20th of April is known as ‘Weed Day’ or ‘World Cannabis Day’. Often a reference to the consumption of cannabis, 4/20 is celebrated in various ways across the world. Due to the lack of education and the general stigma associated with ‘drug’ culture, conversations around Cannabis are rarely encouraged, especially in a conservative country like ours. In fact, due to the taboo around this very topic, we often ignore a rather vital constituent of the narrative: hemp.
Both Hemp and Marijuana are members of the Cannabis family of plants. Cannabis contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), both of which have shown to provide profound benefits to the human body. However, THC induces psychoactive effects (gets the user “high”), while CBD does not contain any psychoactive properties. When comparing Hemp and Marijuana, this is a huge distinction: while Hemp contains a very low concentration of THC (0.3% or less), Marijuana is abundant in THC with concentrations between 15% to 40%. Because of this, Hemp has a fantastic range of industrial purposes.
Cultivated since nearly 12,000 years, Hemp has been used for food, fibre and fuel by many civilizations across the globe. Today, it is used to create over 60,000 sustainability products ranging from health drinks, fabric, concrete and everything in between. This is why a mature conversation around Hemp is extremely crucial, and Project H is here just to do that!
Project H is the first showcase designed to fully explore the incomparable rich world of ‘all things hemp’ in India, where you can touch, feel, taste, and experience hemp, and take it back. Conducted on 4/20 at Olive Bistro and Bar, Hyderabad, the event aims to transform perceptions by facilitating social education and empowerment and thus help the world become bio-sustainable.
The event contains a variety of things, from panel discussion, flea markets, fun activities, to all-things-hemp-showcases and hemp food and treats. The panel discussion aims to highlight the importance of hemp pertaining to the evolving bio-sustainability for industries economy-wide. Attended by the likes of Honorable Odisha MP Tathagata Satpathy, IAS Principal Jayesh Ranjan and Abhishek Patwari, Sr. Counsel of Hyderabad, the panel will entail historical relevance of hemp in India, social stigma attached to it and policy discussions to bring hemp into the mainstream industry.
Project H, the event, is named after a society of Hemp entrepreneurs and enthusiasts from various parts of the country including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Vishakhapatnam, among others. A trust society created to build an ecosystem with Hemp at its core and to encourage trade and communication among hemp professionals. The society aims to support the growth and development of all aspects of the industrial hemp industry while also paving the way for ease of education, cultivation, processing and use. By educating the masses and collaborating with government officials, Project H is dedicated to shift the perception of industrial hemp as an upcoming cash crop.
Its evident that Project H is shaping a rather urgent narrative in the cannabis culture here in India. So, if you want to educate yourself more about Hemp, head to the event and have a great 4/20!
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