For decades, hemp production has been banned in the United States due to its association with marijuana. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was the first federal policy to restrict hemp production, and the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 reinforced this ban. Recently, however, North Carolina passed a bill that would legalize industrial hemp production in the state. This shift in policy is part of a broader trend towards cannabis reform, but there are still many legal issues surrounding hemp-derived products.
Hemp and marijuana are both varieties of the cannabis plant, and they look and smell the same. However, they have different chemical properties, and hemp is used to make rope, textiles, paper, insulation, compost, animal bedding, and fiberboard. The perceived health benefits of CBD have also increased demand for hemp in the US and around the world. The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act was the first federal policy to restrict hemp production in the US.
This law made it difficult for farmers to produce hemp, and it was further reinforced by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Kentucky was one of the best places in the world to grow hemp before this ban, and farmers had access to hemp produced in the Philippines with government subsidies. The Farm Act of 2018 includes changes to existing farm law provisions that allow states and universities to research hemp. This legislation has drastically transformed hemp policy in the US, but there are still many legal issues surrounding hemp-derived products.
Conspiracy theorists believe that corporate interests financed disinformation campaigns to open a path for new technologies to replace hemp. In conclusion, hemp production has been banned in the US for decades due to its association with marijuana. However, recent policy changes have opened up opportunities for research and industrial production of hemp. Despite this progress, there are still many legal issues surrounding hemp-derived products.
