Hemp is one of the oldest plants on Earth, with traces of its use found in Asia as far back as 50,000 years ago. It was used for a variety of purposes, from making ceramics and food to being a staple crop for American farmers. Despite its many benefits, hemp has had a difficult history, with its cultivation being banned in the United States for many years. Here's a look at the fascinating and often difficult history of hemp. The first traces of hemp are found in Asia, and soon after it is found in Europe, Africa and South America.
American farmers were required by law to grow hemp as a staple crop, and many of the founding fathers of the United States advocated for its benefits. The government even published a documentary in favor of hemp called Hemp for Victory, which encouraged farmers to grow hemp to support the war. Today, hemp is cultivated for use in many industries, including biomass for making textiles, seeds for oil and food and, of course, the production of CBD. Industrial hemp is used to create textiles, biofuels, construction materials, topical products, and more. A court case between the Hemp Industries Association and the DEA permanently protects the sale of hemp food and seed-based personal care products in the United States. In 2014, President Barack Obama enacted the Farm Bill which allowed research institutions to initiate pilot hemp cultivation programs.
This bill also legally separated hemp from marijuana and legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp, defining industrial hemp as cannabis sativa L. Unlike their close relative marijuana, hemp plants do not contain significant levels of the intoxicating compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).The use of hemp continued throughout Northern Europe: hemp rope was found in southern Russia and Greece and hemp seeds and leaves were found in Germany. This has opened up the hemp industry to domestic production and to the expansion of hemp-based products in the United States. Hemp has been around for thousands of years and has been used for a variety of purposes. Despite its many benefits, it has had a difficult history due to its close association with marijuana.
However, thanks to recent legislation such as the Farm Bill, hemp is now legally cultivated in the United States and is being used in many industries.
