Even though hemp’s popularity has skyrocketed over the last couple of years, there is still some controversy tied to its use. This miraculous plant brings a variety of benefits in medical applications, and it’s also being used recreationally — not as a drug but as a wellness product in the form of CBD-rich smokable hemp flower. Although more research is needed, studies have shown that hemp oil has many benefits and applications, yet we are still fighting the stigma around it. In the list below, we are debunking the five most common myths about smoking hemp and using hemp oil.
Myth #1 Hemp Will Get You High
Hemp will get you high — this is the most common myth you’ll hear about hemp and no surprise there, but it connects to its similarity to marijuana. More specifically, the similarity of their flowers. Both the hemp flower and the marijuana flower look the same, smell the same, and even taste the same. The only difference between the two is in their THC levels. Namely, hemp doesn’t contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or the phytocannabinoid responsible for the psychotropic or “high” effect the user gets when smoking marijuana.
The marijuana plant contains a high percentage of THC — anywhere from 3.5 to 30 percent of this compound. Hemp, on the other hand, has such low amounts of THC (legally, less than 0.3% THC) that can’t get the user stoned. Instead, hemp contains a higher amount of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol or CBD, an active compound that supports wellness and healthy life. So, if you want to add some hemp flower or hemp CBD oil to your routine, keep in mind that it’s impossible to reach the marijuana high from hemp.
Myth #2 Hemp is The Male, Marijuana is The Female Cannabis Plant
Is smoking hemp really a thing? When hemp flower, also known as CBD flower, became the hottest trend on the hemp market, people were confused. As a result, the myth that smoking hemp will give you a headache started spreading, and there is a good reason for that. In the past, industrial hemp was grown for fiber, seed, rope, textile, building materials, and many other practical uses. However, the hemp we use for smoking today is not the same as the one grown in the past.
Modern breeders have created different varieties of the hemp plant that are rich in cannabinoids or the chemical compounds “guilty” of all of the health benefits the plant offers. The CBD flower is abundant in hemp cannabinoids and terpenes and smoking or vaping this flower is one of the purest ways of obtaining hemp’s incredible health benefits. The hemp flower contains high percentages of cannabinoids, various terpenes, flavonoids, and other nutrients that, when combined and working in synergy, produce the most potent effect. In scientific terms, this phenomenon is known as the “entourage effect,” and not many hemp tinctures offer the same quality and potency.
Myth #4 Hemp Was Used to Clean the Soil in Chernobyl
This myth has a bit of truth to it. Namely, a U.S. company called Phytotech partnered up with Ukrainian scientists in 1998 to plant hemp around the site of the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl. Their goal was to determine whether the plant can absorb the harmful radioactive substances and thus help eliminate the toxic radiation caused by the nuclear disaster. While there are news reports that confirm that this experiment did take place, its results are a bit unclear.
Some sources claim that the experiment was so successful that the Japanese scientists wanted to use hemp on the Fukushima site, but unfortunately, they could not obtain a hemp license. An article published in the New Scientist magazine in 1999, where one of the company’s scientists revealed that the plant could, in fact, suck up a small percentage of the harmful elements. Even though the results remain unclear, it’s quite plausible that hemp helped clear the site back in the day.
Myth #5 Hemp Requires No Pesticides or Irrigation
Lastly, there’s a rumor going around that says hemp does not need any pesticides or irrigation to grow. While this would make it the easiest plant to grow on the planet, it is not entirely true. Despite all the great benefits it provides, hemp is not a magical plant. However, it is much easier to grow than marijuana, as it does not require a specifically controlled indoor environment.
While this myth is only a myth, there is a bit of truth in it. Since these plants naturally grow so tall and close to each other, it’s more difficult for pests to reach the leaves, which means the plant does not require as much pesticide as other outdoor plants. When it comes to irrigation, hemp can indeed survive prolonged periods of drought, as long as it receives plenty of rainfall in the first six weeks. However, the more you water the plant, the more it’s going to grow.
Shop for Highest Quality Hemp in Your Area
The internet is full of misleading information, including a sea of hemp myths that can create a negative opinion about this topic. However, if you look deeper into the facts provided by authorities, you will learn that hemp should not be associated with marijuana as closely as it is since it has completely different effects and applications. Therefore, make sure to do your research, so you don’t fall for the next myth about smoking hemp.
If you are looking for high-quality hemp in Charlotte, North Carolina, or other U.S. cities, shop for the latest CBD products at our online store. Take a look at our Hawaiian Haze strain and the top-shelf ACDC Hemp Flower available on the site.
