United States or Canada must be steam 
sterilized at 212F for 15 minutes to prevent further 
sprouting. The seeds are then pressed and bottled
 immediately under oxygen-free conditions. Hemp 
seed oil is very fragile, is not suitable for cooking,
 and must be kept refrigerated in dark, air tight containers.

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SEED MEAL
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The meat of the seed is also highly nutritious and 
versatile as a seed "meal" and may be made into 
hemp milk and cheese, ice cream, burgers.

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SEED CAKE
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What is left over is the seed "cake"- high in amino
 acids and edistin protein, which can be crushed for 
animal feed or pulverized for flour to make breads,
pastas, pancakes.

Throughout history, hemp has provided a 
nourishing food supply to many cultures around 
the world. In Asia roasted hemp seed is eaten as a 
snack, like popcorn. In Russia- hemp butter was used 
as a condiment by the peasant folk. In Poland seeds are 
used for holiday sweets. Hemp seed was eaten by
Australians during two famines in the nineteenth century. 
The most famous hemp seed consumer is Buddha himself, 
who ate them during his fast of enlightenment.

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NON FOOD
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Other non-food uses for hemp seed oil are: lamp lighting, 
printing, lubrication, and household detergents, stain 
removers, varnishes, resins and paints. In this
area, hemp seed oil is similar to linseed oil.

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FIBER
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One of the most valuable parts of the hemp plant is 
the fiber, commonly referred to as "bast," meaning that 
it grows as a stalk from the ground. Other fibers
such as sisal, manila hemp and jute are mistakenly 
referred to as hemp, yet only Cannabis sativa is 
considered "true hemp." Among the characteristics of hemp
fiber are its superior strength and durability, and its 
stunning resistance to rot, attributes that made hemp integral 
to the shipping industry. The strong, woody
bast fiber is extracted from the stalk by a process
known as decortication. Hemp fiber contains a low amount of 
lignin, the organic glue that binds plant cells,which allows
for environmentally friendly bleaching without the use of 
chlorine. In composite form, hemp is twice as strong as wood. 
All products made with hemp fiber are biodegradable.

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Long Fiber
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Extracted from the bark of the stalk, this type of fiber
 is called "long" because it stretches the entire length of 
the plant. The length of the fiber enhances the
strength and durability of the finished goods. Hemp 
can grow to 15 feet or more, making it excellent for 
textile production. Hemp is most similar to flax, the
fiber of linen products. By contrast, cotton fibers are 
approximately 1-2 mm in length and are prone to faster 
wear. Hemp fiber also has insulative qualities that
allow clothing wearers to stay cool in summer and warm 
in the winter. Long hemp fiber is used in twine, cordage, 
textiles, paper, webbing and household goods.

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SHORT FIBER
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The short fibers, or "tow," are the secondary hemp fibers.
While not as strong as the long fibers, the tow is still superior 
to many other fibers. Tow is extracted from the long fibers 
during a process called "hackling," a method of combing and 
separating the fiber from hurd. Short fibers are used to make 
textiles, non-woven matting, paper, caulking, auto bodies, building 
materials and household goods.

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Hurds
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Also known as shives, the hurd is the woody material 
found in the center of the hemp stalk. The hurd is rich in 
cellulose, a carbohydrate that can be made into
paper, packaging and building materials, as well as 
plastic composites for making skate boards and auto bodies.

As long ago as 450 BC the Scythians and Thracians 
made hemp linens. The Chinese first used hemp for paper 
making in 100 AD. Hempen sails, caulking
and rigging launch a thousand ships during the Age of 
discovery in the 15th Century. The American Declaration of 
Independence was drafted, not signed, on hemp paper.


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FUEL
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Hemp biomass as a source of fuel is the most under 
exploited, yet potentially the biggest industrial use of the plant. 

Few of Hemp other uses require the use of the entire hemp 
stalk which is rich in fiber and cellulose. A potential use is the
 generation of energy through a process called "chemergy" 
which is a cross between chemicals and energy. The hemp 
stalk can be converted to a charcoal-like substance through a 
process called pyrolysis, and used for power generation. 

From the 1920's to the 1940's, the Matt Rens Hemp 
Company in Wisconsin used separated hemp hurds in 
their boiler room to fuel the plant's steam engines.
Scientists in Ireland have recently concluded that hemp 
yields similar energy levels as wood and so the government 
of Ireland intends to use it to generate
electricity by 1999.

