Rasta Canna Bar - Hemp is Stronger than Steel

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The natural world is filled with mind blowing contradictions and truths that seemingly defy logic. How a caterpillar cocoons itself, dissolves into "goo" and reemerges a few weeks later as a completely different species still confounds and amazes entomologists. Likewise, scientists have only recently begun to understand how millions of migratory birds remember where to fly for the winter and how to return to their summer homes.

And, of course, the most fantastic fact of all? Hemp is stronger than steel. That is correct. When appropriately harvested, hemp fiber can withstand twice as much pressure to crack and break as steel. The versatile plant also has six times the ability not to bend to compression than that of steel.

Of course, this would come as no surprise to a 19th-century American. Roughly 150 years ago, before the cynical and dubious campaign of the early 20th century to prohibit cannabis and make criminals out of those individuals who cultivate, manufacture, sell, and consume it, hemp produced an astonishing 75% of all American goods.

Unfortunately, thanks to the unscrupulous efforts of leading anti-cannabis zealots like William Randolph Hearst and Harry J. Anslinger, America's first unofficial drug czar, the manufacturing of hemp-derived products evaporated almost overnight when the government banned the cultivation and use of the plant based on predominantly unfounded claims or flat out lies concerning the threat of potential abuse.

That all changed in 2018 when that year's Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances List, making it legal to grow, manufacture, sell, and consume hemp-derived items. As a result, hemp is now back at the forefront of the manufacturing sector due to its versatility, eco-friendly characteristics, and ability to serve many human needs, ranging from medicines to construction materials and from food to its ability to clean up radioactive soil.

One of those unique and beneficial attributes is hemp's tensile strength. Tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can bear before breaking when it is allowed to be stretched or pulled. As mentioned earlier, hemp has six times the tensile strength of steel, making it an ideal raw material for cement construction.

To prove that strength superiority, researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, have produced an alternative to steel in concrete buildings and other infrastructure projects made entirely from hemp fiber. This new type of hemp rebar was developed by Dan Walczyk, director of the Manufacturing Innovation Center and professor of mechanical engineering, and Alexandros Tsamis, associate director of the Architecture Science and Ecology Center and assistant professor of architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic.

Both researchers believe their hemp-based natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic rebar could soon replace steel as the preferred reinforcing technology for constructing large concrete structures. Rebar is a vital component in the skeletal frameworks of cement buildings. Concrete lacks the necessary tensile strength to stand on its own. Thus, rebar provides the foundation for perfectly standing and durable structures that can last centuries.

What makes hemp such an exciting alternative to steel, outside of its obvious strength advantage, is that hemp rebars help eliminate corrosion challenges and are more durable than traditional steel bars.

Hemp also sequesters carbon during cultivation, and when used as a building material like hempcrete, it can help reduce carbon emissions and reduce heating and air conditioning bills considerably.

So, along with making concrete structures more robust and durable, hemp can also cool the planet. The plant can be grown quickly and in various locations and climates. Likewise, almost zero waste is associated with hemp cultivation as nearly every piece of the plant is used for some constructive and environmentally safe purpose.

Of course, these facts and discoveries would be no surprise to the Founding Fathers of America. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington grew hemp for making food, clothing, rope, and paper, among many other uses and applications. However, they probably never knew hemp could help craft used to make refreshing and delicious THC-infused drinks.

Thankfully, Rasta Canna Bar is here to provide a wide assortment of those beverages, and this week, RCB is featuring two drink specials in honor of Halloween. First, RCB will be offering 2-for-1 Cannarita drinks this week.

And during "Grand Central's Halloween Parade" on October 29 from 11 am - 5 pm (https://halloweenoncentral.com/), Rasta Canna Bar will be featuring a "Drinks without THC" special of $5 slushies, with flavor options of pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, mango (limited supply).

Cleverly modeled after traditional popular drinks, Rasta Canna Bar cocktails and beverages include fun concoctions like the Stoner Sunset, High Cosmopolitan, and Dank Colada. However, what makes the experience unique and potentially healthier is that all offerings contain hemp-derived cannabinoids instead of alcohol. By perusing the full menu, customers will find a wide range of creative and tasty options.

Along with custom cocktails, RCB offers shots inspired by traditional spirits, such as delta-9 THC-infused versions reminiscent of tequila, fireball and cognac. The bar will also provide delta-9 THC seltzers, THC-infused N/A beers, and a variety of smoothies containing CBD, CBG, CBN and delta-8 and delta-9 THC. Finally, traditional non-alcoholic drinks are also available for those seeking a less elevated time.

Rasta Canna Bar is in the heart of Grand Central at 2531 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. Feel free to swing by and enjoy live music provided by resident DJ (DJ Aly) on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 - 10 pm. RCB is the perfect place to begin, end or spend the entire evening. There's a new place to unwind from the grind and connect with a more elevated and enlightened community. Come and Experience a Higher Bar.

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