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In honor of Hemp History Week, I wanted to address a question I get asked all the time, “Is Hemp Safe for Kids?”

Of course hemp is safe for kids. If it were not, do you think I would have my children eating it every chance we got?

What is Hemp

Hemp is one of the world’s most sustainable plants as it is easily cultivated, drought tolerant, and improves the tilth of the soil. It is a densely nutritious food rich in protein, omega fatty acids, and fiber, and has a nutty-tasting seed with many uses.

And yet,

No member of the vegetable kingdom has ever been more misunderstood than hemp. – Vote Hemp

Is Hemp Safe for Kids?

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It is no different for a child to consume hemp seed than it is for them to enjoy sunflower, pumpkin, chia or flax seeds.

The pink elephant in the room, of course, is the stigma that hemp is the same thing as marijuana. According to this post I wrote last year for Nutiva,

Hemp is not to be confused with marijuana. Although the two plants are related, hemp products contain only trace levels of THC (less than 10ppm) and will not cause a psychoactive effect. It was once widely grown in the United States for its fiber. In fact, one of our founding fathers, George Washington, was a hemp farmer!

Because of their resemblance, industrial hemp was classified as marijuana in the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal to grow in the U.S. However, hemp food products are legal to buy and consume. This was established in the case HIA v. DEA before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Hemp foods remained legal in the U.S. because of this decision.

The reason hemp farming is currently not legal in the U.S. on a commercial scale is simply due to the Federal definition of marijuana. Hemp research is allowed under Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill.

Why You Should Add Hemp to Your Children’s Diets

• Organic hemp has nature’s most perfect balance of Omega-3, Omega-6, and GLA/SDA fatty acids.
• Hemp contains all 20 amino acids (including the 9 essential), it’s an excellent addition to the diet of anyone looking for plant-based protein.
• The seeds are naturally gluten free, so they are a great option for children with gluten sensitivities.
• Hemp seeds are a great source of iron that children need for growth and development. (In fact, I love them for Isaiah right now because when we got him he was still very iron deficient. As of his last doctor’s appointment, he was almost within normal range. Hempseeds for baby, anyone?!)
• Hemp products add variety to a child’s diet. This is one of my main goals with our children. That they explore and have access to as many different flavors and textures as possible.

And finally, hemp is so easy to incorporate into their diets.

Don’t believe me? Check out this video on how to make a homemade trail mix for kids. In addition, I have several other ideas and ways that you can incorporate hemp into your child’s (and your own) diet.

Xox,
SKH

p.s. Interested in learning more about Hemp? Here are a few more resources.

• Hemp History Week and Your Gut
• Hemp History Week
• U.S. Hemp Farmers