Prehistory:
- Hemp was one of the earliest plants to be cultivated for use by humans, with evidence of its cultivation dating back to 8,000 BCE in Taiwan. Cannabis was not yet separated into Hemp and Marijuana and was used for medicine, art, food, and fiber.
Ancient Times:
- Hemp was widely used by ancient civilizations, including the Chinese (at least from the 3rd millennium BCE), Egyptians, and Greeks.
Medieval and Early Modern Times:
- Hemp cultivation was widely practiced in much of Europe in the Middle Ages, and the plant was widely used for producing rope, fabric, and paper.
17th Century:
- The Dutch East India Company began to grow hemp in Java, and the plant was widely used in the American colonies for clothing and paper.
18th Century:
- Hemp cultivation was commonplace in the United States, and many of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, grew hemp on their farms.
19th Century:
- Hemp production continued to be popular in the United States, with many states even offering bounties for hemp production. Marijuana and Hemp are individually classified and distinguished.
20th Century:
- The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively banned the cultivation of hemp in the United States, although hemp was grown for wartime use during World War II.
21st Century:
- In 2018, the United States passed the Farm Bill, which allowed states to legally cultivate hemp for industrial and research purposes. Hemp continues to bee grown to produce food, paper, cloth, oil, medicines and building material.
