Community Corner
Rasta Canna Bar - How Hemp Can Actually Clean Contaminated Soil
Not only can the hemp plant provide healing properties to the human body, but it can also purify polluted soil.
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Planet Earth is a remarkable miracle in many respects. Considering its age (over 4 billion years) and the number of improbable occurrences that had to take place for this small rock hurtling through space to develop the necessary elements and characteristics to support life, the fact that it has produced trillions of life forms during its life span is a true wonder of the universe.
One of the more unique qualities this “little blue dot,” as famed scientist and philosopher Carl Sagan once described it, possesses is the ability for self-healing and relentless regeneration. In the past 4 billion years asteroids have pummeled the surface, volcanoes have exploded sending liquid rock into the atmosphere and ice ages have blanketed the planet with snow and ice. However, Mother Earth has endured and continuously remade itself through it all.
There is no better example of that ability to heal and regenerate than the versatile, resilient and powerful hemp plant. Along with providing food, clothing, building materials and plant medicine, hemp has the rare and almost unbelievable capacity to clean contaminated soil as it grows.
As the plant digs its long and sturdy roots deep into the soil, it absorbs harmful chemicals and extracts any poisonous toxins present, which means hemp can purify radioactive soil. That process of removing heavy metals and other nuclear materials is known as phytoremediation.
Certain plants, like hemp, are known as hyperaccumulators. They have evolved over millions of years to absorb metals and other toxins from the soil by metabolizing them through their roots. They then store those contaminants in their stems and leaves, and in some cases, particularly with hemp, these plants can also degrade or render pollutants harmless.
In addition, hemp, like many other hyperaccumulators, can also be utilized to extract some of the more valuable metals it absorbs through the soil through a process known as phytomining. Botanists believe that certain plants developed this ability as a defense to ward off herbivores. Along with hemp, other well-known hyperaccumulators include sunflowers and mustard plants. However, hemp, with its ability to tolerate extremely heavy metals, is considered one of the best plants for phytoremediation.
The most famous example of hemp’s ability to help clean up contaminated soil is the tragic Chernobyl reactor explosion at the city’s nuclear power plant in 1986, which spread a massive number of toxic compounds into the area surrounding the facility. In an attempt to clean up the toxic mess and allay the fears of farmers with soil and crops close to the blast zone, Soviet scientists used a number of hyperaccumulators, most notably hemp, to clear out the radioactive materials and halt the further spread of radionuclides.
What makes hemp’s ability to remove dangerous toxins from the soil even more impactful is that the plant typically reaches maturity within six months, which in the opinion of many agricultural researchers means the contaminants do not have enough time to negatively affect or harm the plant, making it safe for human consumption. While more research is necessary to confirm this belief, it is noteworthy for demonstrating hemp’s power and healing capacity.
One of those researchers, Cord Coen, president and founder of Zents, a CBD manufacturer, says, “It is incredibly important for hemp and CBD brands to commit to sustainable farming practices because hemp is a bioaccumalator, meaning that it collects pesticides and pollution from the soil.”
Of course, most hemp farmers do not grow their crops on previously radioactive land, and it would not be advisable to consume hemp products cultivated in that manner. However, one of the more practical uses of phytoremediation is as a source of biofuel. In that scenario, hemp could be planted on contaminated soil to remove the heavy metals and toxins. The resulting hemp stock can then be burned off providing an accessible, renewable fuel resource.
Whether used to provide food, make clothing, build houses or clean up soil, hemp stands alone as one of the most versatile and beneficial plants ever to exist. The fact that it was listed as a Schedule I drug for over a century, along with heroin and meth, is beyond baffling. Planet Earth truly knew what she was doing when she carefully and lovingly created hemp all those millennia ago.
And now Rasta Canna Bar can use the fruits of that diligent attention and care to provide an imaginative and wide array of beverages to customers from all over this “little blue dot.” Which is the ideal lead into this week’s featured drink – Hippie Juice
Crafted from a cool and tempting combination of watermelon puree and fruit juices, Hippie Juice is the ideal refreshing “hemp-tail” sure to raise the vibrational groove and lower the stress level after another long day of chasing those dollar bills.
Customers are also encouraged to add their choice of Rasta Feeling derived from hemp as an added boost to this colorful and tasty treat.
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 thefull 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 p.m. 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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