Hemp

In the past the bark fibers were used for ropes and textiles. In a large part of the world hemp fibers are again being used for clothing. Traditionally hemp provided the canvas (the term derived from the word 'cannabis') for sails and tents. Hemp is 60% woody, and is therfore used as straw for horses and rodents. Hemp burns well and leaves few ashes making it very suitable as an alternative for fuel wood. Mixed with chalk, hemp is used for contruction (lime-hemp concrete or hempcrete or 'betón de chanvre' in French). In Canada hemp is sometimes grown as a natural herbicide. Cannabis grows so quickly that it outgrows not only other weeds, but also itself.

The seeds are chiefly used to make hempseed oil which can be used for cooking, lamps, in varnishes or paints as well as as bird feed.

The flowers (and to a lesser extent the leaves, stems and seeds) contain psychoactive chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, that are consumed for recreational, medicinal and spiritual purposes. In traditional medicine of India hemp is used as a hallucinogenic, hypnotic, sedative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

The flowers (and to a lesser extent the leaves, stems, and seeds) contain psychoactive chemical compounds known as cannabinoids that are consumed for recreational, medicinal, and spiritual purposes. In India traditional medicine uses this plant as a hallucinogenic, hypnotic, sedative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Until the Second World War, hemp was an important clothing fibre, together with, or as a replacement for, linen and cotton. This use has been documented since 600 BC in China, and was introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages.