Hemp Seed Awareness

Hemp is a plant of the Cannabaceae family. Cannabis sativa, derived from female flowers, is the first illicit substance used by adolescents and is a major public health problem. Its psycho-active effects come from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Unlike recreational cannabis, industrial hemp derived from cannabis sativa has a high level of cannabidiol (CBD) but a negligible level of tetrahydrocannabinol. Its seeds are now consumed in various forms and generate increasing interest. Seeds have many nutritional benefits.

It seems important to take an interest in hemp, given the recent expansion of medical cannabis and the increasing use of cannabis for recreational purposes. It is incriminated in various allergies (contact dermatitis, asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis) but also in the occurrence of anaphylaxis to certain foods by cross-allergy in atopic subjects, in association with an Lipid-Transfer Proteins (LTP protein), present in the flower of Cannabis sativa.

Unlike the allergy to recreational cannabis, the allergenicity of hemp seeds is little studied.

Hemp seed can cause severe anaphylactic reactions. In all reported cases, the prick-tests were positive for the seeds. Often, patients had never been in contact with hemp seeds but had already been exposed to cannabis by respiratory or manual routes.

The investigators hypothesize that sensitization by the skin or respiratory route (cannabis smokers, passive exposure to cannabis, workers exposed to hemp, etc.) could lead to the development of a food allergy to hemp seed.