Cannabis (Linnaeus, 1753) or hemp is a genus of flowering plants in the Cannabaceae family. Currently, according to some, it includes a single species, Cannabis sativa, the most historically widespread plant in the West, in turn comprising several varieties and subspecies;
according to others, however, three species are distinguished, C. sativa, C. indica and C. ruderalis.

Originally from Central Asia and sacred to Hindu people, the plant was indicated in Sanskrit with the terms bhanga, vijaya and ganjika; in Hindi, ganja.
The hypothesis that hemp came to the Americas after Columbus is generally accepted; however, some scientists have found cannabis, tobacco and coca leaf residues in numerous mummies (1500 AD) discovered in Peru.

Hemp fiber is a textile fiber obtained from the phloem or stem book of Cannabis sativa plants.

Before the advent of the prohibition of cannabis, it was widespread in the world as a raw material for the production of paper, being one of the most productive plants in plant mass in the whole temperate zone. Its fibers have also been important raw materials for thousands of years for the production of textiles and ropes. Today, selected varieties of cannabis free from psychoactive principles are legally cultivable for textile uses.

Used for its seeds and for the oil that is produced, but not only, of hemp varieties there are many, in turn divided into subspecies; the 3 best known and most used are the sativa, the indica and the ruderalis. Officially, the hemp that can be legally grown in Italy is the first, but requires long procedures and requires checks and certifications, from seeds to production. is trying to score points in Italy, and if you are even more curious, take a tour of CannaTrade or Spannabis Meanwhile, let's discover its benefits and uses.

Hemp properties Rich in essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, hemp is also a valuable source of vitamins, such as E and A, and B vitamins (B1 and B2). It also contains a good dose of natural antioxidants, which are able to prevent allergies and inflammations. We must not forget its high protein value (more than 20%), which would make it valuable as a source of sustenance. The carbohydrate content gives it a high energy value and good is also the percentage of fiber and minerals, including iron and phosphorus. CBD (cannabidiol), together with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), are the psycho-active components.

Uses of hemp The conditional is a must: for certain productions hemp is imported from other countries, but in reality, if it were not for the long bureaucratic procedures and the dominant prohibitionism, it could be cultivated and used for many purposes: first of all as medicinal herb , but also to produce fabrics, paper, fuels, plastics, fibers, non-polluting paints, but not only.With hemp seeds you could create protein and nutritious foods and quality food oil. Here are the uses of hemp in detail:
Fabrics: the hemp plant produces a fiber that can be worked well, is robust and long lasting; its co-production does not require the use of chemicals, so the resulting tissues are natural and healthy. It can replace or mix very well with cotton and other fibers.
Paper: the woody part of hemp can rightly be considered a raw material for making paper. The sheets of paper that are produced are thin, resistant and of high quality, but they can also be used to make cardboard or newsprint. The bleaching process of the paper would not require the use of chlorine and the use of polluting acid substances would be halved.
Building boards and mixes: with hemp stalks it is possible to manufacture sturdy and resilient wooden boards for construction or carpentry. The lime and hemp mixture can also be used for the construction of walls or floors.
Plastic materials: hemp cellulose is used for the production of degradable plastic materials, useful as packaging, insulation and packaging materials.
Fuels: hemp can also be used for the production of combustible biomass to replace oil and derivatives.
Nutrition: hemp seeds, healthy and nutritious, can be used to obtain precious flours or hemp oil, highly protective, strengthens the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels. Various companies and associations use hemp to make crepes, biscuits, pasta, taralli, beer, coffee, even pizza.
Cosmetics: thanks to the presence of vitamins, phytosterols, carotenes and minerals, hemp has always been considered a nutritious and precious cosmetic. In particular, the high presence of γ-linolenic acid, which plays an important role for the skin, and tocopherols, which are a powerful natural antioxidant, make it a sought-after product for the creation of cosmetics for skin and hair care . So here are many products, such as soaps, creams, lip glosses and toothpastes, based on hemp.

Phytotherapy. As a medicinal plant, used in the medical field where possible as a pain reliever or protective of the organism, various studies have shown that it can also be useful to soothe the painful symptoms of serious pathologies (such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's).
Agriculture: hemp is also used in agriculture, for a very important operation such as mulching, which allows to keep the soil moisture when necessary, a hot soil temperature and preventing the growth of weeds.
Returning to using hemp for various productions, millions of trees would be saved and the use of oil and derivatives would be halved. Hemp is a very productive plant, it grows quickly and does not require the use of herbicides, being itself "suffocating "against other plants. Prohibition has stopped and curbed their use, to the advantage of other materials, plants or petroleum products. In Italy, the cultivation of cannabis sativa is de facto legal, while cannabis indica is prohibited; however, given that the two types are not distinguishable, growers must seek authorization from the ministry of health and borocratic practices are long; just as there are still no well-designed processing plants (Assocanapa is a good source for further details in the section "growing hemp").
Curiosity: Every year, in Zurich, CannaTrade is held, an international event that wants to make known the thousand uses of this plant. As well as Spannabis in Barcelona.

Hemp is a woody plant characterized by very resistant fiber and seeds rich in active ingredients, the use of which can boast very ancient origins. Based on its processing and its intended use, it can be used in many sectors: from food to textile.

There are many varieties of plants whose difference lies in the degree of Thc, a chemical responsible for the effects on the nervous system of the human being. The most cultivated is Hemp Sativa, precisely because in its resin the percentage of Thc is almost absent. For this reason it is the most used in the industrial sector.