From legally requiring farmers to grow hemp to completely banning its cultivation, America has had a roller coaster of a relationship with hemp throughout the decades. To better understand the country’s complex relationship with the plant, this brief history of hemp in the U.S. highlights the significant changes and developments regarding the hemp industry.

The early days of hemp in the U.S.

Hemp was first cultivated as early as 8,000 BCE in modern-day China and Taiwan, but it didn’t make an appearance in America until 1606. Hemp became was a widely-grown crop used to create a variety of products such as paper, ropes, and clothing. For a period of time in the 1700s, the American government even legally required farmers to grow the plant as a staple crop. Famous U.S. presidents such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and publicly expressed their support of its cultivation.

Hemp in 20th-century America

Positive attitudes towards hemp began to shift in the 20th century. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act had a large impact on the hemp industry, which was heavily taxed. However, public opinion shifted again in 1942, when the Department of Agriculture began promoting hemp as a means to provide much-needed resources during World War II. The U.S. even released a documentary called Hemp for Victory to encourage farmers to grow the plant.

After the war ended, the country regained its anti-hemp viewpoint. Growing the crop was eventually banned in 1970 as a result of the Controlled Substances Act, which listed hemp as a Schedule I drug—among other drugs such as heroin and LSD.

Hemp today

While the subject of growing hemp remains somewhat controversial, people are beginning to once again appreciate the many benefits of producing the versatile crop. Following the Agricultural Act of 2014, growing hemp for university or government research was permitted in certain states. More recently, hemp production was federally legalized for the first time in 81 years after the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill. Today, hemp-related products such as biodiesel fuel, CBD oil, clothing, and hemp-infused foods are quickly gaining in popularity.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the newly booming hemp industry, you can find all the equipment you need to start you own hemp-related business—including short path distillation kits and evaporators—at USA Lab Equipment.