Cannabis and Hemp Information Hub
Cannabis & Hemp Information Guide
Welcome to our information Hub which is dedicated to the family of plants we all love. This is your one-stop guide on all things related to Hemp, Cannabis and CBD Oils and products and it has been written and designed by Cannabis enthusiasts of many years who has grown up in the industry and who understands the concerns of people looking to venture into the hemp or cannabis sphere but whose knowledge is lacking. This page will hopefully answer all your questions and probably raise a few more by the time you finish reading it. You are welcome to scroll down to the bits of interest and you can use the navigation below to jump right to the main sections of interest. We all think we know enough about cannabis and hemp but I bet even the most pretentious know it all could still do with touching up on their knowledge base from time to time. With so many conflicting guides, they are often the work of people looking to rank websites and are mainly written by content creators, not people who actually live and breathe the cannabis industry. Come with us on a journey and learn a little bit about the plant we all love. Cannabis & hemp Users Almanac courtesy of Quintessential Tips.
What is Cannabis & Hemp
Cannabis has many names attributed to it, which we will discuss later. It is a genus (a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name) of plants that flower in the family Cannabaceae which has three distinct species, although this is disputed: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three may be viewed as being subspecies of a single species, Cannabis Sativa. It is widely accepted that this genus is native to Central Asia and it originated and is indigenous to the region. It is also known as Hemp but this term refers to the cultivation of Cannabis which is not for drug use or altering the mind via THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) Industrial hemp products are made from cannabis plants which have been selected to produce an abundance of fibre for manufacturing purposes. Some cannabis strains have also been purposely bred to produce minimum levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), the principal psychoactive constituent found in Cannabis. Some strains have been selectively bred to produce a high percentage of THC (a cannabinoid) for recreational and medical purposes. This juxtaposition of breeding shows you the versatility of the plant and how it is utilised for different reasons.
Uses of Cannabis & Hemp
With its historical usage it's almost a case of what can't it be used for but there are some things which have more significance and relevance for people today. Historically Hemp has been used for many things including but not limited to Rigging on boats and paper making and cannabis for religious rituals and medical practices but the uses are vast, clothing, Hempcrete for building and Hemp Paper Packaging. Like we said what can't it be used for. Cannabis is most probably best known to you for it being an illegal drug, rightly or wrongly this is the way it's introduced to most people and the consensus is it must be bad. However far from being bad it's probably one of the world's most vital plants and its potential for medicine is vast and is still a last frontier, in many ways undiscovered. Cannabis has a long and rich usage history and has been used for many things, from sacred rituals to manufacturing, textiles and house building, not to mention as a recreational drug. The history of its use stretches back all the way to Central Asia 2500 years ago. Needless to say Humanity has had a love affair with this plant and its use is well documented throughout history. Right up to today in 2021 its usage and cultural relevance remains strong despite a period of barbarity in recent human history which has seen people persecuted for their right to use a natural plant. Hemp fibre has been used extensively throughout history, with production climaxing soon after being introduced to the New World. For centuries, items ranging from rope to fabrics and industry materials were made from hemp fibre. Did you know that Hemp was also commonly used to make sail canvas. The word "canvas" is derived from the word cannabis. The possibilities are endless but lets look closer at how hemp is used in modern production.
Is this how you know Hemp & Cannabis ?
Did you know it also has many uses which can impact our everyday lives in a variety of ways.
CBD Oils / Cannabinoid Extraction
As As you can see, over the last 5 years the rise of CBD oils has been prolific and for good reason. Quickly becoming one of the most suitable ways for consumers to begin their journey with Cannabis / Hemp. Helped in its rise to stardom, CBD oil and its associated products like CBD Edibles were given credence and social status by a myriad of different celebrities looking to cash in. However it's not all been plain sailing, especially for the British retailers hit by constant trials and tribulation that are incurred while trying to bring this product to market. The hemp used in the extraction of CBD should be grown organically or with organic principles if not actually certified and should always be full spectrum. Hemp growing is now having a renaissance down to the need to provide material for production of the oils.
Hemp for Building & Construction
Hemp, if used as a building construction material offers solutions to a variety of problems present in current building standards. It's a light-weight, mold resistant, breathable product. makes hemp used in construction versatile in a multitude of ways. From Concrete or Hempcrete to insulation, plaster and oils and varnishes. All can be made with hemp as the primary ingredient and the results are very high end. Think Building, think Hemp. Farms now grow hemp specifically to account for demand in the construction industry and its great to see hemp used in a way that's sustainable and eco friendly in an industry that's is usually anything but. But this is changing and it's a pleasure to see it grow.
Hemp used for Biofuels
Biodiesel can be manufactured from the naturally occurring oils in hemp seeds and stalks and husks; this product is known as "hempoline.” ethanol or methanol can be made by fermenting the whole plant. Uses of filtered hemp oil include the ability to power diesel engines. Unfortunately the production of hemp based fuel is limited as biogas and biodiesel can also be made from cheaper crops of cereals, coconuts and coir and even cheaper ingredients like animal forces. For it to become viable, hemp would need to be a worldwide legitimate crop, once prices fall as supply increases we could replace all fuels eventually with hemp powered biofuel with the added bonus hemp is a great world friendly crop to grow.
Hemp Plastics & Geotextiles
Cannabis or hemp based Geotextiles could replace traditional plastic make from non biodegradable materials Hemp-based bioplastic is a biodegradable alternative to regular plastic and can potentially replace PVC Plastic More than ever the rate of consumption by humans of plastics must be curbed and Hemp plastics offer a viable alternative. However in humanity's race to the bottom, we largely see corporations paying lip service but not actually investing like they could in alternative hemp solutions to the waste crisis. When possible, always choose product manufacturers that use less or no plastic and who make a conscious choice to use hemp in their production of single use consumable items.
