Hemp can now be legally planted in West Virginia for the first time in 70 years. The hemp seeds will be planted as part of one West Virginia University Study.
Hemp seed will be spread and planted as part of West Virginia. The study will focus on investigating the plant's ability to remove contaminants in the soil, phytoremediation. As per Huntington News, the hemp seed culturing will be the first time in 70 years.
Hemp was last planted on the West Virginia soil back in World War II. Industrial hemp is closely related to the marijuana plant known as cannabis Sativa. Marijuana is infused with medical benefits with a pinch of the psychoactive ingredient THC.
THC is regulated by most medical marijuana dispensaries which legally culture and produce marijuana for public consumption. Medical marijuana is already making rounds in the medicine industry as it is usually opted by those who would want to venture on organic treatment.
According to National Hemp Association, hemp was once named by Popular Science as "The Next Billion Dollar Crop." It was cited that almost 25,000 different crafts and products can be derived from hemp. Most of the hemp benefits include strong building materials, biodegradable plastics, paper and even sturdy ropes.
The study comes in two parts, first is the one involving phytoremediation and the other one involves using hemp to produce hemp to clean soil. Once the hemp plantation would flourish, the researchers involved in the study will find ways in turning hemp into something more innovative. The end product will result in making car parts and hempcrete for building a house.
"There are a lot of contaminated brownfields throughout West Virginia that people find too expensive to clean up," Agri Carb Electric Corporation Chief Executive Officer Don Smith II said. "We can be a complement to the state's coal and gas industries by using a hemp cash crop to revitalize spoiled lands. This research should interest every post-industrial community in West Virginia to invest (with grants) and monetize what is now considered worthless."
