Cannabis and hemp were integral to the development of the U.S. economy from its colonial era through the early 20th century. Hemp, in particular, was one of the most versatile and widely cultivated crops, used for a variety of industrial, agricultural, and medicinal purposes. Before it was outlawed, cannabis and hemp played significant roles in multiple sectors of the economy, from textiles to medicine.
Hemp in Early American History
- Colonial Era (1600s–1700s):
- Key Crop for the Colonies: Hemp was considered so important that in the early American colonies, farmers were required by law to grow it. Hemp was used to produce essential goods such as rope, sails, and textiles, particularly for the shipping and naval industries.
- Strategic Importance: The strength and durability of hemp fibers made it crucial for building ships, rigging, and sails during a time when the maritime industry was vital for trade and exploration. The British Empire relied on American hemp to support its naval power.
- Legal Mandates: Several colonies, including Virginia and Massachusetts, passed laws mandating hemp cultivation because of its value. By the 1700s, hemp had become a major export commodity.
- 19th Century (1800s):
- Agriculture: Hemp farming continued to be a major part of the agricultural economy in the U.S., especially in states like Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. It was used to make clothing, paper, canvas, and cordage, all critical for the expanding agricultural and industrial needs of the young nation.
- Cannabis as Medicine: Cannabis, as a medicinal plant, was included in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from the mid-19th century onward. It was prescribed for various ailments, including pain relief, inflammation, and even anxiety. Pharmaceutical companies of the time sold cannabis tinctures and extracts as common over-the-counter remedies.
- Hemp for Paper: Hemp was also a key material in paper production. The high cellulose content of hemp made it an ideal raw material for making paper, which was used for printing books, newspapers, and other documents.
- Cannabis and Hemp in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century:
- Industrial Uses: By the early 1900s, hemp was still widely used in industrial applications, including the production of textiles, rope, and canvas. At the same time, cannabis continued to be prescribed for medicinal purposes, particularly for pain and sleep disorders.
The cultivation of hemp began to decline in the late 1800s and early 1900s, partially due to the rise of new materials and the modernization of industries, which relied on fossil fuels and synthetic alternatives, the industry was finally killed by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, where growing hemp goes from being a required key crop to a criminal act.
In 1937, the U.S. passed the Marijuana Tax Act, effectively criminalizing the cultivation and use of cannabis and hemp by imposing heavy taxes and regulations. The legislation was largely influenced by a combination of political, economic, and social factors, including anti-Mexican and anti-Black sentiment tied to cannabis use and growing opposition from industries that saw hemp as a competitor.
- Corporate Interests: Key industrialists, such as William Randolph Hearst (newspaper magnate) and the DuPont family (chemical and synthetic materials manufacturers), played a role in the push to ban hemp. Hearst, who had large investments in the timber industry, saw hemp as a threat to his paper production business, while DuPont was heavily invested in developing synthetic fibers like nylon, which could replace hemp in the textile industry.
- Reefer Madness Campaign: Around the same time, a propaganda campaign against marijuana use, symbolized by the 1936 film Reefer Madness, fueled public hysteria about cannabis, further demonizing the plant and paving the way for its prohibition.
Hemp Makes a Temporary Comeback: World War II and the Hemp for Victory Campaign:
Temporary Revival: During World War II, the U.S. government launched the “Hemp for Victory” campaign to encourage farmers to grow hemp for military supplies, such as parachutes, ropes, and sails, as traditional sources of hemp from the Philippines and Southeast Asia were cut off by the war. Hemp was briefly re-integrated into the economy, but after the war ended, it was once again outlawed.
Industries That Replaced Hemp and Cannabis
As cannabis and hemp were criminalized, several new industries emerged or expanded to take the place of hemp-based products, leading to a dramatic shift in the U.S. economy and manufacturing:
- Petroleum-Based Industries:
- Synthetic Fibers: The DuPont company, which had developed nylon in 1935, heavily promoted synthetic fibers as a replacement for hemp in textiles. Nylon and other synthetic fibers, like polyester, became widely used in clothing, carpets, and other fabrics, effectively pushing hemp out of the textile industry.
- Plastics: With hemp outlawed, plastics derived from petroleum took over many of hemp’s traditional uses. Plastic became the go-to material for packaging, containers, and construction, replacing hemp-based bioplastics, which had been gaining traction in the early 20th century.
- Timber and Paper Industries:
- Wood-Based Paper: William Randolph Hearst, who controlled vast timber resources, replaced hemp paper with wood pulp as the dominant material for newspaper printing, books, and other paper products. The timber industry, bolstered by Hearst’s influence and advances in wood-pulping technology, cemented its place as the primary source of paper.
- Deforestation: As a result, large-scale deforestation became more common, with significant environmental consequences, while hemp—a crop that could be grown annually and required less water and chemicals—was sidelined.
- Pharmaceuticals:
- Synthetic Drugs: The pharmaceutical industry began to shift away from natural remedies like cannabis in favor of synthetic drugs. Aspirin, developed in the late 1800s, and later opioids and barbiturates, replaced cannabis as the primary treatment for pain relief, inflammation, and sleep disorders.
- Opioid Epidemic: Over time, synthetic drugs like opioids would become a major public health crisis in the U.S., exacerbated by the lack of access to cannabis-based medicine due to prohibition.
- Dominance in Textiles: Cotton, which was already a major crop in the U.S., became the dominant fiber in the textile industry. While cotton requires more water and pesticides to grow than hemp, it benefited from the criminalization of hemp and the agricultural infrastructure already in place to support cotton production.
- Environmental Costs: The rise of cotton and synthetic fibers had significant environmental impacts, including higher pesticide use and soil depletion, which might have been mitigated if hemp remained a primary textile crop.
- Building Materials: Concrete and Steel: As hemp-based building materials like hempcrete were phased out, industries producing cement, concrete, and steel gained prominence. While these materials are essential for modern infrastructure, they are more energy-intensive and have a greater environmental impact than hemp-based alternatives.
Before cannabis and hemp were outlawed, they were vital components of the U.S. economy, with applications spanning agriculture, textiles, medicine, paper, and construction. However, the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act and subsequent prohibition efforts were driven largely by political, economic, and corporate interests. The rise of synthetic materials, petroleum-based products, and the timber industry effectively replaced hemp, leading to the dominance of less sustainable alternatives. Today, with growing interest in sustainability and eco-friendly materials, hemp is seeing a resurgence as a potential solution to some of the environmental and economic challenges created by the industries that replaced it.
The historical role of hemp in America’s economy, and its eventual replacement, highlights both the versatility of this crop and the potential for its reintegration into modern industries, from construction and textiles to medicine and bioplastics. As laws around cannabis and hemp continue to evolve, there is hope that hemp can reclaim its place as a sustainable alternative to many of the industries that supplanted it.