Hemp and Marijuana – GETTING RID OF THE CONFUSION
“Hemp/industrial hemp” and “cannabis” are two unique ranges of the exact same plant species. “Hemp” is a fiber crop. “Marijuana” is a drug crop.
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 “marijuana” is just 100 years of ages.
From the first settling of North America until the 1930s, “hemp” was the most common term for Cannabis sativa fiber crops. “Marijuana” was never utilized to explain 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 puzzles “Hemp” and “Marijuana”.
In the 1930s, the psychedelic (high-THC) variety of marijuana sativa, imported from Mexico, ended up being typical in the southern U.S. It was called “cannabis”, a word promoted through the “Reefer Madness” campaign, to distinguish it from the “hemp” fiber crops (which no one ever smoked).
In 1937, the passage of the Marijuana tax Act hopelessly puzzled the terms “hemp” and “marijuana”. For the first time, Congress specified these distinct varieties of Cannabis sativa as being the same. What had actually been commonly called “hemp” was now “cannabis”.
1950s “Hemp” Crops Become Extinct.
In 1957, the last “hemp” fiber crop was gathered in the U.S. Because low-THC Cannabis sativa fiber crops were now extinct, the word “hemp” left of usage and was forgotten.
1960s “Marijuana” Legalization Movement Begins.
In the 1960s, the psychedelic range of marijuana sativa (” cannabis”) ended up being popular amongst the counter-culture. The movement to legislate “marijuana” in the 1960s and 1970s did not use 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 exposed info that had actually been lost for almost 40 years about “hemp’s” historic uses as a fiber crop. The book likewise touted “hemp” as a solution to modern-day environmental problems.
Due to the fact that The Emperor was targeted at a “marijuana” movement and given that it was not widely known that low-THC varieties of hemp existed in Europe and Asia, it was thought that “cannabis” needs to be legislated to permit commercial usages 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 actually never stopped producing “hemp”. In 1989, the European Economic Community developed guidelines to govern “hemp” production that applied to all its member nations. The EEC defined registered seed ranges for low THC “hemp” and methods for testing “hemp” for THC content.
1993-1994 England and Canada Grow “Hemp”.
In 1993, England formally acknowledged the distinction between “hemp” and “marijuana”, to make its farmers competitive in the EEC. In 1994, Canada, seeing competitors 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 commercial 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 major take a look at “hemp” as a farming crop and alternative fiber. Too, the “hemp” ecologists within the “cannabis” motion see that registered seed varieties exist to distinguish “hemp” from “cannabis”.
This diverse coalition begins using the word “commercial hemp” (or simply “hemp”) to refer specifically to low-THC non-psychoactive ranges of Cannabis sativa. The objective of the “industrial hemp” motion is to enable genuine production of “hemp” fiber crops and to check out the environmental advantages 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 attempt to define “hemp/industrial hemp” as distinct kind “marijuana” when he introduced the Hemp Production Act. This expense was eliminated in Committee due to objections from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Oct. 1995 North American Industrial Hemp Council Formed.
In October 1995, the steering committee of the North American Industrial Hemp Council made “industrial hemp” a totally unique problem, separate from the legalization of “cannabis”.
Jan. 1996 Colorado and Vermont Introduce “Hemp” Legislation.
Lawmakers in two states introduced “commercial hemp” legislation, Sen. Lloyd Casey (D) from Colorado and Rep. Fred Maslack (R) from Vermont.
Jan. 1996 Support for “Hemp” Grows.
A strong coalition of varied organizations now supports “Industrial hemp”, consisting of:.
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.
The majority of, if not all of these groups have specifically stated that they are opposed to the legalization of marijuana. They realize the distinction in between “hemp/industrial hemp” and “marijuana” which “hemp/industrial hemp” can be grown safely without impacting “cannabis” laws, production, or use.
Today: Making Progress …
25 of 53 state hemp-related bills presented because 1995 have actually passed and in general, 14 states have actually successfully passed hemp-related legislation. In 2002, hemp expenses have been introduced in 7 states: Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The CA, HELLO and WV expenses have actually passed, the NM and VT expenses have actually passed away in committee, and the AZ and WI costs have been held up until 2003.
” Hemp/industrial hemp” and “cannabis” are 2 distinct varieties of the very same plant species. “Marijuana” was never ever used to explain 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 commonly known as “hemp” was now “cannabis”.
The EEC specified authorized seed varieties for low THC “hemp” and approaches for screening “hemp” for THC material.