CANNABIS HISTORY: HEMP VS MARIJUANA
Cannabis is the genus name in Latin that is applied to hemp plants. Marijuana is a word that was invented to scandalize and prohibit the substance in 1935.
The passing of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1936 made the growing of Cannabis (hemp and marijuana) illegal which eliminated the original, pure land races used at the time for medicine, textiles, paper, bio fuel, food and so many other uses. Over the decades since, marijuana growers selectively bred their plants to contain higher and higher levels of THC and other compounds such as terpenes, which give smell and taste to the plant. While useful for marijuana development, this selective breeding destroyed the genetics of very useful original strains, making them hybrids and predisposing growers to select for THC. This displaced the other 95+plus cannabinoids, and research focus on their benefits was halted.
Today, the distinction between marijuana and hemp is an arbitrary definition created by the 2014 Farm bill, which said that any cannabis plant that has less than 0.3% THC will be considered hemp, and everything above 0.3% THC is considered marijuana. Broadly speaking, the 2014 Farm Bill only protected cultivators registered under a state’s hemp research pilot program who cultivate cannabis containing no more than 0.3% of THC, and who meet the requirements imposed by their state department of agriculture. The 2018 Farm Bill went further, and decriminalized hemp. Once the bill is made viable, it makes it possible for farmers to market hemp across state and international lines, apply for crop insurance, bank, and be eligible for grants and loans from the USDA, like any other crop.
The FDA has been a major part of the government control of Cannabis (marijuana) by making it a schedule 1 drug. For more than 80 years they squelched the benefits of cannabis for the benefit of the rich. Major opponents were Standard Oil (they did not want biofuels competing with petroleum), Dupont (wanting plastic to take over the rope market), the paper industry, the cotton industry (hemp lasted longer and was not attacked by mold) and of course, pharmaceuticals (who had developed opiates by 1937). These were the main actors who pushed for the “1937 Marihuana Tax Act”.
This war on drugs has provided the massive incarceration of brown and black people providing billions to private prisons. It caused the absolute prohibition of cannabis – all of it – as hemp, medicine, food, recreation, fiber, bio fuel, textiles, bio plastics, ropes, fodder, and more. The United States Government has been complicit in restricting this amazing plant in order to sell us what corporations produce. Our government has been bought by corporations that now have rights, like people, that ensure that anyone taking market share is breaking the law. None of the efforts to fully legalize cannabis have succeeded. Even in Colorado it has not been fully legalized, but instead heavily regulated and monopolized by the biggest money bidders. If it was legal, all citizens could grow and sell cannabis, like a home garden or a lemonade stand. Thus, our stand as a business, that 10% of our resources go towards social action and creating legislation to resist the forces of corporate and government tyranny.
10 REASONS ALL CBD PRODUCTS ARE NOT EQUAL!
Unfortunately, the cannabis field is dominated by two extremes: consumer fear and market greed. This makes the current market for CBD a place where many companies have no scruples. Some even have toxic and inferior products, all to make more money. Here is a list of questions that the consumer can ask of any company that will ensure a cleaner, safer and cheaper CBD product than might come up on a typical Internet search.
FPS has been doing genomic selection for years to find the best CBD hemp plants. We have grown out over 10,000 individual genotypes to find a plant that can go to full maturity and stay below .3% THC. Most CBD hemp is harvested weeks before maturity to avoid the THC that spikes during maturation, but they lose density, the terpenes that give bouquet and aroma, have a very high leaf content, and never looks like “killer bud” . Unicorn is our main variety, which we can grow all the way to the peak of perfection. She also has a habit of dropping all her fan leaves just before harvest, so the whole field is giant, dense, sticky buds with a spectacular terpene profile that look like they have been hand trimmed. No other plant like it.
We grow our hemp in Fort Collins Colorado, outside, in full sun, in organic soil. We were the first farm registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to grow hemp in Colorado and we think the USA. We were one of the first certified organic hemp farms too. In order to maintain that certification we must comply with strict regulations and pay large fees yearly.. All our soil amendments are organic OMRI certified. The way we deal with pests and disease is first by hand pruning, then with beneficial predators, and then, if necessary,
with organic spraying.
Our CBD is heated at a specific temperature for a measured amount of time in order to kill all bacteria. Our product is then hermetically sealed into sterilized jars with safety tops. This is done in an organic certified, commercial kitchen.
How is the CBD distributed?
Most of our product is given to people in exchange for work at the farm, gifted to the people who help us share it with others and sold directly farm to table. See our Save a Farm page for more information on how this works.
We believe in contributing to our community so 10% of our production goes to people who cannot afford it and 10% of our net income goes towards education and legislation to protect hemp from the tyranny of government and the tyranny of corporations.
Our company makes NO claims. In fact, when people ask us about dosing, our answer is “We are not medical professionals, so we cannot prescribe or recommend anything.” We encourage people to do their own research in order to take charge of their own health decisions. However, in the spirit of information sharing, we are continually enhancing our website with resources we have found.
