Hemp growing



Growing hemp, here's how

In Italy the regulatory framework on hemp was defined with the approval of the Law on Cannabis on 2 December 2016, n. 242, published in the Official Journal n.304 of 12/30/2016.

Communicating the start-up of your own hemp field is no longer mandatory, but it is a useful practice to avoid any problems. Anyone intending to do so can download the appropriate sowing report form.

To be grown freely in Italy, the hemp plant must contain a THC rate of less than 0.2% . As specified by the circular published by the Ministry, an authorization is required when the percentage is higher.

On the site of Assocanapa it is possible to retrieve useful information on canapicoltura, learn about the canapai scattered throughout the Peninsula and find training courses to attend.

In many Italian regions, hemp is now treated in the same way as any other crop. To get an idea, here is a video that shows you milling in the Marche, carried out by one of the many "canapai" returned to work in the Peninsula.

If you think hemp is just a hemp shop product , you're wrong! Hemp sativa lends itself to multiple uses and commercial applications, ranging from classic edible products, to textile or cosmetic use, through construction and the much debated therapeutic and medicinal use .

Hemp for food use

The circular dated 22 May 2009 of the Ministry of Health admitted in Italy the food uses of hemp seeds .

Based on the indications of the Superior of Health, the circular states that "the possibility of detecting traces (of THC, ed ) in processing products (flour and oils) is exclusively due to contamination of floral organs and adoption of unsuitable seed cleaning practices ”.

Seeds, oil, pasta, bread, biscuits and other baked goods; to drink, tea, infusions and herbal teas ; there is even hemp chocolate . Hemp-based food products are also popular among supermarket shelves and convince with their high nutritional value.

Various realities and associations use hemp to produce crepes, bagels, beer, coffee, even pizza .

Hemp seeds have a high yield of essential acids (such as Omega 3 and Omega 6), vitamins (such as vitamin E, vitamin A and group B vitamins) as well as natural antioxidants that protect cells from aging. Rich in assimilable proteins, hemp also supplies the body with vegetable fibers and mineral salts .

Hemp for fabrics

Hemp produces a robust fiber that is durable and easy to work with . It can be an alternative or addition to cotton or other natural fibers. From the beginning of the 20th century it was also used for the production of ship ropes and sails.

The cultivation of hemp does not require the use of chemical substances or herbicides, therefore the tissues derived from them are natural and healthy.

Lastly, hemp is a very productive plant, it grows quickly and is itself a "pest" against other plants.

Hemp for construction

With the hemp stalks, sturdy and resilient wooden boards can be made for construction or carpentry . The stems of the plant in the past were used to build light structures, which were subsequently plastered to make ceilings or partitions .

The hemp compound with lime or clay - canapulo or "hemp wood" in technical language - can also be used for the construction of walls or floors. Finally, silica-coated hemp wood is used to make insulations.

Hemp is a precious material for the green building sector, which in these years is experiencing a very promising development.

Hemp for therapeutic use

In the form of a medicinal plant, hemp is used in the medical field as an analgesic, antispastic or protective organism .

As explained by the Veronesi Foundation, various studies (some of which are still in progress) have shown that its use can also be useful to alleviate the painful symptoms of serious diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or Tourette's syndrome.

The molecules that act mainly in the central and peripheral nervous system are THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

These molecules must be activated through a particular chemical process, called "decarboxylation". Their correct dosage is fundamental to obtain the most suitable therapeutic effect for specific cases.

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