Hemp's Origins, Journey, and Where It Is Today

Ancient Origins

Hemp’s origin’s date back to 2700 BC, discovered in modern day China. Shen-Nung, one of the early founders of hemp, is regarded as an ancient medical authority, his medical documentation known as the Pen Ts'ao outlines hemp and its uses.The discovery of hemp continued across India and was utilized for the next thousand years by ancient civilizations. Ancient religions such as Hinduism even considered the plant to be sacred due to its agriculture and medicinal usages. Discovery of the plant continued across Ancient Persia, and even Europe found it largely useful for the production of products like rope, fiber, clothing, and paper. When looking back at ancient cultures, the agricultural discovery of hemp became vastly important and useful for the daily essentials of life in that time.

The Journey of Hemp

Hemp continued to prove its usefulness even for our United States founding fathers. The production of hemp was widely encouraged, and fines were even dealt to farmers who were not raising the crop. Hemp's usefulness continued to be recognized in early colonial times, producing products like sails, rope, and clothing. Paper production was one of hemp's most important uses in that time. Some sources even claim the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. In later days, the USDA shared published findings of hemp producing 4x the amount of paper per acre in comparison to trees.

Hemp’s usefulness was undeniable, but as it grew in popularity, so did the amount of research done. As more knowledge began getting discovered, people started to see the impact hemp had on business and the economy. Scientists like Dr. Roger Adams and his team first isolated cannabidiol. He eventually discovered CBD’s psychoactive cousin, THC, however, this discovery is more often credited to Raphael Mechoulam in 1964. Hemp smear campaigns began in 1936 with Reefer Madness and work done by Randolf Hearst, and the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was initiated on hemp sales. The production of hemp fought back in 1942, but in 1957, the last commercial hemp field was planted in Wisconsin (the same home as Elevated Hemp Solutions). In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act made hemp illegal, categorizing it as a schedule 1 drug.

Where Hemp is Today

One event that largely contributed to the comeback of hemp in the United States was the physiological discovery of the endocannabinoid system and its receptors in 1988. This system provides the support needed to prove hemp has positive medicinal uses. In 2004, hemp food products and body care products fell under legal protection, and in 2007, two farmers from North Dakota were given licenses for hemp planting. Fast forward to 2018 where President Donald Trump signed the Farm Bill which removed hemp from being a schedule 1 drug according to The Controlled Substance Act.

The Farm Bill signing opened the door for a booming hemp industry, and that is exactly what's happened over the last few years since its signing. New hemp products like topicals, oils, and edibles have entered the market to bring better health and satisfaction for hemp users. Hemp is back in its right legal standing, and research has proven the benefits that come with it. Elevated Hemp Solutions is here to bring ethics and stewardship to this rapidly growing industry, glad to be apart of the future of wellness in the United States.