You’ve probably heard of hemp as a fiber for clothing and jewelry, and you’ve probably also heard of the most popular cannabinoids called cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But, did you know that there are more than 25,000 uses for cannabis? 

The main 4 parts of the cannabis plant are the seeds, stalks, roots, and leaves/flowers.

      As we talk about the many uses of hemp, remember that cannabis seeds do not contain any THC or CBD, but they are high in healthy fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. Seeds can be sold as food for humans and animals with or without the shell, or they can be used for their oil. Seeds are cold-pressed in a manufacturing facility where the liquid and solid parts of the seed are separated to create hemp seed oil (not CBD oil!) and hemp cake. The hemp cake can be used for animal feed, but for now it cannot legally be fed to animals which will be used for consumer products such as meat and milk. The raw, extracted hemp seed oil can be used in similar ways to other cold-use plant oils such as in food, drink, beauty products, and health supplements or it can be filtered further to be used like a hot-use oil such as for cooking or biofuel. The next time you’re shopping for lotion, body wash, or bath bombs take note of the various brands which advertise the use of hemp oil in their products! Hemp seed production is considered to be part of the “Industrial Hemp” market rather than the general hemp market. Industrial hemp is often grown as an agricultural plant in a field outside, compared to other cannabis plants which are grown indoors as a horticultural plant. 

Cannabis stalks have two main parts: the hurd and the bast fiber. The stalk contains an insignificant amount of THC and CBD, so it is generally not used for its cannabinoid content. The stalk is usually softened by a process called retting, then the hurd and bast fiber is separated via a decortication machine. The hurd of the stalk is a hard, woody substance which is used in similar ways that wood from a tree is used for such as animal bedding, flooring, insulation, and wood pellets. Like hemp seeds, products which are created with hemp stalks are considered part of the “Industrial Hemp” market.

Cannabis roots also contain an insignificant amount of THC and CBD. The roots of a cannabis plant can be used in medicine and health supplements, or it can be used as organic compost by either leaving it in the field during harvest. This puts nutrients back into the soil that were used by the cannabis plant to grow. 

Cannabis leaves and flowers are the main source of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids. There are over 80 cannabinoids in the leaves and flowers of a cannabis plant, which all interact differently with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies to process them. THC is the cannabinoid which creates psychoactive effects (aka the “high” one feels when smoking marijuana), and it is also known to relieve stress and anxiety. CBD is a cannabinoid which does not cause psychoactive effects that is known to reduce symptoms of anxiety and sleeplessness.
Cannabis which contains less than .3% Delta 9 THC is considered hemp. This allows farmers and producers to legally create thousands of products in the cannabis/hemp industry. Cannabinoids like CBD and THC are extracted from the leaves and flowers by isolating the chemical compounds from the plant material and distilling it in high concentrations. Cannabis products which are marketed for their delta-9 THC content are considered marijuana, which is federally illegal. However, cannabis products which are marketed for their delta-8 THC content are not federally regulated due to being extracted specifically from hemp plants. Delta-9 THC naturally occurs in cannabis with a 10-30% concentration, so many consumers smoke the flower without having to extract the THC. Yet, delta-8 THC occurs in insignificant amounts and therefore must be extracted and concentrated to achieve its desired effects. Even still, consumers can still find delta-8 THC flower among the various delta-8 products which are offered at The Hemp Source. CBD is extracted as an oil for use in consumables such as food and drinks, smokeables like flower and concentrated cartridges, and topicals like lotions and balms.