by
Paul
Benhaim1
HEMP
–
PAST,
PRESENT
AND
FUTURE
emp or Cannabis sativa is the only species in the
Canabaceae family. Its closet relative is the hops plant.
This tall, vigorous annual that often reaches a height of
over four metres at maturity is named hemp to indicate the non-
drug variety. Throughout wide cultivation over many thousands of
years this dioecious (both male and femalre) plant has adapted to
most climates. Only recently has hemp been re-discovered as a
valuable part in various industries, particularly as a nutritional
bases for some tasty foods.
Hemp
Past
It is not clear from literature exactly where the cannabis varieties
originated from or even where and when they were first used by
humans, for any purpose, though it is thought that Asia is the
mother home.
It has been documented that the ancient Chinese were
eating hemp seed (which is actually not a seed but a nut) up to
8000 years ago. The Indian Vedas praised cannabis as able to
provide everything from good health to a channel to their gods.
Buddhist tradition holds that Buddha ate one hemp seed a day
during the six steps of asceticism that led to his enlightenment.