Hemp 'has been and will be' with us !!
- Hemp cultivation dates back more than 10,000 years
Many civilizations throughout time have grown hemp and utilized the plant for a number of items from food to fiber. The ancient use of hemp has been traced to many countries including China, Egypt, Russia, Greece and Italy.
- It used to be illegal to not grow hemp
There was once a time in American history when farmers could actually be fined or jailed for not growing hemp. Because it was such a valuable crop in Virginia, the Assembly of Jamestown Colony passed legislation in 1619 making it mandatory for every farmer to grow Indian hempseed.
- Hemp was hailed as a billion dollar crop before the government banned it
In an article written in 1938, “Popular Mechanics” declared hemp a new cash crop. It was touted as the standard fiber of the world that was easy to grow and poised to replace imported materials and manufactured products.
More amazing facts to come..........................
"Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see." - Thomas Jefferson
"I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St. foin seed, and that of the India Hemp. Make the most you can of both, by sowing them again in drills. . . Let the ground be well prepared, and the Seed (St. loin) be sown in April. The Hemp may be sown any where. "
George Washington to William Pearce, 24 February 1794
Some of our founding fathers supported the idea of using hemp in a multitude of ways, from cloths, to sails, to smokeable herbs, like tobacco.
Unfortunately the paper industry took over and the marijuana stamp act was created and before long, it was "stamped" out of existence.
Lets not forget the amazing petro chemical industry with their introduction of nylon, seems funny that all the scare mongering and propaganda in the 50's started right after the release of Nylon and synthetic based fibers.