Cannabis is a plant that has been cultivated by humankind for approximately 12,000 years, with evidence suggesting it was one of the first domesticated plants, valued early on for its durable fibers used in rope-making, fabrics, and paper. Throughout history, civilizations across the globe have harnessed its versatility—using it in construction, food production, textiles, and medicine. Documented medicinal applications date back 5,000 years, where it was recognized for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties, among others. Over the past 30 years, extensive scientific research into cannabis’s medicinal properties has confirmed its efficacy in treating numerous conditions, often outperforming modern medications and producing fewer side effects.
Beyond the expanding role of cannabis in medicine, there have also been significant advancements in the quality and variety of cannabis-derived products. Hemp, a variety of cannabis with low levels of the psychoactive compound THC, can be used to make over 25,000 products. Sustainability also drives the growth of the global hemp market: hemp is a fast-growing, carbon-negative crop that regenerates soil and requires substantially less water. Below, we’ll explore the different parts of the cannabis plant and highlight some of their many potential applications.
The oil is just one of the plant’s many medicinal applications.
Higher quality ropes and fabrics made from resilient hemp fibers.
Hempcrete marks a significant advancement in sustainable construction.
Cannabis has imperfect flowers, a term used when male and female flowers are found on separate plants. It is in the female flowers that the vast majority of the plant's cannabinoids are found and from which they are extracted for medicinal purposes. However, if the female flower is fertilized with the pollen produced by the male flower, it begins to produce seeds.
It is the more than 100 cannabinoids present in the plant, the most common of which are THC (psychoactive) and CBD (non-psychoactive), together with the many different terpenes found in cannabis, that make its enormous medicinal effects possible. Various studies have proven its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic and antispasmodic effects, as well as its efficacy in pathologies that have not been satisfactorily treated by modern allopathic medicine, such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and chronic pain conditions.
Cultivation for medicinal use can be done indoors or outdoors.
The plant’s largest flowers grow at the top, known as the cola.
Terpenes and cannabinoids concentrate in the plant’s trichomes.
These small glands store vital plant compounds.
main applications
Fresh flowers - After trimming and curing, fresh cannabis flowers are available for inhalation. Though commonly associated with recreational or adult use, inhalation also holds significant medicinal value due to its rapid effects. This fast-acting method can be especially beneficial for conditions that require quick relief, like chronic pain flare-ups.
Oils - Extracts made from cannabis flowers go through a filtration and concentration process, enhancing the key compounds for effective absorption. While ingesting the oil takes a bit longer to produce effects than inhaling, the effects are longer-lasting, making it suitable for conditions needing prolonged relief and even for veterinary applications.
Gummies - Edibles, like gummies infused with flower extracts, offer a convenient, precise dosing method. Each gummy contains a measured amount of cannabinoids, making it easy to control intake. To improve the experience, flavors are often added to counterbalance the slight bitterness of CBD.
Topical use - Topical products, such as creams, oils, and gels containing cannabinoids, are effective for pain relief, itch reduction, and injury recovery. Cannabinoids are absorbed through skin receptors, producing a fast, localized response at the application site.
Principais aplicações
SEEDS
When the female cannabis flower is pollinated by pollen from a male flower, it begins to produce seeds. However, once pollinated, the plant's ability to produce cannabinoids decreases significantly. This is why a plant cultivated for seed production isn’t suitable for making medicinal oils, and vice versa. Additionally, seeds are typically harvested from hemp, the low-THC variety of cannabis, which is often easier to regulate since many countries enforce stricter laws on cannabis strains with higher THC levels.
Hemp seeds are widely used as a nutritional resource for both humans and animals, packed with protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids, and are recognized as a superfood. Another valuable product from hemp seeds is the oil. Unlike the flower-derived oil, which is cannabinoid-rich, hemp seed oil contains minimal cannabinoids but is loaded with antioxidants, Omega-3, and Omega-6 fatty acids, making it a versatile cooking oil. It also finds extensive use in the personal care industry, as an industrial oil, and as a biofuel.
Seeds develop on pollinated plants with notably smaller flowers.
These plants are generally cultivated outdoors.
A variety of consumable products are made from hemp seeds.
Seeds are harvested, sorted, and prepared for processing.
main applications
Hemp Seeds - Rich in essential nutrients beneficial to health, hemp seeds are sold in grocery and grain stores in countries where they are legally regulated. Their consumption is similar to other seeds like flaxseed and chia.
