International Hemp Day Date in the current year: April 21, 2024

The term hemp (or industrial hemp) is applied to the cultivars of the Cannabis sativa plant that are grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. These cultivars have lower concentrations of tetrahydrocannabiol (THC), the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis. Hemp varieties grown for industrial use are simply unsuitable for producing drugs due to their extremely low THC content.

Hemp was one of the first plants to be domesticated and cultivated by mankind. Moreover, there is evidence of hemp fiber being used to make ropes and cloth long before the emergence of agriculture. The history of hemp farming has had its highs and lows, and today, the legality of hemp varies widely depending on the country.

Different parts of the hemp plant can be used to make a variety of industrial and commercial products, including rope, paper, textiles, clothes and shoes, bioplastics, construction materials, biofuel, food products, and medicinal preparations with CBD (cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that does not have the psychoactivity as THC).

Hemp fiber has been used extensively to make various items and materials throughout human history. It was commonly used to make rope and fabric (as a matter of fact, the word “canvas” comes from the word “cannabis”). Today, hemp is also used to produce sustainable building and composite materials, paper, and animal bedding.

Hemp seeds are a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and some dietary minerals (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron). They can be consumed raw, sprouted, ground into hemp meal, added to baked goods, and used to make hemp milk. Hemp seeds also are a source of hemp oil, which can be used in cooking, skin and hair care products, paints and varnishes, biofuel, lubricants, and plastics.

Finally, industrial hemp is a valuable agricultural plant. It can be used as a “mop crop” to remove pollutants from the soil and water and as a “smother crop” to protect other crops from tough weeds and avoid the use of herbicides. However, in some jurisdictions hemp itself is classified as a weed due to its fast growth rate.

The origins of International Hemp Day are unclear, but it’s great that someone has come up with the idea of observing it because hemp definitely deserves to be celebrated. There are many ways to join the celebration: you can learn more about the history of hemp cultivation and the agricultural, medicinal and scientific benefits of hemp, purchase various hemp products, visit a hemp farm to see how hemp is grown, plan a trip to a hemp festival, and post about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #InternationalHempDay and #HempDay.

International Hemp Day should not be confused with National Hemp Day, which is celebrated in the United States on February 4. The latter was launched in 2019 by cbdMD, a consumer products brand offering a wide range of CBD products.