Hemp was one of the first domesticated plants by humans. It used to thrive in the past and was used in the day-to-day lives of the people due to its nourishing seeds, solid fibre and it’s natural and medicinal properties. It’s original geographic location is not known as some people believe it originated from central Asia while others believe it evolved from the Himalayas. Some people feel that it came from the Yellow River of China.
Hemp during the ancient times
Hemp has been used in so many ways over the past 10,000 years and in the beginning, hemp fibre was used in weaving. In the 16th century, Henry VIII actually encouraged farmers to plant hemp extensively in order to provide the weaving material for the British naval fleet. The construction of ships relied very heavily on hemp, which is why a consistent supply was needed.
Hemp fibre and hemp oil were also used in making pendants, sails, ropes and more. Most of the things that sailors took on board including maps were made from hemp paper.
Given the numerous uses that were discovered in hemp, it was considered as a strategic commodity. It created strong fibres that made clothing, ropes, and more.
In the 16th to 18th century, the intercontinental trade started bombing. During those times, the ships were powered by wind and hemp was very useful in making strong sails, ropes and ladders for them.
In The USA, Benjamin Franklin was one of the first people to open a paper factory that used to hemp. The first President of the United States of America, George Washington, also cultivated hemp on his own plantation. In 1794, he advised people to sow as much help as they possibly could everywhere.
In the 19th century, hemp became more useful and the coal and oil Industries revolutionised. It started causing conflicts between the United States and England. Russian hemp was actually the reason why Napoleon invaded Russia.
In the US, hemp was grown since the 17th century and even the Declaration of Independence was drafted on a hemp paper. Apart from George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson also grew hemp and advocated for it for commercial production. During this time, it was almost illegal for farmers in Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut not to grow Indian hemp. A person could actually be jailed if they were found not growing hemp on their farm. It was used as illegal tender that could pay tax
In the 20th century, despite the fact that hemp was among the most cultivated plants, the landscape started changing. In the 1920s, it was then that cannabis hit the black market and became very popular for the wrong reasons.
The Ban
Cannabis was banned together with industrial hemp and production dwindles completely. It wasn’t until 2014 when the government fully legalized industrial hemp. Marijuana is still illegal in most states and because most people don’t know there is a difference between hemp and marijuana, they are still afraid. However, more and more people are getting into Swedish CBD products and reaping the benefits. A lot of advocates are pushing for legalization of all CBD products given the medical benefits.
It is easy to get CBD products on the internet nowadays. The market is actually saturated with different products and you need to be careful about what you purchase. A lot of people are in it to make money and they sell low quality CBD products. Check for reputable CBD brands and consult a doctor before you start using it. More and more people are also farming legalized industrial hemp and looking to reap the economical benefits.
