With all of the government involvement in keeping Cannabaceae (plants in the hemp family) out of the hands of U.S. citizens, you would think that Humulus lupulus L., more commonly known as Hops, would be included in the legalities of the Cannabis ban.
Hops is the closest relative to hemp and the two can be cross-graphed very well. However, unlike hemp, hops can cause an altered state and is a very old form of natural medicine. Today, hops is most commonly used for its calming effect on the nervous system, being prescribed for nervous tension, anxiety, irritability and spasms, and for its excellent and potent sedative effects. Hops is used to induce better sleeping patterns, and hops extract is being used as an ingredient in many sedative medicines, and also as an ingredient in cough syrups.
Hemp does not contain the same high-profile medicinal values as hops or marijuana. Hemp only contains about 4% CBD and lacks many of the medicinal terpenes and flavonoids that are found in marijuana. Hemp also has a very low percentage of THC. In comparison, hops contain dimethylvinyl carbinol, used to treat anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
Hops (Humulus lupulus) is uncontrolled in the United States. This means all parts of the plant and its extracts are legal to cultivate, buy, possess, and distribute (sell, trade or give) without a license or prescription. If sold as a supplement, sales must conform to U.S. supplement laws. If sold for consumption as a food or drug, sales are regulated by the FDA.
The only conclusion that seems apparent is that hops, a main ingredient in beer, is not a subject to be investigated. Wouldn’t it be great if hemp and marijuana received the same merit?
SOURCES:
http://www.beerscenemag.com/2010/04/the-short-and-bitter-history-of-hops/
http://www.vortexhealth.com/hops.html
https://www.erowid.org/herbs/hops/hops_law.shtml
