" Hemp/industrial hemp" and "marijuana" are 2 distinct ranges of the very same plant types. "Hemp" is a fiber crop. "Marijuana" is a drug crop. These definitions have actually become puzzled in the last 60 years. Just recently, a movement has begun to distinguish the terms again. It is important to comprehend the history of usage of these terms in order to eliminate the confusion.
1600-1930s Hemp's Long History in North America
The word "hemp" has actually remained in the English language for over 800 years. The word "cannabis" is only 100 years of ages.
From the very first settling of North America till the 1930s, "hemp" was the most typical term for Cannabis sativa fiber crops. "Marijuana" was never ever utilized to describe hemp fiber crops, which were grown for canvas, rope, fuel oil, and paper. "Hemp" fiber crops were historically low THC and completely non-psychoactive.
1930s-1940s Marijuana tax Act confuses "Hemp" and "Marijuana".
In the 1930s, the psychedelic (high-THC) variety of cannabis sativa, imported from Mexico, ended up being common in the southern U.S. It was called "marijuana", a word popularized through the "Reefer Madness" project, to identify it from the "hemp" fiber crops (which nobody ever smoked).
In 1937, the passage of the Marijuana tax Act hopelessly puzzled the terms "hemp" and "cannabis". For the very first time, Congress specified these distinct varieties of Cannabis sativa as being the very same. What had been typically known as "hemp" was now "marijuana".
1950s "Hemp" Crops Become Extinct.
In 1957, the last "hemp" fiber crop was harvested in the U.S. Because low-THC Cannabis sativa fiber crops were now extinct, the word "hemp" dropped out of use and was forgotten.
1960s "Marijuana" Legalization Movement Begins.
In the 1960s, the psychedelic variety of cannabis sativa (" cannabis") ended up being popular among the counter-culture. The movement to legislate "cannabis" in the 1970s and 1960s did not utilize the term "hemp" to describe "cannabis".
1985 "Hemp"/ "Marijuana" Movement Begins.
In 1985, the word "hemp" re-surfaced in the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer. This book uncovered info that had been lost for almost 40 years about "hemp's" historical usages as a fiber crop. The book likewise touted "hemp" as an option to modern environmental problems.
Due to the fact that The Emperor was targeted at a "marijuana" movement and given that it was not widely understood that low-THC varieties of hemp existed in Europe and Asia, it was thought that "marijuana" must be legalized to allow commercial uses of "hemp". And since it was the ecologists and the counter-culture that started promoting hemp as an alternative fiber crop, they were not taken seriously.
1989 European Farmers Grow "Hemp".
In Europe, some nations (like France and Spain) had never ever stopped producing "hemp". In 1989, the European Economic Community established rules to govern "hemp" production that applied to all its member countries. The EEC defined registered seed varieties for low THC "hemp" and techniques for screening "hemp" for THC material.
1993-1994 England and Canada Grow "Hemp".
In 1993, England formally acknowledged the distinction in between "hemp" and "marijuana", to make its farmers competitive in the EEC. In 1994, Canada, seeing competition from Europe, permitted "hemp" production.
1994 Kentucky Appoints "Hemp" Task Force.
In November of 1994, the Governor of Kentucky, seeing competition from Canada and Europe, appointed a Task Force to study the business possibilities of "hemp" in his state.
1994-1995 "Hemp/Industrial Hemp" Movement Begins in U.S.
For the first time, farmers, producers, processors, and farming scientists in North America started to take a serious take a look at "hemp" as a farming crop and alternative fiber. The "hemp" ecologists within the "marijuana" motion see that registered seed varieties exist to distinguish "hemp" from "cannabis".
This varied coalition starts using the word "industrial hemp" (or simply "hemp") to refer specifically to low-THC non-psychoactive varieties of Cannabis sativa. The goal of the "commercial hemp" motion is to permit legitimate production of "hemp" fiber crops and to check out the ecological benefits of "hemp" as an alternative fiber, pulp, and oil source.
Jan. 1995 Colorado Senator Introduces "Hemp" Legislation.
In January 1995, Senator Lloyd Casey (D-Northglenn), made Colorado the very first state to try to specify "hemp/industrial hemp" as distinct form "cannabis" when he introduced the Hemp Production Act. This costs was killed in Committee due to objections from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Oct. 1995 North American Industrial Hemp Council Formed.
In October 1995, the guiding committee of the North American Industrial Hemp Council made "industrial hemp" a completely unique concern, separate from the legalization of "marijuana".
Jan. 1996 Colorado and Vermont Introduce "Hemp" Legislation.
Legislators in two states presented "industrial hemp" legislation, Sen. Lloyd Casey (D) from Colorado and Rep. Fred Maslack (R) from Vermont.
Jan. 1996 Support for "Hemp" Grows.
A strong union of diverse companies now supports "Industrial hemp", including:.
American Farm Bureau federation (4.6 million member).
Colorado Farm Bureau.
Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Colorado State Grange.
Kentucky Farm Bureau.
Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative.
Wisconsin Agribusiness Council.
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.
International Paper Company.
Bolton Emerson Americas.
Colorado Environmental Coalition.
Oregon Natural Resources Council.
HIA (Hemp Industries Association).
North American Industrial Hemp Council.
A lot of, if not all of these groups have particularly stated that they are opposed to the legalization of cannabis. They recognize the difference between "hemp/industrial hemp" and "marijuana" and that "hemp/industrial hemp" can be grown safely without affecting "cannabis" laws, production, or use.
Today: Making Progress ...
25 of 53 state hemp-related bills presented because 1995 have passed and overall, 14 states have effectively passed hemp-related legislation. In 2002, hemp bills have actually been introduced in 7 states: Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The CA, HI and WV costs have passed, the NM and VT costs have died in committee, and the AZ and WI expenses have been held until 2003.
" Hemp/industrial hemp" and "marijuana" are 2 unique varieties of the very same plant species. "Marijuana" was never ever used to describe hemp fiber crops, which were grown for canvas, rope, fuel oil, and paper. In 1937, the passage of the Marijuana tax Act hopelessly confused the terms "hemp" and "cannabis". What had been typically known as "hemp" was now "cannabis".
The EEC specified authorized seed ranges for low THC "hemp" and approaches for screening "hemp" for THC material.
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