Hemp has been around for thousands of years, with the earliest traces found in 8000 BC in China and Taiwan. It was one of the first agricultural crops, and was an important part of the early history of the United States. However, attitudes towards hemp cultivation began to change in the early 20th century, when the US government increased its determination to fight drugs such as marijuana. This led to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which made it difficult for farmers to produce hemp and is considered by the Hemp Industries Association as the beginning of the hemp ban.
During World War II, the US government promoted hemp through its “Hemp for Victory” program, but this was short-lived. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 reinforced federal policies and virtually banned hemp production during the war on drugs. The CSA did not directly ban hemp for industrial purposes, but instead required producers to obtain a permit from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This definition is broad and qualifies marijuana and its components as hallucinogenic, leading to the prohibition of hemp under this law. People and our government are now realizing the potential of hemp to have a positive impact on our health, economy and environment.
Growers can now purchase coverage if they have a contract for the purchase of insured hemp and comply with all applicable state, tribal and federal regulations. Hemp has many uses, including food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and soaps produced from hemp seed oil, textiles, carpets, paper, fabric, thread, insulation and building materials. In addition, there is speculation that hemp was banned because it looks the same as marijuana, but based on their chemical differences it is clear that they are not the same. Industrial hemp is defined as a non-pharmacological variety of Cannabis sativa with 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or less. The prohibition of hemp can be seen in the language of the CSA, which names marijuana as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning that it has no medical purpose and is highly likely to be abused. There has been some controversy over this bill, as some have argued that this policy aimed to reduce the size of the hemp industry to help emerging plastic and nylon industries gain market share. In recent years, people have been discovering more about hemp and CBD every day due to its perceived health benefits (mostly unproven).
This has led to an increase in hemp production in the US and all over the world. After all, in its five thousand year history of cultivation on Earth, a half-century ban does not seem very long.
