How and where is hemp grown? If you’re interested in learning more about the versatile hemp plant, you’re not alone. Many people have taken a renewed interest in hemp, and for good reason.
Hemp is commonly associated with marijuana, but the reality is that the plant has been a staple in the development of humanity since as far back as 8000 BC. Over the years, it has been used for making a wide range of materials from clothing to rope to paper.
In modern society, the hemp plant has had its share of controversy over the years, but it has recently gained a great deal of attention due to CBD, a relatively new phenomenon. The growing and harvesting of hemp was made legal on a federal level in December of 2018, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
So, where is hemp grown, and how is hemp grown and harvested? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
The Multifaceted Hemp Plant
Before diving into hemp, it’s important that you understand what exactly hemp is. Because of its association with marijuana, many people assume that hemp, marijuana, and cannabis are all synonyms. That’s simply not the truth.
Cannabis is a classification of plants. Marijuana and hemp are both species of the cannabis plant, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same by any means. Naturally, they share some physical and biological similarities, but there are some key differences that you should know about.
If you’re curious about where hemp is grown, you should first know how to identify the plant. Most people can recognize the classic cannabis leaf shape, but they differ between the hemp and marijuana plant. Hemp plants grow much taller than marijuana plants, and the leaves are narrower and located in higher concentrations at the plant’s crown.
Marijuana, on the other hand, has a bushier appearance. It has dense, often colorful and aromatic buds, as well as wider leaves. The buds are the main factor that separates hemp and marijuana, especially when considering legality. Marijuana buds contain significant amounts of THC, the compound that makes people feel ‘high’ when they use marijuana.
Where Hemp Is Grown
Now that you understand exactly what hemp is, you may be wondering where hemp is grown. These days, the simple answer is that hemp is grown all over the world. It’s not legal everywhere, however.
In the United States, hemp is commonly grown throughout Northern California, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vermont, and Oregon, although plenty of other states are home to hemp farms too. In order to be classified as hemp, the plants must have a THC content that abides by state laws.
Here are the countries where growing hemp is legal in some way (specific regulations vary):
- Australia
- Austria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Hungary
- India
- Japan
- Korea
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United States
How Hemp Is Grown
Now that you know where hemp is grown, you may be wondering how hemp is grown and harvested. The simple answer is that hemp is a hardy, tolerant plant that can be grown in a wide variety of climates aside from high mountains and arid deserts. This is in stark contrast to the marijuana plant, which requires a very specific, controlled climate to grow properly.
Hemp plants are generally grown close together, usually with around 4 inches or so of space between them. Marijuana plants, on the other hand, need plenty of space, usually around 6 feet. Hemp and marijuana plants also differ in their growth cycle, with hemp having a cycle between 108 to 120 days and marijuana having a cycle of 60 to 90 days.
As you learn about where is hemp grown, you’ll see that it’s most often grown in areas with warm weather. Hemp also thrives in well-drained soil that contains plenty of organic matter. In most cases, hemp farmers sow seeds directly into the ground where the plants will eventually be harvested, rather than growing them in separate containers and transplanting them later.
Organic Hemp
Hemp is an ideal plant for growing organically. It’s a tough plant that’s highly resistant to pests and diseases. It also grows faster than many other plants, so there’s not usually a lot of competition as far as weeds go. Many other organic crops require farming by hand to keep up with weeds, which increases the cost significantly. Organic hemp can be harvested by machine.
Where to Get Quality Hemp-Based CBD
So, where is hemp grown? As you can see, this incredible plant is everywhere. If you’re interested in purchasing CBD derived from hemp, you’ve come to the right place. The hemp used to make our products is always grown here in the USA using no pesticides or insecticides, ensuring that you always receive the highest quality product with no THC or other psychoactive ingredients.
To further ensure that you receive top-shelf CBD products, we regularly send our products out for rigorous third-party testing to guarantee purity, potency, and overall quality. Want to know more details about any of our products? We’re happy to provide certificates of analysis so you can shop with absolute confidence.
Shop Natural Hemp-Derived CBD Today
Learning about where hemp is grown and how hemp is grown and harvested is the first step. Now that you have a more in-depth knowledge of this amazing plant, why not see why the world is falling in love with CBD? Place your order online now, or feel free to call our friendly CBD experts between 9 AM and 5 PM PST for assistance with your order.