Another win for hemp, and for Arizona, as Senate Bill 1337 passed its third reading the other day. This is a huge step in the process of authorizing licensed farmers to grow, manufacture, and distribute hemp in Arizona. Other states, like Wisconsin, are following the lead of all legalized states (31 to be exact) by fighting to bring back the ever-enriching hemp industry. If passed, Wisconsin would issue licenses to those farmers wanting to grow hemp.
As a Washingtonian, my state, as well as others, have made immense progress in decriminalizing and destigmatizing hemp as well as marijuana. Information on State Industrial Hemp Statues, provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures, allows hemp cultivation for commercial purposes in Washington State only under the control of a research program by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. This is true of other legalized states as well.
However, Washington State introduced House Bill 2064 in early February 2017, which would ensure the removal of industrial hemp as a controlled substance if passed. Thus, farmers wouldn’t be required to hold a license to grow it—hemp would have the same status as a vegetable instead of an illegal, hazardous drug—giving farmers control over hemp cultivation.
For those of you who don’t know (let’s assume you don’t know), hemp is defined as the plant Cannabis sativa. However, unlike marijuana, hemp doesn’t hold more than 0.1-0.3 percent THC within its green leafiness and, therefore, has no intoxicating effects.
The cultivation of hemp across the United States would indefinitely improve the economy and agriculture. It holds numerous health benefits and can be used to create just about anything and everything. So, let’s talk about some of the wondrous things hemp can do for you, me and our world.
1. Eating Hemp Seeds Improves Heart Health
It’s true—hemp seeds carry large amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fats and vitamin E. These antioxidants work to reduce or expel inflammation and protect our hearts from dangerous toxins. Studies show that hemp seeds can reduce cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and even decrease our chances of having a heart attack or getting cardiovascular disease. Making hemp seeds a part of your diet is a healthy way to go, and I’m definitely willing to snack on them
2. Hemp Can Repair Your Skin AND Cleanse Your Body
If you’re like me and countless others, you may suffer from eczema caused from stress. Or maybe you suffer from other skin problems like psoriasis, dermatitis, and acne. Whatever it is, hemp oil can be your best friend. Not only does it help regenerate damaged cells, but studies show it can protect your skin from scarring or infections. It even adds moisture and elasticity to your skin. Hemp oil does great things inside your body, too. It helps your body absorb essential nutrients, improves digestive health, detoxifies and destroys unwanted bacteria and infections, and helps with tissue and cell growth. Personally, I can’t believe we’ve gone so long without utilizing the benefits of hemp.
3. Hemp Can Heal Your Mind
Hemp oil, hemp seeds, and foods with hemp extract can all benefit your health, but did you know it can have a positive impact on your mental health as well? As an individual who suffers from depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, I’d rather find natural ways to heal myself. I don’t want to rely on pharmaceutical drugs. Research shows that hemp has proven to stabilize or balance emotion in its users, which can improve the quality of life for anyone with a mental illness—especially severe ones like schizophrenia. It can also balance hormones in the body and improve memory.
4. Hemp Can Help Those with Neurological Disorders
Recent studies done by Dr. Saul Garza Morales on children suffering from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a critical form of epilepsy, shows that those who ingested a specific dosage of hemp oil had an 86 percent decrease in seizures and 13 percent had their seizures completely eliminated over a short period of time without any side effects. This is huge when it comes to medical advancements and breakthroughs, proving hemp can cure or prevent difficult disorders and diseases. Although it hasn't been completely proven yet, hemp oil has also been said to heal cancer patients or alleviate the negative side effects of chemotherapy. If hemp can do all of this, what else can it do?
5. Hemp Creates A Better World
Indeed, hemp does create a better world for us. Hemp can create fiber, paper, fabric and clothing, shoes, homes, fuel and more. With the many versatile uses of hemp, it should be made legal everywhere, like, right now. Cheers to going green and going hemp!
Want to learn more? Check out these other cool articles about hemp:
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/04/01/5-ways-hemp-will-change-our-world/
http://www.hempbasics.com/shelter/hemp-information
https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/interview-with-utah-hemp-cosmetics-retailer-cannasmack
