The History of Hemp in the U.S.

For a long time, hemp was in a murky area regarding legality. As a result, many people were weary of wanting to deal with it. Hemp has been perfectly acceptable and legal at some points, and at other times, the plant was seen as an illicit drug and deemed illegal. After much debate, commonsense prevailed, and the government passed the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. The bill made hemp legal on the federal level. Let’s take a look at hemp’s long, complicated history in the U.S.

The Colonial Connection

Hemp is known as one of the oldest crops on the planet and was cultivated in America by native inhabitants long before Europeans reached its shores. Some records state settlers started planting and harvesting hemp as soon as 1632. Virginia mandated that every planter should plant and sow hemp. This sentiment caught on because Massachusetts and Connecticut enacted similar mandates in the 17th and 18th centuries. At that time, hemp was legal, with the government encouraging its planting.

Founding Fathers

Here is a fun fact: even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew the versatile crop on their land. Hemp was so important to the early days of modern-day America that some historians say the founding fathers wrote the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. Americans’ reliance on hemp grew well into the 19th century, and planters planted it in even more states.

A Slowdown

Hemp’s popularity was at an all-time high in the early 20th century. A magazine article noted that the hemp industry would become worth $1 billion in the future. However, many Americans turned their backs on hemp and began to view it in a different light. Therefore, hemp did not reach its full potential.

The Demonization of Hemp

Since hemp and marijuana are connected, many lawmakers grouped them. As a result, legislators considered hemp a drug and made it illegal. Not only that, individual states and the country as a whole decided to pass laws limiting or prohibiting the production of cannabis, including hemp.

In 1937, the federal government passed the Marijuana Tax Act. While the act did not outright outlaw the growth of hemp, it did place an expensive tax on the plant. Various anti-cannabis films came out around this time to stress the danger of cannabis. Additionally, as synthetic fibers began to gain in popularity, the demand for higher-priced hemp fibers decreased. Hemp’s downfall continued.

WWII & Hemp’s Resurgence

In 1941, hemp experienced a resurgence once the U.S. entered World War II. Since Japan restricted its hemp supply, U.S. farmers began to grow the crop at home again. The U.S. government implemented a campaign touting all the benefits of the once-popular hemp. The government even gave out 400,000 pounds of seeds for farmers to plant.

A pro-hemp film was released to inform Americans that growing hemp was patriotic and needed during wartime. Heeding their patriotic duty, farmers grew around 42,000 tons of hemp yearly between 1942 and 1946. But, once the war ended, hemp’s production declined…again.

Once Again Legal

Throughout the next few decades, lawmakers continued to regulate hemp with various laws. An appeal court ruled in 2004 that the DEA couldn’t regulate particular parts of hemp under the then-law as it stood. That meant that hemp could once again be imported. In 2018, the passage of the Farm Bill made hemp legal across the United States.

Get Your Hemps Products Today

Since hemp products are legal, there’s no reason you shouldn’t purchase something. With plenty of products and vendors, Hemps Company stands out for a reason. Our high-quality hemp products include delicious gummies like Sour Berry and Sour Citrus. These vegan gummies are an isolate hemp oil extract to ensure you get only the best. Visit our website and browse our products to learn more!

Source:

https://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/news/history-hemp-america/