While hemp is a hot topic today, its presence in American culture is far from new. The history of hemp in the United States is well-documented and dates back centuries.
Historical records indicate that hemp was first introduced to North America in Jamestown around 1611. Early American farmers cultivated the crop for various purposes, including producing rope, paper, and lantern oil.
By the 1700s, the young nation’s agriculturally-driven economy was thriving. Although most farmers preferred to grow tobacco, hemp was such an essential crop that England legally mandated its cultivation in many colonies.
Shifting Attitudes Toward Hemp and Cannabis
Despite its early significance, the perception of hemp began to change in the 1900s. After World War I, the availability of cheaper hemp fiber from foreign sources, particularly Russia, caused a decline in domestic hemp production. This shift was particularly felt in Kentucky, a state that once produced 75% of the nation’s hemp fiber.
The federal government’s increasing focus on drug control also played a significant role in hemp’s decline. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 imposed heavy taxes on cannabis sales, leading to arrests and convictions for violations of the Act. This legislation contributed to a sharp decrease in hemp cultivation.
Hemp saw a brief revival during World War II when the U.S. government recognized its importance for the war effort. The Department of Agriculture promoted hemp farming in the Midwest and Southwest, even temporarily lifting enforcement of the Marihuana Tax Act. However, this support waned after the war, and hemp once again became illegal as cheaper synthetic fibers became more prevalent.
In the subsequent years, hemp and the broader cannabis family faced intense opposition from various business interests, such as the tobacco industry, and anti-marijuana political movements. These efforts culminated in the passage of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which classified THC—a compound found in both hemp and cannabis—as a Schedule I substance. This classification effectively made all forms of cannabis, including hemp, federally illegal.
It took nearly 30 years for hemp to re-enter mainstream American culture in a positive light.
The U.S. Farm Bill Shines A Light On Hemp
In 2004, the US started allowing businesses to import dietary hemp products. In 2007, there was a glimmer of positivity when two farmers were granted licenses to grow industrial hemp by the state of North Dakota, though those licenses were ultimately rejected at the federal level, “because the state hadn’t satisfied the agency’s [DEA’s] security and logistical requirements.”
Building on these developments, changes started across the nation with the 2014 Farm Bill, which paved the way for state pilot programs, such as Kentucky’s, which allowed farms and processors to start growing, processing, and creating local hemp products.
Kentucky was one of the early adopters — pair that with our ideal soil and climate, and you see Kentucky is now a national leader in growing and creating hemp products.
In 2018, there were even more positive changes – hemp was deemed federally legal, no longer under the purview of the DEA, and able to be cultivated as a commodity and transported without fear of federal interference.
These changes, brought forth by the 2018 Farm Bill, took the previous Farm Bill’s pro-hemp stance a notch higher.
The 2018 bill encourages the building of hemp businesses; the increased certainty is expected to lead to more investment for hemp farming on a much larger scale than prior pilot programs allowed and, as long as hemp is produced in accordance with the bill, its sale is now much less restricted than before.
Although the new Farm Bill shows improvements over its predecessor, there will be some lag time before farmers begin to experience clear benefits. Each state will have to walk through regulatory doors before obtaining USDA approval, and there is uncertainty about how hemp derivatives, such as CBD, will be regulated by the FDA.
Kentucky Aims to be the Epicenter of Hemp
Kentucky is leading the charge on these new hemp standards, having already developed what Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles calls, “…a regulatory framework that perfectly aligns with the requirements spelled out in the Farm Bill.”
1,035 hemp applications have been approved in Kentucky for 2019, and it looks as though Kentucky is poised to be the epicenter of hemp production in America.
These Kentucky applicants have also been approved to grow 42,086 acres worth of hemp in 2019, compared to only 6,700 acres grown in 2018.
We’re proud to say our farm, Mt. Folly Farm, has already been conditionally approved to continue growing USDA Certified Organic Hemp, which is used to make our Homestead Alternatives CBD. Mt. Folly also raises hemp grain for Laura’s Hemp Chocolates.
Hemp Reclaims Prominence on the Back of CBD
Hemp isn’t the only thing growing exponentially — its primary derivative, CBD, is also experiencing a boom. The volume and variety of CBD products has risen quickly over the past five years, with tinctures, oils, lotions, capsules, and topical creams now on the market.
It’s a renaissance, of sorts, in which hemp’s nostalgic past is meeting its more scientific future.
What’s Coming Next for Hemp?
The rapid growth means that today’s hemp market is inconsistently regulated, and many companies are misrepresenting the product they’re selling.
At Laura’s Mercantile and Homestead Alternatives, we’ve implemented stringent third-party lab testing procedures to ensure our hemp and CBD products are high quality and reliable.
We also place an emphasis on being transparent with our processes, carefully monitoring our partners who extract our full-spectrum CBD, and owning the hemp from seed or cutting to final product.
Most importantly, we keep our products as close to the plant as possible, understanding the natural way of raising crops is best for our bodies.
Our hemp is raised on ground that’s been handled organically for three years, which means the soil is more fertile and we use no herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals. In food, this production leads to more nutritious foods, and particularly in the case of hemp, it allows the plant’s terpenes to better resist insects and prosper.
Looking forward, the hemp and CBD industries are set to continue rapidly growing, with uncertainty about the potential size of the markets. Brightfield Group projects the market for hemp to be $22 billion by 2022, and the Hemp Business Journal estimates the market for CBD in particular will reach $2.1 billion by 2021.
We hopeful that hemp and its derivatives will continue to see expanded economic support, particularly at the state level, providing exceptional opportunities for farmers. We’re excited to continue being part of hemp’s long history!
