By Annie Nelson
The Nelson family celebrated big time when Congress passed the 2018 farm bill legalizing hemp farming in the U.S.
Willie and I have always been passionate about supporting American farmers and protecting our environment, so trust me when I say you can believe the hype around hemp. And we’re so happy to put American hemp to good use—it’s the foundation for all Willie’s Remedy products.
This miraculous plant isn’t just good for our farmers and our economy, it can actually heal our soil, our environment and our health. You could write a book on the endless uses for hemp—many have!—but I wanted to share a few reasons why I love hemp:
Hemp Can Help Influence History
It’s true that hemp is as American as apple pie. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and other Revolutionaries grew it, and back in those days, farmers in the newly independent United States were not only encouraged to grow it, they could pay taxes with it. During World War II, the government created Hemp for Victory, a campaign encouraging American farmers to farm hemp for the war effort. With the historic 2018 farm bill, a new chapter is being written.
Hemp Can Help Our Economy
Hemp’s uses are endless: textiles, nutritious foods and beverages, paper, construction materials (a.k.a. hempcrete), clothing, nutraceuticals, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation and biofuel—I could go on. And the popularity of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) has made this crop even more valuable. Hemp is opening up many new opportunities for struggling American farmers, especially because hemp can grow almost anywhere and in any climate.
Analysts say that by 2025, the global hemp market will be worth $10.6 billion. A thriving hemp industry could create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs, not only in agriculture but in processing, manufacturing, research and food science—again, the possibilities are endless.
It warms my heart to see hemp opening new doors for our farmers and our local economies. We proudly source all of the hemp we use in Willie’s Remedy products from Colorado farms, and we look forward to working together with new hemp farmers as we develop more products.
Hemp Can Help Our Environment
Hemp grows with far less water than crops such as corn or cotton; it also requires relatively little need for pesticides to thrive and grows quickly (up to 20 feet high in just three months).
Hemp is also famous for its ability to draw heavy metals and other toxins out of soil. It was used to clean contaminated soil after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Its deep roots help prevent erosion and increase the microbial content of soil. Hemp also converts to biodiesel, a nontoxic fuel source—which is something I care deeply about.
So, by growing hemp, we can conserve water, reduce unnecessary toxins, cut pollution, decontaminate and replenish our soils, prevent deforestation, and replace nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels, lumber and plastic.
Is your jaw on the ground in awe of this plant’s powers yet? If not, keep reading.
Hemp Can Help Our Health
Hemp seed is considered to be one of the most complete sources of protein and essential fatty acids found in nature. Along with protein, fiber and iron, hemp seeds are also a great source of a host of other vital nutrients, including magnesium, thiamin, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese and vitamin E.
The full-spectrum hemp extract found in Willie’s Remedy supports healthy functioning of your endocannabinoid system (ECS). Promising preliminary research indicates that the cannabinoids in top-quality hemp extract can help with sleep, stress and inflammation, and holds potential for relief from pain.
Hemp is like the ultimate superhero of the plant kingdom. This ancient plant lives up to all the hype you’ve heard, and all of us at Willie’s Remedy couldn’t be happier to be part of the American hemp renaissance.
Learn more about Willie’s Remedy and catch up on other Ask Annie posts.
