I have to confess that writing about this topic makes me very excited. The opportunity to visit a CBD plantation a few weeks ago gave me the opportunity to have a more dedicated look at the biological cultivation of cannabis, its consumption and especially the benefits of this ancient and famous plant, which, like cotton, its use by the Chinese dates more than 8000 thousand years.

But I would not be able to talk about the current moment without briefly mentioning the history of canapa (as it is called here) in Italy, this country where I live today and which has one of the greatest cultural treasures in Europe, being the historic birthplace of the great artists, of the great Roman Empire and also of the cannabis, which was already used here for millennia. Some traces such as pipes and seeds were found in prehistoric excavations in the Canavese area, a region at the foot of the Alps and that has this name for that reason.

Italy was once the second largest hemp producing nation in the world, and the first by quantity, with nearly 1000 hectares of cultivated land, a giant in the production, manufacturing and use of cannabis to produce high quality yarn with industrial methods since the late 18th century. In the thirties, the fascist regime would consider marijuana illegal, and with the coming of World War II there was the end of a millenary era, which would only be resumed in 1997, when the European community established the reintroduction of hemp for industrial use, and, thanks to certain regulations, the first Italian cannabis themed businesses were created.

The plantation I visited, Rollo CBD, was born with a mission to reassess the hemp sector, illustrating where it is grown and on what lands. The plants cultivated by Rollo CBD are in the municipality of Dolcedo, in the province of Imperia. At the end of the article, I'll leave a link to the history of Rollo CBD for those who want to know the cultivation methods, the qualities and other valuable information.

Lorenzo, ROllo CBD owner

What I will point out in this article is the beauty of this lifestyle, the poetry, and the fact that it seems to go against the wheel of this world that today speaks of metaverse and virtual realities. This journey towards organic and biological cultivation has allowed me to experience what I want for the future: to know the land and the love of those who cultivate it with responsibility and the awareness that it is the land that allows us to live with intensity our days on this planet. In the midst of so many environmental disasters caused by man in his ambition, being able to return and have an encounter with the beginnings of humanity, even in a micro dimension, is undeniably the best satisfaction one can feel. For some time, amidst the plantations and the affection that surrounds the cultivated land, we can almost forget the chaos in which we live in.

This journey, which has just begun, has the objective of teaching, making it evolve and, above all, replicating the knowledge at some point. Today, each experience leaves a positive impact and the certainty that this is the right path. Rollo's CBD farm, as I said at the beginning, sparked my interest and made me look more closely at cannabis. I've always admired this plant but I've never been a regular consumer, as use is almost always linked to carburetion, and I don't like smoking, so I end up consuming less than I would like. This more dedicated look made me realise the millenary history of cannabis cultivation here in Italy and made me love even more the idea that biological production of marijuana can be the economic solution for so many other countries, including my dear Brazil.

The place where Rollo CBD is grown brings a look into the past. A small village in the province of Imperia called Dolcedo, a little town with no more than 1400 inhabitants that grew out of settlements that arose in the early Middle Ages, located on a hill with a splendid view of the Ligurian Sea and that still survives mainly on agriculture and the cultivation of olives and grapes. In the midst of this picturesque Italian place, one has the feeling that time has not passed and that simplicity and hard work in the land are enough for a lifetime, and suddenly one is invaded by a desire to live exactly like that. The closer we get to nature, the more natural we feel, and this is why I said that becoming a farmer these days is considered nonsense for most human beings.

Man left the land and still leaves it every day, just as the cultivation of cannabis for the production of fibers, yarns, manufacture of products and other derivatives of hemp gave way to the synthetic fabric industry. More and more new products that derive from organics fall into disuse being replaced by industrial and artificial variations, and the abandonment of the land takes with it this joyful sensation of being part of nature and takes us away from the understanding of natural life and its deepest knowledge.

The contact with the earth, plants, insects and animals teaches us irreplaceable values, and when we talk about biological and sustainable cultivation, this multiplies even more. A land cultivated for thousands of years carries with it an infinite variety of plant species that have left their DNA imprinted on the soil. In a biological soil, these small herbs, flowers, vegetables and other plants are present, they sprout spontaneously and naturally strengthen and fertilize the land for orderly planting, such as a vineyard. This results in high fruit quality, fewer harmful pests, and a healthier, longer-lasting plant.

In this small town, the Docedesi who inhabit it have a long history of cultivation. Their properties have always been small farms, where the mild air rises inland, finding an obstacle in the mountains and discharging the rains on the north side. This means that, when they reach the top, they lose moisture and descend into the valley carrying the characteristic föhn, a hot, dry wind that brings stability to the weather, as Lorenzo says when talking about his homeland. Rollo's CBD cultivation is all done biologically, without any chemical additives and with a lot of manual work. Excellent biological and chemical knowledge is required to ensure that cannabis plants have everything they need, and this care and dedication is reflected in the quality of the final product. In addition to being made for smoking, cannabis also produces CBD oil that is used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes, nowadays essential for the quality of life of many patients with degenerative diseases such as AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer, etc. Its relaxing power helps to treat lack of sleep, stress, lack of appetite and brings many other benefits.

Around Rollo’s is another farm that produces olives and organic wine. The soil receives an organic treatment, using the method I mentioned before, that of letting other plants grow between the vines so that they fertilize and strengthen the soil in a natural way. There is a magical atmosphere in the middle of such a place, full of peace, and an almost inexplicable feeling of harmony. The fact is that there, in that small village, in a small land, someone is concerned about the bees and the quality of the land, thinking about how good their cultivated fruit will do for those who consume it and contradicting this capitalist world that in the big most are just for profit.

Saving human existence is the primary concern of those who struggle to eliminate polluting methods of food production and other material goods, and the demonstrations and protests of many almost always demand just that. On the other hand, when I see a small farm like Rollo CBD's taking this original care of cultivation, I want it to be multiplied: it's not about saving the Earth, it's about respecting it. It is essential that man lives in contact with nature so that he can be happy and bring meaning to his existence, and the absence of this contact has created throughout our history the sicknesses of the present. In a world where deadly pandemics can make us, instead of turning to embrace, to encounter others, the earth and the animals, make us create virtual worlds so that we can replace the natural, which is so much to us necessary, it looks like a very sick world. Today, to look at these still existing greedy men who occupy positions of importance on the planet and whose nefarious actions destroy ancient civilizations, damage natural forests in search of gold and precious stones, cut down trees and plants essential for everyone's life to raise captive animals with the sole purpose of satisfying the desire for money, while simple people cannot even grow their own food, it is to realize that the struggle for the universal right to have a land for family farming is what can save humanity from collapse that has been announced.

I believe that the natural, biological, biodynamic, synergistic, etc. cultivation of cannabis, grapes or any other food is the best resource for everyone's future and while I can, I will dedicate myself to reproducing and claiming everyone's right to grow their own food in a natural way, even realizing how utopian it can appear to the eyes of this industrial and technological world.

Finally, as our articles always involve cooking and gastronomy, we want to show here that cannabis is not just smoke, it is also flavor, aromas and textures. And let's prove it with this delicious CBD Butter Brownie, a simple recipe with enormous tasty and relaxing pleasures. We'll leave the link to the recipe that includes the step-by-step instructions for making the CBD butter and the brownie, for anyone who wants to venture into the culinary world of cannabis (in Portuguese).