Volume 15 , Issue 13

Hemp History In the Virginia Colonies

Hemp and humanity have been linked for over 10,000 years. Did you realize that Hemp was our first agricultural crop, and remained the planet's largest crop and most important industry until late last century? Did you also know that Hemp crops were used as legal tender, to pay taxes in the 17th & early 18th centuries?

Since the 1950s it has been lumped into the same category of marijuana, and this extremely versatile crop has been doomed in the USA. The Ditch-weed is Hemp found growing in the wild, usually near places where it was once cultivated. It has a low THC level.

Hemp and Marijuana both come from the same plant (Cannabis Sativa L). Hemp grows its stalks upward to about 10 to 15 feet high and grows close together (about 1-inch). While marijuana grows outward (needing 16-inches between plants) producing the buds and flowers that contain the high THC. Marijuana is quite delicate plant needing its sunshine, while Hemp is much strong, sturdy, woody, taller plant.

Did you realize that the unfertilized female species (marijuana variety) of Cannabis Saliva L contains the highest amount of THC, and the male species is removed to prevent pollination? I guess the pollination process weakens, lowers the THC level.

The term Hemp commonly refers to the industrial, commercial use of the cannabis stalk and seed for textiles, foods, papers, body care products, detergents, plastics and building materials.

The term Marijuana refers to the medicinal, recreational or spiritual use involving the smoking of cannabis flowers. It seems the Marijuana variety has given a bad wrap to the Hemp variety, doesn't it?

In other words, Industrial Hemp is technically from the same species of plant that psychoactive marijuana comes from. The Industrial Hemp, because of its high CBD (Cannabidiol) is an "anti-psychoactive." Hemp and Marijuana are from a different variety, or subspecies that contains many more important differences.

Industrial Hemp has a low THC level (0.3%-1.5%) compared to marijuana (5%-10%). Industrial Hemp was not cultivated to produce buds and flowers of the female cannabis plant, and therefore lacked the primary component that forms the marijuana high. Industrial Hemp had higher concentrations of a chemical called Cannabidiol (CBD), which has a negative effect on THC and lessens its psychoactive effects. The Industrial Hemp contains only about 0.3%-1.5% of THC (Tetrahydorcannabinoids), while marijuana contains about 5%-10% or more THC.

Hemp fibre is the longest, strongest and most durable of all natural fibres. Hemp cultivation requires no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. Grown in rotation with other crops such as corn and legumes, Hemp farming was completely sustainable. Did you know that Hemp produces four times as much fibre per acre as pine trees. Hemp tree-free paper can be recycled up to seven times, compared with three times for pine-pulp based papers. They say that Hemp actually conditions soil where it grows. The seed and seed-oil are high in protein, essential fatty and amino acids, and vitamins. They also say that Hemp would be an ideal source of biomass for fuel, and the Hemp Ethanol burns very cleanly.

Timeline History of Hemp

The following is a timeline for the history of Hemp, starting in 8000 B.C., when Hemp was woven into fabric and grew in popularity over time on a global scale to eventually provide over 80-percent of all textiles and fabrics, including over 50-percent of the fabric we call linen. In the early part of the 1900's postcards were made of Industrial Hemp.

We shall start our timeline with 1619, when America's first Hemp law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia, ordering all farmers to grow Hemp.

In 1631 a "Must grow" Hemp laws were enacted throughout Massachusetts. In 1631 to early 1800's Hemp was "legal tender," and taxes were paid with Hemp throughout most of the Americas. It was in 1632 to mid-1700's that the "Must grow" Hemp laws were enacted in Connecticut and the Chesapeake Colonies.

By the 1750's, we find Benjamin Franklin starting one of America's first Hemp-rag paper mills. In 1763-1767, Farmers who did not grow Hemp could be arrested and jailed in Virginia.

In 1776, the patriotic populace organized spinning bees to turn Hemp fiber into clothing for General Washington's Continental Army. It was in 1777, The Stars and Stripes was endorsed as the Capitol Flag of the USA, while being made of Hemp fabric (Linen). It was in the 1790's, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew Hemp on their plantations.

And that brings us to the 1800's, when Australians survived two prolonged famines by using Hemp seed for protein and their leaves for roughage. Hemp seed oil was the most popular lighting oil in the world, until it got knocked out by "whale's oil." Click here for MORE Hemp Information, Hemp History.

Myth & Reality of Hemp

I chose only a couple of Hemp & Marijuana Myths & Realities put out by David P. West, PH.D, for the North American Industrial Hemp Council.

Myth: Hemp fields would be used to hide marijuana plants.

Reality: Hemp is grown quite differently from marijuana. Moreover, it is harvested at a different time than marijuana. Finally, cross-pollination between Hemp plants and marijuana plants would significantly reduce the potency of the marijuana plant.

Myth: Hemp oil is a source of THC.

Reality: Hemp oil is an increasingly popular product, used for an expanding variety of purposes. The washed Hemp seed contains no THC at all. The tiny amounts of THC contained in industrial Hemp are in the glands of the plant itself. Sometimes, in the manufacturing process, some THC- and CBD-containing resin sticks to the seed, resulting in traces of THC in the oil that is produced. The concentration of these cannabinoids in the oil is infinitesimal. No one can get high from using Hemp oil.

Other Resource Notes:
Differences of Hemp VS. Marijuana.
Differences of Hemp & Marijuana.
Other writings on Hemp & agriculture.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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