Our pricing has always been the lowest we have found; we started at 10 cents/mg three years ago and we are now at 8 cents/mg. (And remember, this is per bioavailable millegram, a key distinction.) Soon we will drop the price again. Our overall goal is to crash the price of CBD so that more people can use it and so that corporations, cartels and Wall Street get out of the hemp business.
The three principal cooperative members have been involved in renewable energy, sustainability, Permaculture design, regenerative agriculture and organic farming. See our About Us page for full bios.
F.A.Q
HERE, WE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FOR FAT PIG SOCIETY’S CBD PRODUCTS:
Other companies advertise and display milligrams of cannabinoids present, not necessarily milligrams of bio-available Cannabidiol (CBD). Each of our bottles has a date of manufacture, and a batch number linked to a 3rd party lab test, along with the milligrams of CBD A and CBD. While it is true that a full spectrum of cannabinoids is beneficial working in synergy with each other, when other manufacturers just print a cannabinoid-only number, this often simply means there is less bioavailable CBD present – they are charging you more without letting you know the CBD A / CBD breakdown.
Our goal at Fat Pig Society is to offer value. We aim to provide a top of the line product at a competitive price. Our vertical integration, working directly with other organic CBD growers, allows us to offer quality without compromising purity.
Cannabis is the genus name in Latin that is applied to hemp plants. Hemp plants contain over 95 cannabinoids, or active chemical compounds.
The compound we focus on at the Fat Pig Society is cannabidiol, or CBD. It is non-psychoactive (cannot get you high).
Marijuana is a word that was invented to scandalize and prohibit the substance in 1935. The cannabis compound found in different levels in various cannabis strains that can produce psychoactive effects, is THC. Per the 2014 Farm bill, any cannabis (hemp) plant that has less than 0.3% THC will be considered hemp, and everything above 0.3% THC is considered marijuana. Our products are made from plant strains that are considered hemp.
Before 1937, 70% of all medicines had hemp (cannabis) in them. Cannabis is a botanical, just like most of our original medicines . But today, the acceptance and use of CBD as a therapeutic, healing substance is in its infancy, since it was made illegal in 1937 and medical providers have not been able to study it legally. Scientists are only now beginning to develop dosing schedules for medical marijuana, hemp, and their extracts (including CBD). There are thousands of studies already completed, and the anecdotal evidence is clear: cannabis is a very good plant for humans to have. Dr Christina Sanchez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duVF6665Hdk
has documented scientific proof of cannabis’ ability to kill cancer cells. Studies also prove that it can help epilepsy. We believe that this plant affects the mind, body, spirit and health in a positive way. The endocannabinoid system (we have cannabinoid receptors inside our own body) is associated with health, vitality and longevity. The endocannabinoid system is like the software of wellness – it communicates and regulates other body systems, creating an optimized feedback loop in order to create homeostasis. Here is another doctor speaking on the benefits of cannabis in human health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAKkzCfKiWw
The benefits of the cannabis plant have been felt by humans for millennia. This Cannabis plant, in all its forms, has co-evolved with humans. It is part of our very genetic, evolutionary pattern and does not really require more studies to prove itself.
Pain relief and anti-inflammatory are definitely some of the most celebrated health benefits of CBD oil. Research has also shown that CBD has powerful anti-seizure properties, combats anxiety, improves sleep and some people even suggest it might reduce the risk of diabetes and even fight cancer. The non profit Project CBD (www.projectcbd.org) has numerous studies on cannabidiol and is a good source of information for the myriad of benefits of cannabis.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not formulated to prevent, treat or cure any disease
Dosing is not an exact science; it depends on many factors. Because there is no recommended dose for CBD, the information presented on this page is intended to serve only as al guide – a starting point of reference – and should never be considered medical advice.
When it comes to using cannabinoids, there is one universal truth to keep in mind: everyone is different. There are countless variables such as weight, diet, metabolism, genetics, environment, product consistency, and more, that make a universally prescribed dosage impossible. Start low and go slow.
While we wish we could provide the public with a mathematical CBD dosage calculator, it isn’t quite that simple – rough estimates are about as good as it gets. Since we are not physicians, we cannot make any recommendations.
Based on existing research and literature, we feel it is most effective consumed twice per day. We have had people report back with good results using 10-20 mg per day for preventative health and general well being, or when being used for degenerative disease, an average of 50-70 mg per day, with some consuming 100mg plus per day.
All of our products will deliver organic yummy phytocannabinoid rich CBD goodness to your pet! The means of transportation, either biscuit or tincture, is solely up to you, The biscuits are great for ease of delivery, and the tincture is great for a more specific and controlled dose. In our opinion, the biscuits may be used to promote overall health and wellness in generally healthy and young dogs. A biscuit a day keeps the vet away! The drops are more cost effective for larger doses. The choice is always yours, but if you’re having a hard time making a decision, there’s no harm in trying both!