Oil - The oil extracted from these seeds can be used in foods like olive oil, whether drizzled over salads or used for grilling. Thanks to its high content of healthy fats, hemp oil provides notable benefits for heart health and supports the body’s anti-inflammatory processes.
Cosmetics - With its high concentration and balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6, hemp oil is also highly valued in the cosmetics industry. It’s widely used for its moisturizing properties, UV protection, and its ability to aid in removing toxins from the skin.
Industrial oil - In industrial applications, hemp oil serves as a base for paints, lubricants, varnishes, and detergents. At larger scales, it can even be processed to produce bio-diesel.
Principais aplicações
LEAVES
When it comes to cannabis, the leaf is its most iconic symbol. Essential to the plant's survival, the leaves capture light and perform photosynthesis but contain far fewer cannabinoids than the flowers, limiting their direct applications in the industry. Typically, the leaves are processed together with parts of the hemp stalk to create a highly versatile biomass, which has numerous applications today.
Hemp leaves can have between 5 and 13 leaflets.
Hemp leaves can also be infused for teas.
While low in cannabinoids, leaf-based teas provide substantial benefits.
Leaves, combined with other plant parts, are used as animal bedding.
main applications
Tea - Once dehydrated and crushed, hemp leaves also make an excellent base for tea.
Animal feed - Since hemp cultivation doesn’t require pesticides or agrochemicals—which are absorbed by the entire plant—its leaves can be used to produce nutrient-rich, natural animal feed.
Principais aplicações
STALKS
The hemp stalk is key to the diverse range of products derived from the plant. While cannabis strains cultivated for medicinal purposes are shorter and densely branched, those grown for fiber extraction can reach up to 5 meters in height, with fewer branches concentrated near the top. This tall, slender central stalk features long, durable outer fibers and a denser, sturdier core fiber.
Hemp’s powerful fibers have been used throughout history, from the sails and ropes of the caravels that reached America to early Bible printings, as well as ancient fabrics and papers in China, all enduring the test of time thanks to the fiber’s superior quality. In recent years, research on hemp has surged, and an increasing variety of high-quality products are being developed, highlighting hemp's potential as a versatile and sustainable material for the future.
Hemp crops grown for their stalks are typically much taller.
Plants are positioned closely together to facilitate harvesting.
Stems are left to dry before undergoing further processing.
The outer and inner fibers each yield distinct products.
main applications
Fabrics - Hemp fabric, one of the most durable organic fibers available, is up to three times stronger than cotton. Compared to cotton, hemp is easier to cultivate, requires less space, and uses considerably less water. Additionally, it is hypoallergenic and offers natural UV protection.
Hempcrete - Known as hemplime, a blend of hemp stalk hurds and lime forms a highly durable material used in construction. Commonly molded into blocks, hemplime provides numerous benefits: it’s fire-resistant, offers excellent thermal insulation, regulates indoor humidity, and provides effective acoustic insulation.
Paper - Research indicates that hemp paper is significantly more resilient than traditional paper. With up to three times the cellulose concentration of other woods, hemp requires less raw material for paper production and produces a fiber that’s exceptionally age-resistant.
Bioplastic - Plastic waste presents an enormous environmental challenge, as conventional plastic is derived from non-renewable resources and can take centuries to decompose. Hemp bioplastic offers a sustainable alternative: it’s biodegradable, renewable, strong, lightweight, and its UV protection makes it more resilient against sun damage.
Principais aplicações
ROOTS
The roots play a crucial role in providing stability to the plant and absorbing nutrients from the soil. Cannabis roots are highly efficient bioaccumulators, meaning they can absorb and retain chemicals and heavy metals from the soil. One application of hemp is in phytoremediation—cleaning and regenerating soil in areas with high levels of toxins. In fact, hemp has been used for this purpose in the Chernobyl region.
Fiber hemp strains have deeper roots, making them even more effective at soil remediation. For medicinal cultivation, the soil must be pesticide-free, as the plant absorbs these substances, which could then appear in the final product. While research on the isolated use of roots is limited, early studies suggest that hemp roots may hold additional medicinal potential.
Roots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Outdoor-grown plants typically develop deeper, thicker roots.
Indoor-grown plants have a greater number of fine, capillary roots.
A vast root network ensures the plant’s optimal absorption efficiency..
main applications
Topical use - Topical products such as creams, lotions, and oils made from hemp roots offer anti-inflammatory benefits, treat skin cuts and burns, and help reduce signs of aging.
Tea - The use of hemp roots in tea for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years in China, with modern research highlighting its potential to fight bacteria, protect the liver, and support cardiovascular health.
Principais aplicações
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