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green living
Not All Hemp is Created Equal
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BD American Shaman of PA continues to establish itself as an industry leader by introducing strains of cannabigerol (CBG) hemp flower, including Jack Frost and John Snow. CBG, the non-psychoactive “mother cannabinoid”, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It typically converts into cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the hemp plant grows, but some strains of industrial hemp, including Jack Frost, are bred specifically to produce high levels of CBG in order to take advantage of its beneficial effects. CBD and CBG bind to receptors in the body. CBD has been more extensively researched, while CBG is the “next big thing” in hemp products. Neither compound is psychoactive, meaning while they may have beneficial health-supporting properties, they won't give a “high” feeling. CBG is good for supporting a wide range of health systems, including mood, energy, sleep patterns, and muscle and joint function. For CBD American Shaman of PA locations, see ads, pages 39 and 52.
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HEMP GETS HOT Meet the Hardest Working Plant on the Planet by Julie Peterson
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crop that was illegal Right now, it’s separate the long outer fibers in U.S. soil for more the Wild West (bast) from the short inner than half a century fibers (hurd). Hemp hurd makes of agriculture. extremely durable hempcrete is now reaching for the sun. Industrial hemp, the low- or ~Dustin Enge for construction, absorbent and no-THC cousin to marijuana, dust-free animal bedding or pelhas created high hopes among farmers, lets for heating stoves. An exponential rise agricultural researchers, manufacturers and in the use of hemp is expected because it can consumers. By 2019, America had become replace products made from paper, wood, the world’s third-largest producer, behind plastic, cotton and fossil fuels. Canada and China, where it’s been culti “Hemp fiber is going to dominate the vated for 8,500 years. market once we get to the full manufactur “It’s the fastest-growing ag industry ing potential,” says Erica Stark, executive that we’ve ever seen,” says Tara Valentine, director of the National Hemp Association, hemp specialist at the Rodale Institute, in Washington, D.C. in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Since hemp’s The first introductions consumers can inclusion in the 2018 Farm Bill, Rodale’s expect include hemp paper products, such hemp web page hits have grown 10-fold. as plates and toilet paper, and biodegradable hemp bioplastics like cutlery and cups. Better Products Construction materials and other products are expected to quickly follow. All parts of the hemp plant are useful in multiple ways, and hemp has applications Environmentally Friendly in textiles, construction, bioremediation, technology, nutrition and health, including The Institute of Papermaking and Printcannabidiol (CBD). The seeds are rich in ing, at the Technical University of Lodz, protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins. Poland, did a 2015 study comparing makThey can be eaten, ground into flour or ing paper from wood to making it from pressed for oil that is used for cooking or in hemp. Among the findings: hemp takes body care products. four months to grow, while trees need 20 The stems undergo decortication to to 80 years. An acre of hemp can produce
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