Hemp, in Latin cannabis, is one of the eldest useful and healing
plants on earth, cultivated for more than 10`000 years. Fabrics and
ropes can be made from the stipes or fibres. Mercedes as well as
other automobile producers make already use of hemp instead of
plastic.
Hemp seeds have a high content of
unsaturated fatty acids, especial Omega-3, and can be used in many
ways, like pressed for cooking oil or flour. Hemp food is a super
food, by nature.
Cannabis as a medicine and for
consumption is made of the hemp flowers. The resin of the flowers
contains more than 500 different active components, the most famous
one is certainly Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, rather known as
„THC“, the substance that attracts not only people in
need. Currently we have a big CBD hype. Cannabidiol is a
cannabinoid, like THC, which is „only“ relaxing and
pain-relieving but has no intoxicating effect and it is legal.
Until the 1930s, hemp was cultivated for the usage in the normal
course of life and most likely for smoking. But then political
interests of the USA forced the prohibition of cannabis in any
kind, reaching the peak level in the 1970s, by the „War on
drugs“, worldwide. 50 years later, one has to state that
this war is lost and can or should better not be won. Till today,
nobody died because of cannabis consumption, maybe by penal
actions or drug related crimes, but not by the consumption itself.
The Netherlands have their Coffeeshops, already since 40 years and
in the 1990s, we had countless hemp shops in Swiss, called
„Duftsäckli“ Shop, but mostly closed at the end of
past century.
For several years now the rehabilitation of the hemp plant is in
process but now in full swing. Canada and Uruguay were the first
countries worldwide that legalized cannabis fully and dispose now
of a regulated market. Meanwhile more than half of the US states
followed this way and cannabis is legally available for medical
purpose as well as for leisure consumption. Additional tax income
and new jobs instead of prosecution and crime are the positive
results. Germany has played a pioneering role in Europe and
regulated at least the medical cannabis in 2017. Almost every day
you can read news from countries around the world, which also
would like to rehabilitate cannabis – from Poland to South Africa
and from Thailand to Mexico.
How about Switzerland?
In 2011 the Swiss
lawmaker modified the narcotics law and increased the THC-limit
from 0.3% to 1%, and that was the essential foundation for the
«CBD-Boom». The THC-part of the hemp plant is related to its
CBC-content and by the law change many (new) species, with high
CBD-values and/or for smoking, could be cultivated. In consequence
of the worldwide demand of CBD-products the Swiss became again one
of the Top 5 cannabis countries and it got even better: In
springtime 2021 the Swiss parliament passed a new law, that
legalized the cultivation and export of medical cannabis, with
more than 1% THC-content, as well as its simplified supply to
patients. Simultaneously, the so named Experiment-Article has been
added to the Constitution, which enables the Swiss cities and
communities to start pilot projects relating the cannabis supply
for the legal consumption by adults. First experiments shall start
in Summer 2022, stand today.
It stays exciting in the hemp country Switzerland! Get more daily
news on brand new products and the current political situation,
follow our tubes (Social Media, Newsletter)
and visit the upcoming CannaTrade to discover, experience and
enjoy the full spectrum of the hemp plant!
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