Hemp in America: A Rich History and Its Modern Revival
Few plants have been through it quite like hemp. The history of hemp stretches from ancient times with ropes and materials to modern revival, shaped by innovation and regulation, and is growing more popular by the day.
Once a colonial staple, hemp was restricted due to legal regulations surrounding cannabis, only to bounce back as a sustainable plant-based material with so many valuable uses. Today, from rolling papers to eco-friendly goods, hemp is proving its worth again in a big way. Take a look at the history of hemp, where hemp stands today, and how Mill26 is helping to bring this plant back into the spotlight.
What Is Hemp vs Cannabis?
Hemp and cannabis both come from the same plant species, Cannabis Sativa, but they’re like cousins with different personalities. Hemp is defined by its low THC content—0.3% or less—meaning it is not valued for its psychoactive properties, but it can be therapeutically valuable for non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol). Instead, hemp is most often grown for its fibers, seeds, and industrial uses, like hemp paper or textiles. Cannabis, often called marijuana, has higher THC levels and is used recreationally or medicinally for its psychoactive effects.
The History of Hemp
Ancient Times 8000 BCE to 1500s
Hemp’s story starts way back, in places like China and Taiwan, where it was used for pottery, food, and medicine. By around 500 BCE, hemp had spread to Europe—Russia and Germany were weaving it into ropes and fabrics. Around 850, Vikings hauled it to Iceland, and Arabs turned it into paper. Fast-forward to the 1500s, Portuguese settlers brought hemp to Brazil, and soon after, in the 1600s, it landed in North America with English colonists. The fibers in hemp were highly valued for making ropes, sails, and clothing in those early days.
Colonial America to Early 1900s: 1600s to 1920s
Hemp thrived in America’s early years. By the 1700s, farmers in the British colonies were required to grow it—George Washington and Thomas Jefferson even had it on their plantations. It fueled the revolution with sails and ropes for the Navy, and some say the Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper. Through the 1800s, the highly valuable hemp plant spread to states like Illinois and Nebraska, peaking during World War II with the “Hemp for Victory” campaign, when 150,000 acres were grown to replace war-disrupted supplies.
Regulation Era: 1930s to 2018
Things took a turn for hemp despite its value in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act, which slapped heavy taxes and red tape on all cannabis, including hemp, thanks to its genetic makeup. The 1970 Controlled Substances Act sealed the deal, listing hemp as a Schedule I drug, even though this species of cannabis was not used for its ability to infuse euphoria. For decades after, hemp was off-limits, with only imports of hemp seeds and oil allowed by 2004. The tide turned with the 2014 Farm Bill, letting states experiment with small-scale hemp production, and the 2018 Farm Bill finally legalized hemp nationwide, pulling it off the controlled list.
Hemp Today: The Revival of Hemp Products
Hemp has been back in a big way in the last several years. Farmers are planting it again—over 25,000 acres by 2017—and it’s popping up in everything from CBD oils and clothing to paper packaging and consumer products. Hemp’s eco-friendly credibility is a draw: it grows fast, uses little water, and sharply contrasts with the ecological footprints created by other textile-related materials like wood.
Smokers are swapping traditional rolling papers for hemp ones. Foodies are into hemp seeds and oils for their omega-fatty acids, and builders are eyeing materials like hempcrete and hemp flooring for sustainable, durable homes. After years in the shadows, hemp is proving to new generations how valuable it can be for everything from paper to clothing and therapeutic or dietary support.
The Future of Hemp with Mill26
Hemp’s future looks bright, and we’re proud to be part of that future at Mill26. Mill26 is reintroducing high-quality hemp paper products—filters, hemp paper bags, business cards, straws, and more—to today’s consumers.
By tapping into hemp’s rich past and its green potential, Mill26 is striving to reconnect modern-day consumers with all the ways hemp can be a valuable plant. Want to dig deeper into hemp paper? Visit the Mill26 blog for insights and explore our collection of hemp paper products.
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