Hemp History Week – July 17, 2026

History of Hemp History Week

Originating in Central Asia, records indicate hemp was first used as a food source. The Christian era saw this crop being cultivated in the Mediterranean countries of Europe and, from there, it gradually spread throughout this continent. The uses of hemp became more varied — the Chinese used it as paper, its seeds were used to make lamp oil and paint, and it was even used to make linen. By the 16th century, hemp found its way into North America. Many of America’s Founding Fathers even advocated for this crop’s benefits at this time. Around the 19th century, taxes were imposed on the cultivation of hemp, although this was briefly lifted during the Second World War as they needed this crop to produce various items. In fact, the U.S. government released a pro-hemp documentary “Hemp for Victory,” encouraging farmers to grow hemp to support the war. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also promoted hemp during this time and all these efforts led to around 400,000 ha of hemp being planted throughout the Midwest and Southeast of the U.S. After the war, multiple countries, including the U.S., banned cannabis without any distinction between hemp and marijuana, which greatly prevented research and production of this crop.

Cultivation for non-drug-related purposes was allowed a few years later in the U.S. However, the hemp industry began to show signs of a major decline by the 20th century as modern machines and artificially produced fibers were introduced. Under President Obama, hemp took on more meaning, as the government passed a bill distinguishing hemp from marijuana and legalizing the cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes.

The History of Hemp Week (aka Hemp History Week) began almost 11 years ago when the Hemp Industries Association and Vote Hemp decided to celebrate America’s rich history with the industrial uses of this crop and spread awareness about it.