Why Hemp Seeds will never get you high – UK consumers spend about £45 million a week on organic products. One of the most popular products that never leave the market’s top shelves is hemp seeds.
Hemp plants have been used for over 10,000 years as a rope, clothing, paper, housing material. Beyond that, hemp has been a perennial favourite superfood for decades for its wide range of nutritional benefits. It has been touted as a delicious source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Hemp seeds also have antioxidants, help to reduce symptoms of numerous ailments, and improve the health of your heart, skin, and joints. They are also a versatile ingredient that adds crunch, a nutty flavour, or creaminess to many organic recipes like smoothies. They can be sprinkled on top of salads, baked into energy bars, and turned into an alternative for milk.
Hemp may be trendy in the fitness world, but many people are worried about its green alter-ego. Known as a cousin to marijuana, a psychoactive plant that has its own medicinal benefits, does that mean hemp seeds can also make you high?
What are hemp seeds?
Hemp seeds come from hemp plants, which are grown largely for its fibres and nutritional value. In that regard, many are confused if hemp seeds have a direct link to marijuana and if they contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to trigger a psychotropic high. In essence, hemp and marijuana are, taxonomically speaking, the same plant.
They look and even smell the same; however, the main difference is that hemp plants contain no more than 0.3 per cent THC. Meanwhile, marijuana can contain levels of THC of as low as 5 per cent for medicinal users to a whopping 35 per cent meant to expand the mind of recreational users. In fact, it is considered a non-intoxicating form of cannabis and is legitimised by the Agricultural Act 2018.
Will hemp seeds get you high?
Many people have the misconception that hemp seeds can be as intoxicating as marijuana. On the contrary, hemp seeds can’t make you high, but it can be healthy for you. It contains virtually no THC to trigger your natural cannabinoids in the body, which is what’s responsible for the mind-flight and body-melting sensations marijuana plants are well-loved for.
It would also take you a large bag of hemp seeds before the minuscule traces of THC will be seen as positive in drug tests. That said, there’s no need to skip out on sprinkling it over your smoothie bowls if you have a drug test coming up.
Why do people think hemp seeds get you high?
Hemp seeds are divided between being a must-have in healthy snacks and a no-no for people who believe it is connected to the reefer-madness of marijuana enthusiasts. This belief was rooted in the fact that hemp and marijuana come from the same source, which is cannabis Sativa.
There is also a common misconception that hemp seeds and CBD, an active compound of hemp plants that is medicinally beneficial, work within the same boundaries and effects.
While CBD is derived from hemp plants, the calming effect of this particular cannabinoid cannot be considered the same as the actual ‘high’ feeling you get from marijuana. Either way, hemp seeds are not known to produce any of these sensations because they don’t have CBD.
Bottom Line
Hemp seeds are popular, especially among organic product enthusiasts. They are packed with health benefits that cannabis is known for, but they can never get you high.
If you’re looking for hemp seeds in the UK, get in touch with us to see how we can help.