Hemp: Rediscovering Nature’s Versatile Gift - Part IV - Why We Abandoned It
Why We Abandoned Hemp: A Tale of Regulations Corporate Interests, and Negative PR...
In a three-part series, I demonstrated hemp's health benefits, how to grow it, and its applications in industry. Take a look at all three and share.
I hope that my pieces will result in a renewed understanding of this incredible natural gift, reintroducing its numerous benefits into everyday life.
After learning that hemp can be used as medicine, food, building material, textiles, bioplastic, and even a bioremediation tool, you may be wondering why we aren't using it, given that it was once a well-established crop. Well, the answer may not surprise you.
Spoiler alert: It's a combination of corporate greed, political agendas, and some confusion along the way.
The United States and the War on Drugs: How Hemp was Wrongfully Vilified
The decline of hemp began in the 1930s, with the onset of the "War on Drugs." Under the leadership of Harry Anslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the government labeled anything associated with marijuana equally dangerous and declared it illegal. Despite its safety and numerous benefits, hemp was unfairly banned.
It wasn't only the connection with marijuana. There were (of course) corporate interests in banning hemp.
Corporate giants like William Randolph Hearst, who owned vast wood pulp interests for paper production, and Andrew Mellon, a big shot in the oil and chemical industries, didn’t want hemp competing with their profits. Hemp could have been used for paper instead of wood, and its byproducts could’ve challenged the petrochemical market. So, with a little help from a few well-timed smear campaigns, they convinced the public that hemp was dangerous, and the government passed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, effectively making hemp illegal.
Canada: The Quiet Neighbor Who Followed the America
Up north, Canada was not far behind. While hemp was not as stigmatized as it was in the United States, economic forces did their part. During the twentieth century, the emergence of synthetic fibers, combined with cheaper oil-based products, made hemp less appealing. Instead of focusing on hemp's potential, the Canadian government promoted agriculture practices that aligned with the global industrial push for monocrops such as wheat and corn. Hemp stood no chance against the tide of low-cost, mass-produced goods.
In the 1950s, Canada banned hemp farming, following the lead of the United States. It wasn't until the 1990s that Canada shifted course, gradually opening up to hemp as an environmentally friendly crop. However, the damage had already been done, and the hemp industry faced a difficult re-entry into the market.
Mexico: The War on Drugs and American Pressure
Hemp farming was widespread in Mexico prior to the War on Drugs. However, as the United States began actively criminalizing marijuana in the twentieth century, Mexico felt enormous pressure to follow suit. The Mexican government, influenced by US policy and the international stigma surrounding marijuana, began to restrict the hemp production, linking it to larger marijuana criminalization efforts. This resulted in a drop in hemp cultivation, as commercial interests shifted to crops that were more acceptable in the global market.
South America: American Influence and Global Criminalization
South American countries, where hemp was traditionally valued, faced similar issues. Pressure from the United States to implement anti-drug legislation during the twentieth century resulted in the prohibition of hemp and marijuana, further stigmatizing the crop. As international drug policies became increasingly restrictive, South American governments, often wanting to retain good relations with the United States, abandoned hemp production in favor of crops such as coffee, bananas, and soybeans, which could more readily establish a place in the global market. This transformation, combined with US influence, drove hemp out of agricultural systems throughout South America.
Western Europe: The Rise of Synthetics and the Fall of Hemp
Europe, too, has a long history with hemp, but the industrial revolution was a double-edged sword. While hemp had been used for everything, the rise of synthetic materials like nylon in the 20th century pushed it aside. By the mid-1900s, European countries turned their attention to cheaper, mass-produced fibers, and the hemp industry dwindled.
By the mid-1900s, Western European countries had shifted their focus to cheaper, mass-produced fibers, and the hemp business had declined. France, which was once a major hemp producer, saw its use collapse as synthetic textiles and plastics gained traction. The United Kingdom similarly abandoned hemp when the textile industry turned to cotton and synthetic materials. However it wasn't all bad news: hemp growing in Europe began to recover in the 1990s, as countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Germany recognized its potential for environmentally friendly agriculture, biofuels, and textiles.
Hemp in Russia: Industrialization and Efficiency
Hemp was long considered a vital crop in Russia, used to make textiles, rope, and paper. However, as industrialization spread throughout the Soviet Union, the Kremlin chose larger, more regulated crops such as wheat and cotton. Hemp, with its decentralized and various applications, was perceived as less efficient and more difficult to regulate. Despite its historical significance, hemp cultivation declined as the Soviet administration pushed for more intensive farming practices, eventually forcing it to nearly disappear from the Russian agricultural landscape.
Eastern Europe: Following the Big Brothers in both the West and the East
Hemp production in Eastern Europe, where it had thrived for generations, also declined. The emphasis on industrial agriculture, combined with crop prioritizing, resulted in hemp being considered as an outdated, inefficient plant. While hemp was still used in some regions, hemp cultivation was gradually phased away.
Asia: Tradition Meets Industrialization
In Asia, the situation was little more complex.
China, once a significant hemp producer, saw the plant's use decline as industrialization and modernization took over. By the mid-twentieth century, hemp had been substantially displaced by synthetic materials, with the emphasis shifting to mass production of cotton and oil seeds.
In India, hemp had been part of the culture for centuries, used in everything from textiles to medicine. However, as the country modernized in the 20th century, and with British colonial influence pushing cash crops like cotton, hemp’s importance diminished. Industrialization, like in China, increased competition for hemp's numerous applications.
While hemp is still farmed in some regions of Asia today, it is frequently overshadowed by the drive for more profitable crops.
Australia: Too Busy With Wool to Care About Hemp
Australia, known for its wool and vast agricultural landscape, didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for hemp. While hemp was used by Indigenous people for thousands of years, European settlers weren’t quick to adopt it. By the 20th century, Australia, like the rest of the world, turned its attention to synthetic fibers and mass production. Hemp didn’t fit into the agricultural scene, and legal restrictions in the 20th century further kept it out of the market. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that Australia began to recognize hemp's potential, but it was a slow start.
Hemp in the Middle East: Colonial Stigma and Western Influence
In the Middle East, marijuana and hemp had deep cultural and medicinal significance, yet their use faced intense stigma during the colonial era. The British and French, who controlled large parts of the region, introduced laws that discouraged the cultivation and use of marijana and hemp. These policies were part of a broader campaign to impose Western values on the local populations, often labeling traditional practices as backward or primitive. This colonial influence contributed to the decline of hemp farming in the region, despite its long-standing historical importance.
Hemp in Africa: Colonialism and Economic Restructuring
In Africa, the legacy of colonialism had a similar effect on hemp's cultivation. Under European colonial rule, hemp was often seen as a "primitive" crop, and European powers sought to replace it with cash crops like cotton, which were more lucrative and easier to control. Additionally, the criminalization of marijana by colonial authorities paved the way for hemp’s decline, as local economies were reorganized around crops that suited European interests, diminishing hemp's agricultural role on the continent.
Final Thoughts
Hemp’s downfall was driven by years of intense lobbying and corporate influence, as industries saw its potential as a direct threat to their profits. Despite its numerous eco-friendly and cost-effective benefits, hemp was pushed aside in favor of more profitable alternatives. The ‘War on Drugs’ also contributed to its unfair association with marijuana, further damaging its reputation.
Following decades of lobbying and changing public perceptions, hemp is slowly making a comeback. However the revival serves as a reminder of the harmful power of corporate interests and poor public relations. To have a truly sustainable and affordable future, we must bring hemp back into society and use its potential without letting greed hold us back.
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