There was a time when ancient Indian people didn’t used any drugs for medicine and even chronic diseases like cancer and epilepsy were treated. Those were ayurvedic medicines and Vijaya was their main ingredient. It was considered as penicillin in ayurvedic medicine. It’s a wild plant which can grow in extreme and mild climatic zones across the globe. Cannabis, Marijuana, Bhaang, Ganja these are well known names which you might have heard in list of narcotics. Do you know, this so-called narcotic plant is capable of providing more than three basic needs of human? Yes, you heard it right, this one single plant can provide us food, shelter and clothing. It is super beneficial for environment and all living organisms. Its seeds are known to be super nutritious food, its cloth is 4 times stronger than cotton, and its construction material, well known as hempcrete, lasts for thousands of years and is capable of sequestering carbon dioxide and other toxic gases from atmosphere.
Hempcrete is produced using combination of hemp shives, lime and water in specific proportions. It has promising thermal and acoustic insulation properties. It is carbon negative material, according to researches done, 1 meter cube of hempcrete is capable of sequestering 275 kg to 307 kg of carbon dioxide. Imagine a house where temperature, relative humidity are well regulated, no need of air purifier and hygienic building environment. This all can be achieved by using hempcrete in construction industry. Manufacturing the stone-like building material (mainly cement) is responsible for 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, more than what comes from all the trucks in the world. Use of hempcrete can reduce this harm to nature.
Cannabis is also the best alternative for plastic, gasoline, cement. Biofuel is one of the astonishing product made out of cannabis. This crop is very versatile and exists in various strains. One of the strain being popular and legalized around the globe is Industrial Hemp. Hemp has THC content (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol - chemical component responsible for psychoactive effects) as low as 0.3% to 1% as compared to other strains (THC around 18% to 35%). In India hemp is being legalized in northern states and its products are available across the country. ‘Narcotics’ major of us know merely this definition of cannabis. But this is the time to be aware, self-literate and support hemp. It has tremendous potential to help us improve our lives in many aspects. Innumerous cannabis-hemp uses are registered since ancient history and this is one among our sacred plants.
Written by
Omkar Nagawade
Research scholar at IARI youthfornatureindia@gmail.com
Comments