Hemp’s use as a source for clothing and other products is believed to date beyond recorded history. It was used in China over 5000 years ago.
It belongs to the genus Cannabis sativa L, the same one as the more infamous one bearing its name, marijuana. They belong to different varieties of the same plant. The narcotic properties attributed to this strain arise from a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. In hemp grown for industrial purposes, including green clothing, THC occurs less than 0.3 % on a dry weight basis. In contrast, marijuana has a THC level of 3-15%.
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Hemp is a wonder crop. It is cultivated to obtain fiber, oil and seeds. Hemp is used as a medicine as well as a narcotic. It has wide use in industry. From ropes, sails, canvas, burlap and paper to green clothing its versatility of uses is numerous.
Compared to cotton which requires years to grow to maturity, a hemp tree matures in one season. This, plus its tendency to mulch the soil makes it ideal for use in crop rotation. No herbicides are used for cultivation of hemp. Compared to other plant based crops such as cotton, hemp requires less water during cultivation. The hemp plant with its deep root system also helps controls soil erosion. It produces 250% more fiber per acre than cotton and 600% more than flax.
