Hemp Facts & Worksheets

Industrial hemp, sometimes known as hemp, is a botanical category of Cannabis sativa cultivars developed primarily for commercial or therapeutic purposes. Hemp is one of the plants on Earth that grows the fastest, along with bamboo, and can be used to create a variety of goods.

See the fact file below for more information about Hemp, or you can download our 27-page Hemp worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• One of the first plants spun into useable fiber, hemp dates back 50,000 years. 
• Cannabis is where the word “canvas” comes from. Pure hemp has a linen-like texture. Today, due to its adaptability, hemp is utilized in a range of products, including apparel, shoes, accessories, dog collars, and household goods.
• Hemp is not always legal in every country. Some governments control the amount of THC (a component that affects the mental processes) and only allow hemp with exceptionally low THC content to be cultivated commercially.
• Despite its critical relevance before World War II, hemp has not been allowed to become a valuable crop and commodity in the United States due to the public’s view of it as marijuana. 

BUILDING MATERIALS

• Several problems with present building regulations can be solved by using hemp as a building material. Hemp goods are adaptable for a wide range of uses because of their lightweight, mold resistance, breathability, etc. 
• SUSTAINABILITY. Hemp is categorized as a green building material, mainly because of its advantages for the environment. Among these are the reduction of weed development, anti-erosion qualities, soil reclamation abilities, and the removal of heavy metals and dangerous compounds.
• INSULATION. Hemp is frequently used as insulation. Its adaptability and durability under compression make it simpler to integrate into structural frame systems.
• CONCRETE. Hemp absorbs CO^₂ throughout its growth phase in addition to that released during concrete casting. When lime and the silica in hemp shingles combine, mineralization occurs, causing the mixture to harden.
• WOOD. The fibers could be compressed into tight wood substitutes for wall/ceiling panels, flooring, and wood frame construction.
• ROPES. Because hemp ropes can be braided in a variety of widths and have a high degree of strength, they are appropriate for a wide range of uses in the construction of buildings. Installation of frames in building openings and joint connections are a couple of these purposes. The ropes are also used to build traditional buildings, tunnels, and bridges. Egypt in 1500 BCE is one of the earliest known locations where hemp rope and other textiles were used.

COMPOSITE MATERIALS

• Automakers like Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Iveco, Lotus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Saturn, Volkswagen, and Volvo are among those starting to incorporate hemp in their vehicles. For instance, hemp is present in the Mercedes C-Class and the Lotus Eco Elise (up to 20 kilograms in each one in the case of the latter).
• PAPER. Paper types known as hemp paper are made primarily or entirely from pulp derived from industrial hemp fibers. The products are specialized papers such as technical filter papers, banknotes, and cigarette paper. 
• JEWELRY. Hemp thread is knotted using the macramé technique to create jewelry.
• CORDAGE. In the days of sailing ships, hemp rope was employed but had to be tarred to prevent it from rotting since the capillary effect of the rope’s woven fibers tended to store liquid at the interior while seeming dry from the exterior. The labor-intensive procedure of tarring gave sailors the moniker “Jack Tar.” 
• WEED CONTROL. Hemp crops can be cultivated as a smother crop to eliminate tough weeds since they are tall, have thick leaves, and can grow densely. Farmers who use hemp in this way can profit from crop rotation, avoid using pesticides, and obtain organic certification. However, some authorities view hemp as a noxious weed because of the plant’s quick and dense growth.
• BIOFUELS. The oils found in hemp seeds and stalks can be used to make biodiesel, a product sometimes known as “hempoline.” The entire plant can be fermented to create ethanol or, less frequently, methanol and used as an alcohol fuel.

CULTIVATION

• In the northern hemisphere, hemp is planted between March and May, and in the southern hemisphere, between September and November. In three to four months, it reaches maturity.
• Industrial hemp production and use were widespread until the early 1900s when it was linked to Drug-Type Cannabis species, which have higher THC concentrations and are their genetic sibling.
• The strain of cannabis that is grown for industrial purposes is Cannabis sativa L subsp. sativa var. sativa, whereas C. sativa subsp. indica typically has poor fiber quality; its female buds are used mainly for recreational and therapeutic uses. 
• The herb should be dehydrated and picked in the ideal scenario, according to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs in Britain, near the end of flowering. 
• Early cropping lowers the seed output while increasing the quantity and quality of the fiber produced. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in these industrial hemp strains would have been extremely low.
• Swathes of the cut hemp are laid out to dry for up to four days. Retting was typically performed next, either water retting (in which the bundled hemp floats in water) or dew retting (in which the hemp remains on the ground and is impacted by dew’s moisture as well as mold and bacterial growth).
• According to a 1998 research in Environmental Economics, hemp is deemed environmentally beneficial since it uses less land and has fewer harmful effects on the environment overall, which suggests that it may have a smaller ecological footprint in the US than usual standards.

