Our adventure with hemp began a few months ago. We wanted to introduce new products cosmetics on karavel and we were looking for something accessible and original. Chanv seemed to us Perfect; It's made locally with local ingredients, and we found their recent rebranding particularly exciting. The only problem was that their main ingredient mystified us...
Isn't hemp cannabis? Where does it come from? Is it really that eco-friendly? What are its benefits? when using it on the skin?
We has therefore documented in this article what we have learned through our research while trying to answer has these questions! Small spoiler alert , with everything we have learned on our side, we are really made fans of this ancestral plant!
Hemp VS Cannabis
THE The first obstacle we had to overcome during our research was to understand its nomenclature. Between others, we had difficulty understanding how hemp and cannabis were distinguished!
Context
In the context of our article, when we talk about hemp, it will be in reference to industrial hemp And No the recreational one.
THE Hemp is a plant of the Cannabis species which is part of the Cannabaceae family. Technically, the The words “hemp” and “cannabis” can be used interchangeably, but over time, in OUR In common parlance, a distinction has been made between the two: we speak of “hemp” when using industrial and “cannabis” during recreational use ( 4 , 6 ).
Otherwise, from a legal point of view in North America, a distinction is made between industrial hemp and THE recreational hemp (cannabis) depending on the THC content in the plant. Industrial hemp contains less 0.3% THC while recreational hemp (cannabis) may contain more ( 2 , 7 ).
What is hemp?
- Production considered at low cost , ecological and sustainable ( 3 ).
- Fast growth : can reach 4 meters in 100 days ( 5 ).
- Very versatile as to its uses and the whole plant can be used ( 3 ):
- Leaves : cosmetic, detergent, agrochemical, mulch, etc.
- The stem : paper, textile, construction materials, biodiesel, biofuel, etc.
- Seeds : food, cosmetics, personal care, biofuel, etc.
- Cannabinoid components :
THE hemp historically
The hemp species would be one of the oldest agricultural crops! Being a plant that adapts well to the the vast majority of climates on earth, it has traveled everywhere and served many cultures. We know Now that the hemp plant was used for making various things like clothes, ropes, sails, paper, or even for animal beds. It was also already used in food and medicine! Its countless applications have even extended into modern society, putting hemp on the path to becoming America's cash crop in the 1900s. Between others, being a promising candidate as a modern bioplastic construction material ( 3 , 8 ).
All that changed quickly in the 1930s when hemp cultivation became illegal in the majority of Western European countries and North America. Industrial hemp, associated with cannabis And the cannabinoid THC and its psychoactive effects, is also targeted in the war on drugs. movement therefore generates a lot of confusion and controversy, both social, political and moral for the use and cultivation of hemp. Controversies whose effects are still felt today ( 1 , 3 , 8 ).
I Keeping it short for now, but we found it so interesting and relevant that we decided to make a full article on the history of hemp coming soon 😉.
Hemp and the environment
Why is hemp still relevant? Among other things, it can be used in several industries modern, but in our opinion it is the immense potential of its ecological advantages that makes it particularly interesting (we always have a big crush on things that help our planet stay alive) 🥴). We'll explore its environmental impact further in another article soon, but otherwise here's a little preview:
- During his cultivation, the Hemp is able to capture more than double its weight in carbon , and this, almost twice as fast as traditional forestry ( 5 ).
- Depending on how it is used after its harvest, it has the potential to have a footprint negative carbon (a negative carbon footprint means that the produce this reduces the amount of CO2 equivalent in our atmosphere) ( 5 ).
- All parts of the plants have a use, so no waste ( 3 )!
- Its potential environmental can be quite large considering that it is estimated that it can have over 25,000 applications across nine major industries: textile, agricultural, automotive, agri-food, paper, furniture, construction, recycling and personal care ( 3 ).
THE Hemp and its benefits
Currently, its most popular use seems to be for body care and medicinal purposes as well. topical as well as an addition to our diet. Indeed, the promises of hemp are multiple: improving there cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, improve the appearance of the skin and even have effects beneficial for mental health ( 2 , 3 ). But is it really a miracle plant?
His benefits would come from its rich content of omega-3/6 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins ( 3 ). By On the other hand, it is particularly important to keep a critical mind when evaluating its properties. It is not It is not uncommon to notice that those who praise its benefits have overgeneralized the results of the studies, badly reformulated or not nuanced enough.
So it's a bit complex to explore here in one section, so we'll untangle it all in a dedicated article. hemp And its benefits soon 🫶🏼.
To conclude
We hope that this brief overview of hemp has informed you and piqued your curiosity! Don't hesitate to go read our other publications on hemp.
If you've become as much of a fan of hemp as we are, you can go here to discover our range of products with this ingredient.
Sources
- Adams, C. (2016). The man behind the marijuana ban for all the wrong reasons. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harry-anslinger-the-man-behind-the-marijuana-ban/
- Cangeloso, L. and Spar, M. (2024). Hemp Seed Oil vs. CBD Oil: What's The Difference? Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/cbd/hemp-seed-oil-vs-cbd-oil
- Crini, G., Lichtfouse, E., Chanet, G. and Morin-Crini, N. (2020). Applications of hemp in textiles, paper industry, insulation and building materials, horticulture, animal nutrition, food and beverages, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and hygiene, medicine, agrochemistry, energy production and environment: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 18 (5), 1451-1476. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342021371_Applications_of_hemp_in_textiles_paper_industry_insulation_and_building_materials_horticulture_animal_nutrition_food_and_beverages_nutraceuticals_cosmetics_and_hygiene_medicine_agrochemistry_energy_pr
- Government of Canada. (2021). Biology of Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabis, hemp, marijuana). Document on biology. https://inspection.canada.ca/varietes-vegetales/vegetaux-a-caracteres-nouveaux/demandeurs/directive-94-08/documents-sur-la-biologie/cannabis-sativa-l-/fra/1612447522753/1612447718390 #a21
- Helmore, E. (2024). 'It's almost carbon-negative': how hemp became a surprise building material. Tea Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/15/its-almost-carbon-negative-how-hemp-became-a-surprise-building-material
- Schilling, S., Dowling, CA, Shi, J., Ryan, L., Hunt, D., OReilly, E., Perry, AS, Kinnane, O., McCabe, PF and Melzer, R. (2020). The Cream of the Crop: Biology, Breeding and Applications of Cannabis sativa. Authorea. DOI: 10.22541/au.160139712.25104053/v2
- Suchoff, D., Davis, J., Bloomquist, M., & Short, M. (2022). Understanding the Relationship between THC and CBD in Hemp. NC State Extension Publications. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/understanding-the-relationship-between-thc-and-cbd-in-hemp#
- Zsebenyi, E.M. (1992). Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy. SLUG MAG. https://www.slugmag.com/slugmag/hemp-and-the-marijuana-conspiracy/
Très belle explication Emilie. Service a la clientèle impeccable. Hâte de lire les nouveaux blogues.
Merci Émilie pour cet article. Il est simple a comprendre. Tu fais un bel ajout a cette équipe Karavel. Bon succès!