Hemp is the common name for plants of the entire genus Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to cannabis strains cultivated for industrial use (low or no THC varieties). Industrial hemp has many uses, including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, and fuel. It is one of the fastest growing biomasss known, and one of the earliest domesticated plants known.
Here are 15 fascinating historical facts about the incredible industrial hemp plant.
- In 1938, hemp was called Billion Dollar Crop. It was the first time a cash crop had a business potential to exceed a billion dollars. (Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1938.)
- All schoolbooks were made from hemp or flax paper until the 1880s. (Jack Frazier. Hemp Paper Reconsidered. 1974.)
- Quality paints and varnishes were made from hemp seed oil until 1937. 58,000 tons of hemp seeds were used in America for paint products in 1935. (Sherman Williams Paint Co. testimony before the U.S.Congress against the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act.)
- It was legal to pay taxes with hemp in America from 1631 until the early 1800s. (LA Times. Aug. 12, 1981.)
- Refusing to grow hemp in America during the 17th and 18th centuries was against the law! You could be jailed in Virginia for refusing to grow hemp from 1763 to 1769 (G. M. Herdon. Hemp in Colonial Virginia).
- Oldest known records of hemp farming go back 5000 years in China, although hemp industrialization probably goes back to ancient Egypt.
- For thousands of years, 90% of all ships sails and rope were made from hemp. The word canvas comes from the Middle English word canevas which comes from the Latin word cannabis. (Websters New World Dictionary.)
- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers grew hemp. (Washington and Jefferson Diaries. Jefferson smuggled hemp seeds from China to France then to America.)
- Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills in America, and it processed hemp. Also, the War of 1812 was fought over hemp. Napoleon wanted to cut off Moscows export to England. (Jack Herer. Emperor Wears No Clothes.)
- 80% of all textiles, fabrics, clothes, linen, drapes, bed sheets, etc., were made from hemp until the 1820s, with the introduction of the cotton gin.
- Rembrandts, Van Goghs, Gainsboroughs, as well as most early canvas ...
