Did you know there is a National Hemp Day? If you didn’t, don’t be too hard on yourself. CBD School officially declared Feb. 4th National Hemp Day just last year to celebrate hemps history and the 2018 legalizations of hemp growth, production and distribution in the U.S.
If you’re not familiar with hemp, it often times gets confused with marijuana plants because they’re in the same genus and species. The difference lies in the amount of THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis, the plant contains. Phys.org states, “Cannabis plants with 0.3 percent or less of THC are hemp. Cannabis plants with more than 0.3 percent THC are marijuana.”
Another notable difference is hemp’s extensive history. The hemp industry goes back more than 10,000 years, according to the Hemp Industries Association. Traces of hemp were found in an ancient village that is now Taiwan, it’s known to have been valued in ancient China and it has been used throughout history in a variety of ways. In 1616, the first English settlement in America cultivated hemp to make rope and fabric. In fact, Presidents Washington and Jefferson were both hemp growers.
CDB School states, “hemp is one of the most beneficially versatile plants that has ever existed.” Historically, its fibers were used to make paper and fabric for clothes and sails. Today, its many uses also include being used in food and beverages for its nutritional values and biodiesel and ethanol fuel, to name a few.
Hemp was not regulated until 1970 with the passage of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). Today, hemp is back in the spotlight. Much of the new found attention has to do with the discovery of CBD and its health benefits. Additionally, the 2014 Farm Bill opened the door for increased hemp production and led to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill that made hemp production legal in the U.S.
There’s no better reason to celebrate hemp than the growth the industry is having. Happy National Hemp Day!