Hemp Packaging
Hemp paper are traditional paper varieties consisting to a large extent from pulp obtained from fibres of industrial hemp. The products are mainly specialty papers such as cigarette rolling smoking papers, banknotes and technical filter papers When you run a comparison against traditionally used wood pulp, Pulp derived from hemp offers a many times longer fibre, a greatly reduced lignin fraction as well as a bigger tear resistance and overall tensile strength. Hemp packaging is very close to our hearts with Quintessential Tips creating the worlds very first product to have its outer packaging made from hemp instead of traditional paper stocks. Cementing our dedication to see hemp replace all traditional paper products.
Is Hemp Paper Recyclable?
Hemp paper can be recycled up to 8 times, compared to just 3 times for paper made from wood pulp, what's more hemp paper is biodegradable and gentle on our planet and our eco-system Compared to its wood pulp counterpart, paper from hemp fibers also resist decomposition and does not yellow or brown with age
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How does Hemp Yield?
Hemp yields three to four times more usable fibre per hectare per annum than forests, and hemp doesn't need pesticides or herbicides Hemp has a much faster crop yield. It takes about 3–4 months for hemp stalks to reach maturity, while trees can take between 20 and 80 years.
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Is Hemp Paper Cleaner?
Hemp paper does not require the use of toxic bleaching or as many chemicals as wood pulp because it can be whitened with hydrogen peroxide. This means using hemp instead of wood for paper would end the practice of poisoning Earth's waterways with chlorine or dioxins.
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Why Use Hemp Paper?
As you can see, Hemp Paper is a worthy contender to traditional paper stock. With global warming now a real and credible danger to our way of living, it's now imperative that people, both consumers and manufacturers alter and adjust how they respectively consume and manufacture disposable products for sale .
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Recreational Cannabis use
The recreational use of cannabis has a long history stretching back thousands of years. Humans have enjoyed taking different herbs and natural ingredients for a variety of reasons, from recreationally for fun to self dosed medication. The line between recreational and medical usage is also blurred as many people will use it for both reasons. As a natural ingredient it is one of the best sources of cannabinoids on the planet and will stimulate your endocannabinoid system from using it. Unfortunately many people still associate cannabis with drug use but nowadays it's pretty clear the demonisation of cannabis in the last 100 years has been the result of vested corporate interest and fear of competition. It has not been driven by public concern or safety despite how it is presented. Cannabis has no more business being illegal than water does and humans should have the right to use any natural substance they see fit. The science supports this but unfortunately especially in the UK true cannabis legalisation is some way off. however there is an army of switched on people trying to see cannabis legalisation in our lifetime.
Common Cannabis Usage Methods
Cannabis use as we have discovered is prevalent across history by many different civilizations but what are the most used methods of consumption enjoyed by cannabis users the world over. There are quite a few methods or offshoots of the below but we have consolidated them to three distinct methods listed below.
1. Smoking cannabis via inhalation of combusted materials is probably one of the most well known methods employed by all cannabis users. Flowers or leaves from the cannabis plant are dried and then crushed, usually with a grinder and then placed into rolling smoking papers with a roach tip and rolled into what's commonly called a Spliff or Joint, although many other names exist. One end is lit and the user inhales the combusted smoke. Another widely used method of combustion is the Bong or the pipe and the three methods of combustion are very likely the most used method for people consuming cannabis.
2. Dabbing & Vaping Cannabis Concentrates: Consuming cannabis concentrates is now a massive industry and some would say it the future of cannabis ingestion. As it does not combust the concentrates, you are not inhaling hot smoke into the lungs which would damage them. Instead your inhaling vapour produced from cooking off the concentrates. Cannabis concentrates have been removed from the plant via a rosin press which uses heat and pressure to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes or via a chemical process which results in a product commonly called shatter. The extract is then either used with a dab rig or it can be blended down with a base liquid and vaped like an e-cigarette.
3. Eating Cannabis & CBD Edibles are another one of the Primary ways that people can consume cannabis for recreational purposes. Eating things is a favourite pastime of humans who consume food items not just for sustenance but also for pleasure. It's also a useful method for those who do not wish to combust or vape their chosen herbs. Eating cannabis or CBD edibles must be one of the easiest methods of ingestion and it's much easier to consume in public making it a discreet option. However the effects tend to be longer and more powerful but with a delayed initial reaction due to digestion times. Also depending on the skill level of the chef, the flavours of edibles are likely to be amazon and cannabinoids can be combined into any meal. When your munchies give you the munchies.. You know it's time to exercise lol.
The Future of Cannabis in the UK
The future of Cannabis in the UK is a precarious one. It pretty much boils down to which monster in power decides they have enough of a stranglehold on the industry to allow it to grow. Unfortunately the UK is having massive issues with democracy and Cannabis decriminalisation / Legalisation is not a priority right now. Nor has it ever really been a priority. Despite America going the other way, the mechanisms of control in England are very much anti cannabis for the time being. However we remain hopeful, what we ourselves would like to see is the NHS administering medical cannabis to those in need and a retail sales market that's regulated and a legal home growing amount which would see people grow their own cannabis for recreational use, much like in the way home brewing is allowed. It would remove the requirement for drug dealers to have an involvement and would see cannabis become a viable source of tax which in turn would stimulate the economy and provide much needed cash for the failing social services we enjoy in the UK.