Becca Wolford, Contributing Writer
Waking Times

The topic of hemp is often a confusing one, and I am frequently asked questions regarding industrial hemp, so here are a few ‘myth-breakers’ I’ve compiled that answer some of those queries.

1. Industrial hemp is marijuana.~ False. Industrial hemp is not marijuana, it is a different plant. Both marijuana and hemp are of the cannabis family, but they are not the same. Hemp is very low in THC, marijuana has higher concentrations of THC.

2. Industrial hemp can make you high. ~ False. Because hemp is low in THC, if you smoked it, even huge amounts, all you would get is a pretty big headache.

3. Industrial hemp fields can hide marijuana plants. ~ False. Industrial hemp plants are grown tightly together, allowing for height (up to 20 feet) while at the same time making it nearly impossible for weeds to grow. Marijuana is shorter, and is grown further spaced out. Also, growing the 2 plants together would cause cross-pollination, which would compromise the potency of the marijuana plant. One common argument is that DEA officials would not be able to tell the difference between hemp and marijuana, and that marijuana would be easily hidden in hemp fields. This is simply not true.

4. Hemp Oil is the source of THC. ~ This can be confusing. Hemp SEED oil does not have THC, and is one of the MOST nutritious food oils available. Hemp seed oil has a green tint to it. Hemp oil is from the marijuana plant, and while it also has excellent healing properties, it is not the same as hemp seed oil, and has a very dark tint, almost black in color.

5. Industrial hemp is illegal to grow in the United States. ~ False. Technically, it is not illegal to grow. It IS, however, illegal to grow without the proper permits from the DEA, which are very difficult to get.

6. Legalizing hemp would be a backdoor to marijuana legalization and would also send the ‘wrong message’ to kids. ~ False. Legalizing an industrial crop for food, fiber, and fuel – that is proven to be healthy and environmentally safe and economically viable – would not be considered a backdoor to marijuana legalization and would NOT send the ‘wrong message’ to kids. (This author realizes the health benefits of marijuana and its curative properties, but will leave that discussion out of this post, as it pertains mainly to industrial hemp.)

7. Eating hemp seeds or hemp seed oil will cause me to fail a drug test. ~ False. Hemp seeds imported into the United States must pass inspection for low THC (1% or less). The seeds that are imported are ‘washed’, so THC levels from ingestion causing a positive drug test are impossible.

Industrial hemp is not the ‘evil’ drug that it has been made out to be from propaganda stemming from the early 1930s. It is my purpose and passion to spread the word about industrial hemp, and educate others about the TRUTH of this miraculous plant.

About the Author

Becca Wolford is a writer, entrepreneur, artist, reiki practitioner, and hemp activist. She has experienced first-hand the nutritional and healing benefits of hemp and her passion is learning, writing, and educating others about the benefits of hemp – benefits that encompass nutritional health for humans, a healthy environment, and a healthier economy. Becca also distributes Versativa, an amazing raw, clean, hemp-based nutritional supplement and Restoration90, a raw, clean, nutritional product with marine phytoplankton, hemp, and essential nutrients for optimum health. Please support her at her excellent blog Hemphealer.com.

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