In Hemp We Trust

Hemp is a crop that has been grown and cultivated by human beings for thousands of years. The utilization of hemp is one of the oldest industries in history. Hemp is a miraculous plant with a long list of uses. Despite this, western civilization has demonized hemp and made it illegal. Just recently, this illegality has been reversed in the United States, and tons of companies have moved in to take advantage of hemp's remarkable properties. At Elyxr, we are very excited about the properties of this plant, and we utilize the best hemp to bring you top-of-the-line delta 8 products. 

The history of hemp

The first recorded usage of hemp dates back to 8,000 BC. In Ancient Mesopotamia, the oldest human civilization, people used hemp to create pottery. Hemp is a very durable and sturdy material; thus, it gave form and structure to the pottery. 

While Mesopotamia is the oldest, the civilization which has the most historical association with hemp is China. The ancient civilizations of China used hemp to make cloth. This practice was done for about 6000 years continuously. The Chinese also used hemp to create the first-ever paper. The invention of paper completely revolutionized the way people communicated, and the way information was recorded. Hemp had a massive impact on the expansion of human civilization and societal knowledge.

Hemp in the west

Hemp eventually made its way to Europe from China. Here hemp grew into a vital crop. Europeans used it to create sturdier sails that were more resistant to saltwater. This development in sail technology catapulted the abilities of ships at sea. This advancement allowed people to sail to the new world and discover America. 

Hemp became such an essential crop that in 1535, King Henry VIII made it mandatory for any landowner to devote an agreed-upon portion of their land solely to hemp. In the mid-1500's it was actually illegal not to grow hemp. 

Hemp as medicine

Humans have long used hemp for its medicinal properties. Historically hemp seeds, leaves, and roots have been used to treat

• Complications during childbirth
• Pain and inflammation 
• Insomnia

Today, hemp products are used to treat the very same things. Delta 8 products derived from hemp are great at relieving pain, and they are phenomenal sleep aids. Over the past couple of years, scientists have become aware that hemp or cannabis-related products feature many health benefits. But this is nothing new. People were doing the same thing nearly 10 thousand years ago. 

The legality of hemp

As previously mentioned, it was at one point illegal not to grow hemp. So how did we go from that to hemp being listed under the same classification as substances like heroin? It all started in the 1930s with anti-marijuana propaganda campaigns. At the time, there was little to no distinction between hemp and marijuana. In the public's eye, the two were considered the same thing. These propaganda campaigns were primarily funded by big business newspaper conglomerates who set out to tarnish the image of the plant. These businessmen saw hemp as a massive threat to the paper industry, and they wanted to have complete control over the market. This eventually led to the passing of the Marihuana Tax of 1937. This bill placed heavy regulations and restrictions on hemp merchants, effectively suffocating the entire industry out of existence. 

At the time, doctors had been prescribing cannabis for medical use. The AMA tried to oppose this bill, but they were overruled. It is clear to see that cannabis has been used as medicine for a lot longer than most realize. Medical marijuana is in no way an invention of the 21st century. 

Hemp and the war on drugs

In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed, placing marijuana under the classification of a Schedule I substance. It was considered to have a high potential for abuse and no medical value whatsoever. This law shut the hemp industry down entirely because, as previously mentioned, there was no distinction between hemp and marijuana. With the passing of the controlled substances act, hemp, a plant that had provided countless medical and industrious benefits to human civilization for thousands of years, became an illegal drug. 

In the 50 years since then, our society has grown a lot wiser. We now know that marijuana and hemp are quite different. Although both are subspecies of the cannabis plant, hemp contains very little of the psychoactive molecule THC. Marijuana, on the other hand, grows buds and flowers that are enveloped in very dense concentrations of the psychoactive substance. 

In 2018, the US government finally passed a bill to address the difference between the two. This bill was called the Hemp Farming Act. According to the act, any cannabis-related substance containing less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC was fully legal. This bill aimed to distinguish between marijuana and hemp to reintroduce the farming of hemp for industrial use. The global hemp industry is worth an estimated 5.3 Billion dollars. That's a lot of money, and the US wanted to share in the profits. 

Hemp and delta 8

As the production of hemp has become legal, an entire industry has emerged around hemp derivatives. Products created by taking out certain ingredients from hemp are becoming increasingly popular. Among these is delta 8. Delta 8 is short for delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is a cannabinoid, just like CBD or standard THC. But since it is derived from hemp, it does not face the same restrictions as typical THC. 

Delta 8 is commonly made into products such as tinctures, cartridges, or gummies. 

The growing stardom of delta 8

Lately, delta 8 has been getting a lot of exposure. Articles are now popping up on the web addressing this hype. The main reason for this is the fact that delta 8 is at the same time a psychotropic (meaning it will get you high) and fully legal under federal law. 

Many people prefer delta 8 over traditional delta 9 because it is a much more mild buzz. You can get high enough to feel euphoric without being nervous or paranoid. 

Elyxr and hemp

At Elyxr, we are firm believers in the beneficial properties of hemp. We use all-natural hemp farmed in California, Oregon, and Colorado to acquire the delta 8 for our products. We do not tamper or alter our crops at all. These plants are grown under the sun the way nature intended. The delta 8 found within our products is some of the cleanest and most pure that you can find. You can see the delta 8 THC concentrations in every one of our products by checking our COA's. 

In Biology, the term coevolution is given to two organisms that have formed a bond. This bond aids in the evolution of both parties. The relationship between hemp and human beings is one of this sort. From extraordinary healing properties to providing us a medium to create written language⸺from a dietary supplement to a material that revolutionized sea travel⸺hemp has played an essential role in the evolution of our species. We support this natural plant, and when you shop elyxr, you do too.