President Donald Trump has signed the 2018 farm bill into law which will make hemp plant legal in the United States of America. This legislation will go into effect in January 2019.

Previously, marijuana was considered an equally harmful substance just like heroin, LSD, and other deadly opioids. Other strains of cannabis could get people high due to the high concentration in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), while hemp could not.

However, under the new bill, hemp is considered as a variety of the marijuana plant which contains less than 0.3 % THC – the psychoactive compound found in marijuana.

The president of Vote Hemp, Eric Steenstra said that the farm bill will have a positive impact on farming communities and rural economies. This plant includes non-intoxicating forms of cannabis which, in turn, allow doing a lot of research, cultivation, and hemp plant development.

This crop also plays an important role in the use of textiles, fuel, food, as well as some wellness products which contain cannabidiol – a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis.

In other words, legalizing hemp provides an opportunity for economic growth and new jobs because hemp is a highly versatile plant which can grow in different climates.

Recently, this cannabidiol has been used in the treatment of certain health conditions such as anxiety, seizures, and pain. Manufacturers promise that it is going to be used for alleviating depression too.

Hemp seeds, on the other hand, do not produce mind-altering effects and they have a lot of health benefits. They are extremely high in fiber, protein, and healthful fatty acids. They have antioxidant properties and can reduce the symptoms of numerous ailments. They may:

  • Protect the brain and help in the treatment of some neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathic pain.
  • Improve cardiovascular health by lowering the high blood pressure and decreasing the risk of heart attack.
  • Reduce inflammation and help in the treatment of arthritis, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, type 2-diabetes, and liver diseases.
  • Improve skin appearance by providing the body with plenty of minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.  

Reference: Huffingtonpost