For over 10,000 years, hemp has been cultivated as a source of nutrients and fiber for different people from different parts of the world. Hemp originates from ancient china. It was first introduced to America in 1611 in Jamestown, North America. During this time, hemp was used to make ropes, paper, and lantern oil. In the 1700s, hemp was a staple commercial crop and most colonies of England grew hemp because of how lucrative hemp farming was.
Things took a turn in the 1900s because there were cheaper sources of hemp such as Russia. After World War I, things became worse especially for Kentucky. Farmers changed their attitude towards hemp and a state that was once responsible for 75% of the country’s hemp fiber production saw a drastic shift as farmers opted to grow other crops instead of hemp.
The marijuana tax act of 1937 placed heavy taxes on the sale of cannabis. Shortly after taxes were placed on cannabis, people in possession of cannabis started to be arrested for violation of the tax act. This was a major factor leading to a decline in the number of farmers growing hemp.
During World War II, hemp gained popularity again. The US government lifted the marijuana tax act for a short while so that revenues coming from the sale of hemp products could go to war support. Farmers throughout the Southwest and Midwest were encouraged to grow hemp and The Department of Agriculture actively promoted the lucrative business.
After World War II, however, the marijuana tax act was enforced once again and a cheaper synthetic fiber became available all over the country, forcing the farmers to stop hemp farming. Hemp did not stand a chance against anti-marijuana political movements and tobacco. As a subject of campaign and propaganda, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified hemp as a Schedule I drug because it contains traces of THC (the compound that has psychoactive effects in cannabis plants). This meant that it was federally illegal to cultivate, sell or be in possession of any cannabis or hemp plant.
30 years later, hemp was in the spotlight again. In 2004, the United States government allowed importation of dietary hemp products. In 2007, two US farmers were granted the license to grow industrial hemp by the state of North Dakota. However, just as hemp farmers were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the licenses were deemed as federally illegal because North Dakota had failed to “satisfy the DEAs security and logistical requirements.”
In 2014, the 2014 farm bill allowed farmers and processors to grow, process, and create local hemp products. Kentucky was one of the first adapters of the new bill and it still remains to be a national leader in growing and creating hemp products.
In 2018, hemp became federally legal. The 2018 farm bill allows farmers to grow hemp following the security and logistical requirements of the DEA and USDA. Hemp farmers are encouraged to grow hemp on a large scale and processors can now find hemp locally and create premium hemp products. Although hemp has been misunderstood and looked down upon for a long time, the future looks bright for this green gold.
