BY Martha Thomas
While the growing industry for medical cannabis has created a buzz among entrepreneurs, another byproduct of the plant, hemp, has been used to craft sturdy ropes and fabrics for millennia. Hemp was an important material in the sails and riggings made for the British Navy, and while the material had been virtually prohibited by heavy taxation in the U.S., it was reintroduced to manufacture supplies during World War II. The word “canvas” is purportedly derived from the Greek “kannabis.” Meantime, hemp, no longer regulated under the controlled substances act, is prized for its strength and sustainability.
Begun as a Kickstarter campaign, Hemp wood sunglasses, $101.66, from Velouria Sunglasses, available 
on etsy.com * Hemp rain water candle, $14, and hemp seed coffee, $9.99, from hempys.com * Sea Urchin tote with hemp rope made in Maine, $160, seabags.com * J.R. Liggets’ tea tree oil and hemp shampoo bar, $7.49, jrligget.com * Sweet Lips lip balm, $10, from local entrepreneur Waxing Kara waxingkara.com * Hemp vodka (and mule) from Colorado Gold Distillery, $20.99, coloradohighvodka.com
Sling beverage cooler, $2 1.95, uncommon oods.com * Hemp T-shirt, $27.9 fro Ecoconscious lothin , available on etsy.com * . Maha Bohi Himalaya em laptop backpack, $3 .45, mahabo hiproduct .com (filled by Amazon) *Photo of vintage can tincture jars, 150, uncommongood .com