PRODUCERS

• China is the largest hemp producer in the world, accounting for more than 70% of global production. With nearly a fourth of global production, France comes in second. North Korea, Chile, and the rest of Europe all have lower output levels. 
• Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Ukraine are among the more than 30 nations that cultivate industrial hemp.
• Tasmania, Australia, which led the way in establishing hemp licensing in the early 1990s, was the first state to start conducting contemporary research into cannabis’ potential.
• Industrial hemp has been produced commercially (including through cultivation) in Canada since 1998, thanks to permits and licenses from Health Canada.
• The Soviet Union produced the most hemp from the 1950s until the 1980s (3,000 square kilometers/1,200 square miles in 1970). The principal regions for production were Ukraine, the Russian provinces of Kursk and Orel, and close to the Polish border.
• Under federal law, hemp cultivation was made lawful in 46 US states in October 2019. As of 2019, 47 states had passed laws allowing hemp to be grown on a state level. Several of these states had also implemented medical provisions allowing the cultivation of plants, particularly for non-psychoactive CBD. Following the legalization of marijuana, many farmers in Colorado cultivated and harvested several acres of hemp in 2013, yielding the country’s first harvest in more than 50 years. 

MEDICAL CANNABIS

• Medical cannabis, often known as medical marijuana, is an herbal medication derived from Cannabis plants used to treat a particular symptom or ailment. Although marijuana, which describes the unprocessed substance extracted from the plant’s leaves and flowers, is sometimes used interchangeably with cannabis, the phrase relates solely to the plant genus.
• Unsupervised cannabis usage is not regarded as medical use of the drug. The same is true for medical marijuana approved by a doctor who has not properly assessed the patient, who has not prescribed the marijuana as part of a larger care plan, or who has not kept track of the patient’s subjective and objective results or adverse events.
• The main goals of using medicinal cannabis are symptom reduction, enhanced function, and increased quality of life in general.
• According to studies conducted in the first decade of the twenty-first century, the prevalence of cannabis usage among people with various illnesses ranged from 30 to 50% (HIV/AIDS) to 10% (multiple sclerosis and epilepsy).
• If a patient has a personal or family history of psychosis, unstable heart illness, or lung disease, using medical cannabis may be risky and even harmful. Physicians advise against using cigarettes either alone or in combination with medical cannabis. Additionally, they are warned against starting or changing doses while driving or using machinery, or while under the influence of the medicine. There are no significant pharmacological interactions currently recognized, except cannabis’ potential synergistic effects with other psychotropic drugs, including sedatives and hypnotics.

Hemp Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hemp across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hemp. Hemp is one of the plants on Earth that grows the fastest, along with bamboo, and can be used to create a variety of goods.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Hemp Facts
2. Hemp Be True
3. Made in ______
4. Year of the Hemp
5. Hemp Building
6. Hemp’s Rival
7. Hemp in the Bank
8. Hemp Be Gone
9. Hemp-ographic
10. Hemp Me Understand
11. Hemp it up!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hemp?

Hemp is a versatile and sustainable plant from the Cannabis sativa species. It has been cultivated for thousands of years for various purposes, including fiber, seeds, and oil. Unlike its close relative marijuana, hemp has low levels of the psychoactive compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and is primarily used for industrial and agricultural purposes.

What are the main uses of hemp?

Hemp has a wide range of uses. Its fibers can be used to make textiles, paper, rope, and construction materials. Hemp seeds are nutritious and can be consumed as food, providing protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients. Additionally, hemp oil is used in cosmetics, lotions, and as a base for some dietary supplements.

Is hemp legal to grow and use?

The legality of hemp varies by country and region. In many countries, including the United States, hemp cultivation and use have been legalized under specific regulations. These regulations typically require hemp plants to contain no more than 0.3% THC on a dry-weight basis to be considered legal hemp. It’s essential to check local laws and regulations regarding hemp in your area.

What are the environmental benefits of hemp?

Hemp is considered an environmentally friendly crop for several reasons. It requires minimal water and pesticides compared to many other crops. Hemp plants also have a short growth cycle, allowing multiple harvests per year. They can help improve soil health through a process called phytoremediation, where they absorb and remove toxins from the soil. Additionally, hemp can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials, such as plastic and cotton.

Can hemp be used in the production of CBD products?

Yes, hemp is a common source of CBD (cannabidiol) used in various wellness and therapeutic products. CBD is one of the many compounds found in hemp and does not produce the psychoactive effects associated with THC. CBD is extracted from hemp plants and used in products like CBD oil, tinctures, capsules, and topical creams. It is believed to have potential health benefits, including pain relief and anxiety reduction. However, it’s essential to buy CBD products from reputable sources to ensure their quality and legality.

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