Harnessing Cannabis sativa L. for integrated environmental remediation and circular biomass use

Cannabis sativa L. is gaining attention as a multifunctional species for environmental remediation due to its high biomass productivity, pollutant tolerance, and versatility. This review synthesizes its application across three environmental media: soil, water, and air. In soil systems, hemp has been investigated for the remediation of heavy metals, organic pollutants (f.ex., PAHs), and radionuclides, via mechanisms such as phytoextraction, rhizodegradation, and phytostabilization. Aquatic applications include biosorption (using raw and chemically modified hemp-derived materials to remove nutrients, heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceuticals), hydroponic phytoremediation of landfill leachate, and field cultivation with treated wastewater irrigation. The review analysis reveals that hemp-based soil remediation, particularly for heavy metals, is the most developed field, with several experimental and field-scale studies. In contrast, aquatic and especially atmospheric applications remain underexplored and limited to laboratory-scale demonstrations. Most studies have been conducted in Europe, Asia, and North America, while regions such as Africa and South America remain significantly underrepresented. Despite promising laboratory results, large-scale implementation faces challenges such as lack of standardized protocols, uncertainties around post-remediation biomass use, and limited field validation. The review also discusses post-remediation valorization pathways, ranging from bioenergy and construction materials to reusable biosorbents, aligned with circular economy strategies. Key knowledge gaps and implementation barriers are identified, including regulatory constraints, limited field-scale validation, and the importance of aligning remediation goals with post-harvest biomass use. The cross-media perspective highlights hemp’s promise as a scalable, sustainable tool for integrated environmental restoration.