<strong>Everything You Need to Know About Hemp Stalks</strong>

By El Planteo

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The hemp stalk is not waste. It has a bad reputation because it does not contain trichomes, which means it does not contain THC. Thus, for many cannabis users, the hemp stalk is useless and often thrown away.

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However, the understanding that cannabis stalks are worthless stems from a misunderstanding of the real value that these and other plant fibers offer; they can actually be a good raw material for textiles and commercial building materials.

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This guide will help you understand what hemp stalks are, how to use them if you want to make the most of your plant, and how the construction and textile industries are utilizing them and other cannabis fibers.

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What is the hemp stalk?

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Cannabis plants have many parts. The stalks are the part of the cannabis plants that hold the flowers and leaves. The structure of the cannabis plant consists of the main stalk, similar to the trunk of a tree, with several branches and smaller stalks growing to create the structure of the hemp plant. Some cannabis strains have thick, bushy stalk structures, while others are thinner and taller.

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Can I consume hemp stalks in other ways?

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One of the most popular ways to use cannabis stalks is to add them to cannabis tea. If you don’t have a tea bag on hand, you can use a coffee filter or a pair of unused nylon stockings to infuse the tea with flowers and stalks. Some people enjoy the flavor of cannabis. Hemp stalks may not have trichomes, but they do have essential oils. Adding the stalks will add flavor without adding THC.

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Can they be added to topical or edible products?

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If you have some cannabis stalks, there’s nothing wrong with adding them to the flowers and leaves when making a cannabis tincture. You can also include the stalks when making cannabis oil blends. High-quality flower is better to be the main ingredient if you want to make potent edibles or topicals. But if you want to use your stalks, it doesn’t hurt to let them macerate along with your ground flower in topical or edible preparations. You can find many recipes for cannabis-infused coconut oil, cannabis butter, some cannabis blend, and other edibles.

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How are cannabis stalks used commercially?

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In addition to attempts to squeeze as little THC as possible from cannabis, the fibrous plant material from hemp and marijuana, including hemp stalks, can be used to make hemp rope, hemp paper, wood chips, paper pieces, and even plant-based concrete.

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The textile industry has also historically used hemp as a substitute for cotton, and interest in hemp-based fabrics has increased in modern fashion for sustainability reasons.

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Sustainable agriculture means making better use of the cannabis plant leftovers that traditionally do not end up in the jars lining the shelves of dispensaries.

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The rise of marijuana legalization gives us the opportunity to look beyond adult use and the medicinal benefits of cannabis flower to its many benefits as a staple agricultural crop.

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Instead of trying to smoke your stalks, look for cannabis fiber-based products like hemp paper, rope, fabric, and other textiles to support sustainable agriculture and promote the many beneficial qualities of cannabis that do not come with a head change.