Press Release: Hempseed is beneficial to children and adults alike

Members of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) are outraged at the confusion between cannabis hempseed and its value, and concerns over cannabis, after a Merseyside father expressed concern over packets of seeds bought as a snack from Asda

According to the Liverpool Echo, Lois Williams, a three-year-old, grew a cannabis plant in her back garden with seeds bought from a Merseyside Asda supermarket, was deemed to have been at risk from eating the seeds. Her father, 31-year-old Danial, was quoted in the article: “Lois has eaten half the seeds from this pack and anyone could be sitting at their desk in work, thinking they are being healthy when really they are eating cannabis seeds.”

Hemp seed (also known as cannabis seed) has been used as a vital source of nutrition for centuries, previously being ground down to make a porridge called gruel, or for its oil.

Winston Matthews of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance said: “Daniel, the father, seems to be have been mis-informed about hemp seed – cannabis is just another name for hemp. Far from being a dangerous drug, the seeds are highly nutritious and of no risk to even 3-year-olds.

“Not only are seeds safe nutritional and tasty, they are in fact incredibly healthy. The seeds do not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient in the cannabis that is used medically) but they do contain a whole range of essential amino acids as well as :

”21 minerals,
”13 vitamins including A and E which are powerful antioxidants (anti toxin/free radicals).,
eight amino acids and two Essential fatty acids.
”Enzymes, hemp seed is often regarded as a super food.

“The seeds are actually a very good source of highly digestible protein (25%)

”They also contains appreciable amounts of the minerals zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur. and respectable amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). Gamma-linolenic acid can have a cholesterol-lowering action and clinical trials have also shown that it can improve premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

”Whole hemp seeds may of course simply be sprouted and blended with water to make a nutritious hemp milk.

”Sprouted hemp seeds are also often baked with other sprouted grains in a low oven to produce sprouted breads. Additionally, ground hemp seeds can be added to smoothies, made into hemp butters, or simply sprinkled onto salad, cereals, or steamed vegetables for extra protein. If you are going to grind your own hemp seed, then grind it in a coffee grinder just before you want to use it in order to ensure that it is fresh.

”I'm glad that Asda confirmed its seed mix contains 15% hemp seeds, and has not made a irrational issue out of this, and must have done there homework.

Notes for editors

Winston Matthews can be contacted at WinstonMatthews@lca-uk.org

Sources of Info.

http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/hemp.htm
http://www.schmoo.co.uk/thclub/hemp.htm
http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed1.html

Newspaper article referred

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/09/05/girl-3-grows-cannabis-from-asda-health-food-100252-21682035/