Hemp as an auto fuel is another potential use. 
Almost any biomass material can be converted 
to create methanol or ethanol, and these fuels burn 
cleanly with less carbon monoxide and higher octane. 
In fact, the diesel engine was invented to burn fuel from
 agricultural waste yet ended up burning unrefined 
petroleum. Hemp seed oil can be "cracked" to produce a 
type of hemp gasoline. Auto giant Henry Ford was a 
pioneer in the pyrolysis process, and operated a biomass
pyrolytic plant at Iron Mountain in Northern Michigan. 

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MEDICINE
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The medicinal use of cannabis hemp is only now being 
understood and applied in spite of the fact that the herb 
has been a folk remedy for thousands of years.

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FLOWERS
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The consumption of cannabis flowers, or buds, 
through smoking or eating is used to treat a number of ailments: 
á Nausea- for cancer and AIDS patients who are undergoing
 chemotherapy cannabis smoking precludes the need to 
digest THC or any other drug in pill form.
á Intraocular pressure- for glaucoma suffers, cannabis 
relieves the pressure in their eyes that leads to blindness. 
á Seizures- the cannabidiol in cannabis improves 
the condition of grand mal and partial seizure sufferers and
allows  them to reduce or dispense with conventional medications. 
á Pain- for sufferers of migraine headaches, post-menstrual 
cramps, labor pains, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy, 
cannabis reduces muscle spasms and tremors and allows them 
to avoid conventional medications with serious side-effects. 
á Depression- for patients who do not respond to or who 
want to avoid the side-effects of other medications.
á Asthma- cannabis smoke dilates the bronchial passages. 

Historically, Indian doctors have used bhang (a preparation 
of cannabis, honey and milk) for the treatment of diarrhea,
epilepsy, delirium, colic, rheumatism, anorexia, fever, jaundice, 
bronchitis,  leprosy, diabetes, anemia, tuberculosis, gout, 
insomnia, hay fever and malaria. In medieval Europe, hemp
 seed concoctions were used to treat colic and "troublesome
 humours in the bowels" according to a Nicolas Culpepper
(1616-1654)

In the mid-19th century, Dr. William O'Shaughnessy helped 
introduce cannabis, or bhang, to western culture. Among the 
diseases it relieved were alcoholism, dysentery, uterine 
hemorrhage, palsy, anthrax, blood poisoning, incontinence, 
snakebite, tonsillitis and parasites. This spawned a whole slew
of over-the-counter cannabis medications marketed by Squibb, 
Parke-Davis, and Eli Lilly. 

One of the most enduring characteristics of cannabis as medicine 
is its inherent lack of toxicity. There has never been a
 recorded case of death from cannabis overdose in the 
thousands of years it has been used by humankind.

Queen Victoria herself used cannabis medicine for
menstrual cramps.

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SEED AND SEED OIL
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Hemp has been a part of the Chinese pharmacopoeia for 
the past 4,000 years. Ancient Chinese folk remedies call for
 hemp seed use to improve the "chi" or stamina of the body; to 
cure neurologic impairment due to stroke, urinary disorders, and 
blood deficiency.


Externally, hemp seed preparations promote the healing of
sores  and dry skin. Traditional hemp oil formulas were 
applied topically to  treat abscesses, boils,
pimples and swellings. Currently marketed products include
 lip balm, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, salves, 
perfumes, liniments. These hemp seed oil mixtures do the 
same for the skin and hair that the oil does for the diet.
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Sources: 
Nutritional/Medicinal Guide to Hemp Seed by Ken Jones. 
Rainforest Botanical Laboratories. The Great Book of Hemp 
by Rowan Robinson. Inner Traditions International.
Hemp: Lifeline to the Future by Chris Conrad. Creative Xpressions.
Hemp Today edited by Ed Rosenthal. Quick American.
Journal of the International Hemp Association. International Hemp
Association. HempWorld- The International Hemp Journal. 
Hemperial Productions.


Reprinted from HempWorld- Winter 96 and Hemp Pages 
1997. This informational flyer was produced as an educational 
public service and is not for resale. Illustrations may not be 
reproduced in any other literature without
permission of HempWorld.