Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp on their farms.
The U.S. Constitution was written on hemp paper and first U.S. flag sewn by Betsie Ross was made of hemp fabric.
The first hemp crop in Kentucky was grown in 1775 near Clark's Run Creek in Danville, KY.
Kentucky was the nation's leading hemp-producing state throughout the mid-19th century.
Kentucky was the nation's leading hemp-producing state throughout the mid-19th century with peak production in 1850 at 40,000 tons worth approximately $5,000,000.
Hemp was completely banned in the United States by the Controlled Substances Act in 1937.
In WWI and WWII the hemp industry increased in production to support the war effort.
Kentucky's last hemp fiber processor Kentucky River Mill in Frankfort closed in 1952.
Contained in the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill was a provision that hemp could be grown for research and development.
Characteristics of Hemp Fibers
Hemp is naturally moth resistant.
Hemp clothing holds up well to washing and does not need dry cleaning.
Hemp clothing is resistant to mold and mildew.
Hemp clothing gets softer the more it is washed and worn.
Hemp can also be combined with other fibers, cotton and silk for instance to create different types of fabrics. Cotton and even silk fibers are successfully blended with hemp fibers to create a variety of fabrics.
References:
Johnson, Rene. (February, 2014) Hemp As An Agricultural Commodity. Congressional Research Service.
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