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 most known and used are the sativa, the indica and the ruderalis .

Officially, the cannabis that can be grown legally in Italy is the first, but it requires long procedures and needs checks and certifications, from seeds to production.

Legal cannabis is trying to gain points in Italy, and if you're even more curious, take a trip to CannaTrade or Spannabis

Meanwhile, we discover its benefits and uses.

Properties of hemp

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 inflammation. We must not forget its high protein value (more than 20%), which would make it valuable as a source of livelihood.

The carbohydrate content gives it a high energy value and the percentage of fiber and minerals, including iron and phosphorus, is also good. 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 prohibition, it could be cultivated and used for many purposes : first of all as officinal herb, but also to produce fabrics, paper, fuels, plastics, fibers, non-polluting paints, and more.

With hemp seeds you could create nutritious protein foods and quality edible oil. Here are the uses of hemp in detail:

• Fabrics : the hemp plant produces a fiber that can be worked well, is robust and lasts a long time; its cotivation does not require the use of chemicals, so the tissues derived from it are natural and healthy. It can replace or mix very well with cotton and other fibers.
• Paper : the woody part of the hemp can rightly be considered a raw material to derive the paper. The sheets of paper that are produced are thin, resistant and of high quality, but can also be used to make cardboard or newsprint. The paper bleaching process would not require the use of chlorine and the use of polluting acid substances would be halved.
• Construction boards and mixtures : sturdy and resilient wooden boards can be made with hemp drums. The lime and hemp compound 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, insulating and packaging materials.
• Fuels : hemp can also be used for the production of fuel biomass in place of oil and derivatives.
• Feeding : healthy and nutritious hemp seeds can be used to make precious flours or hemp oil, highly protective, strengthens the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels. Various realities and associations use hemp to produce 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 nourishing and precious cosmetic . In particular, the high presence of γ-linolenic acid, which plays an important role for the skin, and of tocopherols, which are a powerful natural antioxidant, make it a sought-after product for making cosmetics for skin and hair care . Here are so many products, such as soaps, creams, lip glosses and toothpastes, made from hemp.
• Phytotherapy . As a medicinal plant, used in the medical field where possible as a painkiller or a protective substance for the body, various studies have shown that it can also be useful for alleviating the painful symptoms of serious diseases (such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease).
• Agriculture : hemp is also used in agriculture, for a very important operation such as mulching, which allows maintaining soil moisture when necessary, a warm soil temperature and preventing the growth of weeds.

Going back to using hemp for various productions, millions of trees would be saved and the use of oil and by-products would be halved .

Hemp is also a very productive plant, it grows quickly and does not require the use of herbicides, being itself "suffocating" against other plants.

Prohibition has interrupted and slowed down its use, to the advantage of other materials, plants or petroleum products. In Italy the cultivation of cannabis sativa is legal, while cannabis indica is prohibited ; however, since the two types are not distinguishable, growers must request authorization from the Ministry of Health and the borocratic practices are long ; just as well-designed processing plants do not yet exist (Assocanapa is a good source for further details in the "growing hemp" section).

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 the Spannabis in Barcelona.