Hemp

Hemp is the traditional english name for the Cannabis plant in reference to its industrial uses, especially the fibers of the stems and branches and the seeds, mainly used for their oil.

Fibre
Hemp fibres make a very strong and durable material when entwined. This is the reason that until the coming of plastics hemp was the top material for rope and also for the making of sails and canvas (abbreviation of "cannabis"). All these products have to resist great tensions and extreme conditions with a minimum of wear and tear.

Given the durability and the fast growth of the plant, hemp was a big industry in Europe until sails became obsolete with the introduction of the steam engine and then again when plastics came into the picture.

But hemp rope and canvas are still being produced and hemp industrially cultivated. The (typical western european) variety used for fibre grows into six meter high plants. Both male and female plants are used and the amount of THC is close to nil.

other languages

 * Hennep - Dutch
 * Hanf - German