Who would make bags with hemp?

We would like to, but no ... The idea of ​​producing textiles from hemp is by no means ours. It's much older. In fact, hemp has been cultivated and used in most parts of the world for virtually all of human history. Cannabis stems are known to have been used to make clothing for more than 8,000 years, making hemp the oldest cultivated fiber. The vast majority of suits, sheets, naval sails, ropes, paper, etc. produced before the 20th century were made from hemp fiber. Its use in fishing nets bears witness to its resistance to humidity and harsh weather. The sails and ropes of the caravels used by Christopher Columbus, the first flag of the United States, and the paper used for the declaration of independence, were also made from hemp. Without going any further, nowadays the word that designates the material that serves as the printing medium in photography is called “canvas”, which etymologically comes from cannabis.

Hemp has a fiber yield between 500 kg and 1.5 tons, higher than any other fiber plant. Against all logic, their culture was globally banned in Europe and the United States in the 1930s. The reasons? Probably political and economic interests. It was the companies that produce nylon, which began to be produced at the same time, and the wood paper industry that put pressure on the American government to eliminate this natural fiber from the competition. Using its psychotropic properties as an argument, mistrust was sown around all varieties of this plant and its negative image still lasts to this day. Today, laws evolve slowly. In the United States, its cultivation is beginning to be allowed for therapeutic use. Regarding industrial fiber, hemp cultivation dramatically expanded in the U.S. in 2019, with over quadruple the number of acres licensed in hemp compared to last years. However, the licensed acreage is strict and only 46 states allow hemp programs. 

The historical importance of hemp in ancient times is evident from textile remains, but also from administrative texts and even the names of villages and towns where local industry revolved around hemp cultivation. This is the case of towns such as Hempstead (several towns in Essex, UK), Canepina (Italy), Kenderes (Hungary), Kanepi (Estonia), Hampu (Finland), Hennef (Germany), Cañamares (municipality in Cuenca), or Chennevières-sur-Marne and Chennevières-lès-Louvres (France). Hennef has recently held hemp-related events such as the CannaBusiness Expo.

In addition to the structural benefits of the fibre, its seeds are very rich in protein and the oil  extracted from them is abundant in omega-3 acids. It has also been used as an ecological fuel, lubricant and even in the manufacture of plastics. Its lightness is also suitable to obtain  cellulose and paper. Today, its use is increasing in construction as an insulating material and with highly resistant bricks in bio-construction. This article from the New York Times describes the use of hemp as a building material. In the automobile industry, Audi and BMW are also beginning to use it as an insulating material for manufacturing parts.

Prejudice, shy smiles, open rejection... The subject is controversial and deserves to be brought to the point : do BHANGARA's articles have traces of active ingredients with psychotropic effects?

The answer is clear: no. Textile hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species: Cannabis Sativa L. Textile or industrial hemp has been obtained by selection on the basis of its useful structural properties, while marijuana or recreational cannabis is a genetic line selected with the aim of boosting the concentration of THC (TetraHidroCannabinol, the psychoactive substance). Marijuana plants are shorter, have a lot more  branches and more flowering, which concentrate oils rich in cannabinoid substances. In addition, only the females are grown and the males are removed to avoid pollination. 

Textile hemp plants, on the other hand, vary between 3 and 4 m in height and can even reach 5 m. They also have few branches and flowers. The dividing line between the two is established quantitatively on the basis of their THC content. Industrial hemp is considered to be hemp with a THC percentage of less than 0.3%, however, the THC percentage of marijuana for recreational purposes is between 5 and 15%. Lastly, the multiple washing stages which pass through the stems, threads and finally textile hemp fabric would leave a maximum concentration of approximately 0.1% THC. 

In conclusion, we won't be the ones to ban crazy adventures in the company of your backpack. But neither can we promise you psychedelic experiences ;)