Hemp is one of Earth's most sustainable, versatile and profitable crops. It is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC.
Did You Know?
Industrial hemp has been grown in the U.S. since our founding fathers first sailed to our eastern shores. From the 1600s until about the 1850s, hemp was a staple crop, and at times farmers were even required to grow hemp. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Henry Ford and many other notable Americans were actively engaged in, and openly advocated for, the commercial hemp industry.
Throughout the centuries, hemp was handled by the government the same as any other farm crop, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published numerous articles and worked to help American farmers understand the best ways to grow industrial hemp. Despite this history, hemp has been defined by the U.S. government as a narcotic drug since the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act was passed.
Even after hemp was effectively banned in this country, the USDA briefly brought it back during WWII, and American farmers grew over 150,000 acres in just two years. American history is intertwined with hemp farming, and the evidence is ample.
There are towns called "Hempfield" and "Hempstead" and a state called "New Hampshire." There are abandoned hemp processing mills from WWII. There are newspaper articles from 150 years ago which talk about hemp.
There are more than 25,000 known uses for hemp. Almost any product that can be made from wood, cotton, or petroleum, including plastics can be made from hemp. Hemp is considered the world's most versatile fiber.