*********************************************
Please read this carefully; these are facts, not just my opinion. *********************************************
Marijuana, or *Cannabis sativa*, truly stands as one of the most beneficial gifts nature has provided to humanity. From the seeds—which are such a rich source of oil—to the stalks and, of course, the flowers, there are countless properties that people can tap into for various benefits.
Nutritionally speaking, hemp seeds are among the most complete food sources on the planet. You won't find many other foods that provide this much protein in such an easily digestible form, nor do they possess essential oils in such a perfect ratio. A single plant can produce at least a liter of seeds, which works out to about 55 million seeds per hectare! And don't worry, these specific seeds don't contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), so you aren't going to get high from them. 🙂 What these wonderful little things actually pack is:
* 22.5% protein
* 30% fat
* 5.7% water
* 5.9% ash
* 503 calories per 100g
* 35.8% carbohydrates
* Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, E
* The highest concentration of essential fatty acids and amino acids found in any known food source
Essential fatty acids are organic compounds that are absolutely vital for the body, particularly for brain function and eye health. They’re also responsible for that healthy glow in your hair and skin. Since our bodies can't actually produce these acids, we have to get them from external sources. I've noticed that certain gels used to maintain dreadlocks actually include hemp seed oil specifically to give them the nutrients they need to stay strong and healthy. These fatty acids help keep hair in great shape, which is huge for older dreads that might otherwise become dry, brittle, or—well—just dead. Hemp seed oil is one of those small miracles of nature that can work wonders for your hair. 🙂
As for the stalk, you can make practically anything out of it: from incredibly strong rope to very durable, high-quality paper, and even construction materials like concrete, beams, paint, and insulation. The potential uses are massive. Our environment would benefit immensely if marijuana were utilized industrially in just a few different ways. This is really a message for everyone trying to spread a positive word about this incredible plant, as well as those trying to save what's left of our poor, overexploited planet.
The flowers hold significant medicinal importance and have been used for centuries (pretty much throughout all of human history, except for this current era we live in!). Marijuana, hemp, weed, pot, grass—there are so many names for it (one of the funniest being "hippie crack") and it remains one of the most widespread "drugs" in the world. But beyond that, there are numerous ways it is utilized in medicine, such as for treating:
* Epilepsy (acting as an anti-convulsant)
* Cancer (for pain relief, nausea, and as an appetite stimulant; in mouse studies, THC actually reduced tumors by 82%!)
* AIDS (for easing pain, nausea, and boosting appetite
* Multiple Sclerosis (for pain management and slowing disease progression
* Glaucoma (that abnormal eye pressure that can lead to optic nerve issues, vision impairment, or even blindness
* Paralysis, including para- and quadriplegia
* Migraines
* Asthma
* Rheumatism
* Arthritis (joint inflammation)
* Muscle atrophy (the weakening of muscles leading to loss of strength)
* Lowering blood cholesterol and acting as an inhibitor
...
And the list goes on and on. Cannabis is one of the most useful plants out there, and it can be grown in almost any backyard without needing heavy fertilizers or pesticides. It isn't addictive, meaning it doesn't create either psychological or physical dependency. It's also impossible to overdose on it (I hope you don't believe the old story that Bob Marley died from too much marijuana; he actually passed away from cancer). Despite all of this, marijuana remains illegal in many parts of the world. In places like the Netherlands, it's legal, and there, only about 3% of teenagers consume it.
"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason by attempting to control human appetite through legislation, thereby turning things that are not crimes into actual crimes."
— Abraham Lincoln, 1840
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
* The earliest printed Bibles were produced on paper made from hemp
* The very first American flag was crafted from hemp fibers
* Both the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp-based paper
* You can actually produce over four times as much paper from an acre of hemp compared to an acre of timber, and hemp regrows in less than a year
* Henry Ford once built a hemp-powered car
* The word "marijuana" is actually a Spanish term for hemp
* Birds tend to live about 20% longer when hemp seeds are included in their diet
* Hemp seed oil has endless uses (and really should be used more often), ranging from industrial machine lubricant and oil paints to cosmetics and high-quality food products
* Back in the 1600s, certain parts of the US actually had laws encouraging the cultivation of hemp
* During the 1700s, you could essentially pay your taxes in hemp for the next two centuries in the US
* Throughout history, hemp seeds have been a lifesaver during famines. Today, over 60% of children in developing nations suffer due to protein deficiencies, yet the government claims certain proteins shouldn't be grown—claiming it's illegal!
* Modern science has identified specific receptors in the brain that bind exclusively with THC
* While the depletion of the ozone layer threatens to destroy half of our soybean crops, hemp remains immune to the negative effects of UV light (in fact, UV rays can actually help boost THC production)
* Hemp yields significantly more ethanol than corn does
* Hemp requires little to no processing; it grows in the soil (actually cleaning it of toxins), then it’s harvested, dried, and ready for use. Doesn't it seem irrational that governments won't push for marijuana legalization to collect tax revenue instead of raising already massive taxes to close the national deficit?
-
"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the ground and every tree that bears fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'"
The Bible, Genesis 1:29
SOURCE:
http://www.knottyboy.com/ TRANSLATION: embrlajzer