7 minute read
HEMPTASTIC
Mary meets a farmer who is growing hemp under licence, but she can’t tell you where
WE ARE HEARING more and more about the benefits of CBD (cannabidiol) oil and it is gaining quite a strong following. But growing hemp is still very di cult to do in this country and it can only be grown under a licence granted by the ome ce which are few and far between. But one farming family in Lincolnshire has got one and is now growing 50 acres of hemp and producing their own CBD products on the farm as well. But because hemp is not viewed as an agricultural crop I can’t tell you exactly where it is grown as it has to be kept hidden - it’s all a bit cloak and dagger.
Hemp and cannabis could be described as ‘cousins’ in the plant world. Both have similar attributes and in some ways qualities, but with one huge difference annabis ma es you high and contains THC, hemp does not. And this seems to be what many people, governments and businesses are finding it hard to get their heads around.
So what on earth is going on? Why, if hemp is not an addictive, hallucinogenic drug are we not allowed to grow it? That is probably a question for the experts. Hemp contains no more than 0.2% (dry weight) of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the psychoactive substance found in cannabis so it does not affect anyone who uses it. Hemp is harmless and the cannabinoids it contains are believed to be beneficial to health
Mike and Jackie Lamyman discovered CBD oil in 2017. They both have an interest in nutrition and gut health and Mike struggled to sleep so decided to try CBD oil, which helped. He also found that he recovered more quickly after exercising. Jackie had three children under three so found the CBD oil helped with stress and wellbeing and its anti inflammatory ualities helped her too so they both started taking it regularly.
Jackie quickly realised that a lot of CBD products on the market were being mis-sold as the market was unregulated so you couldn’t guarantee you were actually buying what you thought. ‘You are putting this oil in your mouth so you need to know what is in it,’ she says.
As a farmer Mike knows that hemp is a bio accumulator, i.e. it sucks up what is in the soil, both good and bad so has been used in some countries to clean up polluted land such as Chernobyl and Fukushima in Japan to absorb heavy metals and other chemical waste out of the soil. This is why provenance is so important which encouraged Mike and Jackie to apply for a licence to grow it themselves. ‘It’s an excellent break crop too,’ says Mike, ‘as it’s a great absorber of atmospheric carbon which is the main component of soil organic matter so it is brilliant for the environment and fits in really well with our crop rotation as it helps to naturally improve the soil.’ They were granted a licence in and harvested their first crop in t a similar time they were introduced to Jimmy Ward and Helena Barrett who have been involved in the hemp and CBD industry for over 20 years. Together they launched Crop-England to produce and sell a range of CBD oils and hemp based teas.
But because the law is so rigid with regards to hemp, quite illogically they cannot use the CBD from their own crop but have to buy it elsewhere. What they can use is the hemp seed oil which they cold press on the farm and then mix with CBD oil which they buy from a UK-based wholesaler. Because they are producing their own hemp seed oil you know exactly what you are getting; the hemp is grown in a chemical and pesticide-free environment. They took me to see the crop and it does look remarkably similar to photos I’ve seen of cannabis plants, but very tall. The hemp has a very distinctive, strong smell. When I rubbed the heads between my hands it was sticky. It was probably just as well I wasn’t stopped by the police on the way home as the smell on my hands and clothes might have taken quite a lot of explaining…
There is now a processing plant on the farm where the hemp seed oil is cold pressed and all the products are bottled and packaged and teabags made hey sell different strength oils as well as a starter pac which is excellent for those new to CBD oil. A range of hemp based teas are also made here and skin care products will soon be available too, including a balm.
The Endocannabinoid system is a complex cell-signalling system within the body. It’s very complicated and not a huge amount is known about it but this system regulates sleep, mood, pain, reproduction and fertility, memory and appetite. As you get older the endocannabinoid levels in your body drop and CBD oil can help top it up. ‘CBD helps balance the body and helps your immune system,’ says Jimmy.
And because of this many people are now turning to hemp, or the cannabidiol (CBD) extract. It is not classed as a medicine, and retailers are very careful to not market it as such, rather as a food supplement. But it does seem to have medicinal qualities. And some view it as a panacea for all ills t has been found to have anti inflammatory qualities. Many use it as a painkiller, others to help reduce anxiety and stress, others to aid sleep; it is believed to help with menopausal symptoms, acne and in some cases relieve cancer-related symptoms (but this is not always the case). Most of the people using CBD oil like that it is a natural product often viewing it as an alternative to over the counter or prescription pharmaceutical products. CBD oil is often used as a preventative so enabling pain illers and anti inflammatories to be avoided. And you know that if you are buying your CBD products from Crop England you are getting exactly what it says on the package.
Hemp seed oil is even healthier than olive oil and can be used in salad dressing (but not for cooking). It is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and has the perfect ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3. The hemp oil and the CBD are reputedly good for dogs too, apparently they are very sensitive to it. It can’t be marketed as such but quite a few people swear by a couple of drops on the dog’s food to help with stiffness in older dogs.
‘It’s important you get the dose right,’ says Jimmy ‘for it to have an effect ur starter it helps with this as you can try all three strengths of the CBD oil over three weeks so you can identify the right strength and dose for you. You cannot overdose on it and it’s not addictive.’
I have been using the oil now for three weeks and it does seem to be helping with my sleep t wor s differently for everyone and sometimes it’s di cult to uantify e actly how it is helping but stop taking it and you’ll notice. I’ve decided to share it with the dog; a drop for him to help with any stiffness as he’s getting older and four or five drops for me to help with sleep. nd the last word must go to immy ‘ f you find the field you won’t get high, even if you smoke half of it, but you might get well.’ I think it’s probably best to buy the products direct rather than search incolnshire for the field though
