Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars that are specifically cultivated for industrial or medicinal use. It is one of the oldest plants to be used for fiber, with records of its use dating back 50,000 years. Hemp can be refined into a variety of commercial items, such as paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paints, insulators, biofuels, food and animal feed. Hemp was extremely labor intensive to process into fabric and was commonly used to make rope and fabric in the 18th century.
However, its use declined in the 1900s due to its association with cannabis. Hemp is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth and its growth lasts approximately 100 days. It is also sustainable due to its minimal use of water and non-dependence on pesticides for proper growth. People around the world have an unfair stigma about hemp because of its relationship with cannabis.
The recent history of hemp is largely based on the United States because they established these rules effectively and the stigma certainly spread internationally. The inhabitants of Gravetia used nets and traps to hunt and needed a material with tensile strength to make traps and nets, which they found in hemp. As mechanical technology evolved, the separation of the fiber from the core was achieved by grinding rollers and brush rollers, or by hammer milling. George Washington boosted the growth of hemp as it was a cash crop that was commonly used to make rope and fabric. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed in the United States, which imposed a tax on anyone who traded in cannabis, hemp, or marijuana. Hemp can be used as a mop to remove impurities from wastewater such as wastewater effluents, excess phosphorus from chicken litter or other unwanted substances or chemicals.
The use of hemp as a fabric was mainly focused on the countryside with higher-quality textiles available in cities. Hemp has been used for centuries for its strength and durability. It is an incredibly versatile plant that can be used for a variety of purposes including clothing, paper, rope, biodegradable plastics, paints, insulators, biofuels and food. Despite its many uses and benefits, hemp has been unfairly stigmatized due to its association with cannabis. However, it is slowly becoming more accepted as people become more aware of its many uses.
