LIST 12

42+ Things That Have Been Made Out of Hemp

When cannabis has enough THC to get you high, it's called marijuana. When cannabis has very little or no THC, it's called hemp. Perhaps the world's most useful plant, hemp has been put to work by the human race since before recorded history. Only relatively recently, because its sibling makes people feel good, has this answer to our environmental and industrial problems been outlawed.

1. flags

Up to the 1820s, most US flags were made of hemp.

2. paper

The first instance of printed text on paper—one million copies of Buddhist prayers for peace in Japan, 764 A.D.—involved pure hemp paper. The drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written on hemp paper. The Gutenberg Bible, the original King James Bible, and early editions of Mark Twain's works are among the important books printed on hemp. Hemp makes good specialty paper, for things like tea bags, coffee filters, paper currency, and archival paper. According to the North American Industrial Hemp Council: “Kimberly-Clark (a Fortune 500 company) has a mill in France which produces hemp paper preferred for bibles and cigarette paper because it lasts a long time and doesn't yellow.”

3–4. paints and varnish

5–11. rope, string, twine, and thread; parachute webbing; nets; rigging for ships. The USS Constitution (a/k/a Old Ironsides) contained a minimum of 60 tons of hemp.

12. clothes

Including such Smithsonian-worthy garments as the uniforms of George Washington's Continental Army and the original Levi's jeans. Since at least 500 BC, hemp has been woven into cloth so fine it is all but indistinguishable from linen. Shirts, pants, coats, hats, dresses, lingerie, diapers, and more have been and currently are being fashioned from cannabis.

13. sheets and quilts

14. rugs

15. sacks, bags, etc.

16. towels

17. canvas

The US government film Hemp for Victory reminds us: “Indeed the very word canvas comes from the Arabic word for hemp.” It has been woven into tents, sails, wagon covers, and more. Hemp was the canvas of choice for many of the world's greatest painters, including Monet, Delacroix, Ingres, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Miró.

18. food and drink

Humans noshed on hemp seeds in prehistoric times and continue to do so. Besides being eaten straight, they can be made into oatmeal, porridge, flour, pastries, ice cream, candy, veggie burgers, cookies, cereal, margarine, cheese, soda, beer, milk….

19. gum

20. birdseed

21. pet food

22. animal bedding

The Queen of England's horse sleeps in a nest of pure hemp.

23. medicine

24-25. soap and shampoo

26. lip balm

27. body lotion

28. sexual lubricant

29. deodorant

30. oil

31. fuel (ethanol)

32. methanol

Methanol is a key chemical in the production of plastics, resins, and vinyl.

33. crayons

34. candles

35. cars and other vehicles

In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a lightweight, dent-resistant car that was made except for the frame from plastic created from the fibers of hemp, wheat, an sisal.

36. building materials

Pure hemp pulp can be pressed into boards, bricks, beams, paneling, posts, cabinetry, and other material used to construct buildings.

37. insulation

38. furniture

39. fire hoses

40. fire

Hemp can be burned like wood to create heat.

41. burning oil

Used instead of kerosene in lamps.

42. dynamite