From currency to taboo – and back again: the history of hemp
From currency and cultural asset to taboo and now back to a raw material with future potential. Hemp has had an eventful history in the USA, which shows why prejudices still hold us back – and why the plant belongs in our future again.
Looking back at the history of hemp in the USA, it was the first European settlers who brought the plant to North America. In the 17th century, its cultivation was not only permitted, but in some cases even compulsory. In Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut, farmers had to cultivate hemp – it was simply indispensable for the development of the young colonies.
Max Wölk
The strong fibres were used to make sails, ropes and clothing. Hemp contributed to the seaworthiness of the ships that transported goods and people across the Atlantic. Its importance was so great that in some regions, taxes could be paid in the form of hemp – an indication of how deeply the plant was integrated into everyday life and the economy.
For centuries, hemp remained an integral part of agriculture. Even the American Founding Fathers, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, are said to have cultivated hemp and documented the uses of this versatile plant.
Whether for paper, clothing, rope or oil, hemp was an all-rounder that played a central role in everyday life as well as in the emerging economy. At the beginning of the 20th century, hemp was even featured on banknotes – a symbol of its value and cultural significance.
Max WölkBut with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, the picture changed abruptly. Under the pretext of curbing drug abuse, industrial hemp was also brought into disrepute. A centuries-old cultivated plant disappeared from the fields virtually overnight.
The reasons for this were complex: economic interests of the paper and plastics industries played a role, as did political campaigns that fuelled fear and prejudice. Hemp, previously considered a valuable raw material, was suddenly portrayed as a threat. With it, an important piece of agricultural and cultural tradition was lost.
Almost a century later, we are now seeing a counter-movement. More and more countries and industries are rediscovering the versatility of the plant – and remembering what had long been forgotten.
For example, hemp is regaining importance in paper production, the textile industry and construction. One hectare of hemp yields as much fibre as four hectares of forest and grows back in just a few months. In times when sustainability and resource conservation are crucial, it is clear how obvious this alternative actually is.
Luisa P.
Hemp is also gaining importance in the construction industry. Hemp concrete - Hemprete - binds CO₂, is fire-resistant and ensures a healthy indoor climate. These are properties that make it a sustainable building material that is not only ecologically convincing but also offers health benefits. Today, we also find hemp in bioplastics and textile fibres, where it replaces petroleum products or cotton with a significantly smaller ecological footprint.
These developments demonstrate that hemp is not being newly invented, but rather returning to its old role as a versatile, sustainable crop that has accompanied us for centuries.
Despite this positive momentum, however, hemp remains subject to prejudice to this day. Many people still automatically associate the plant with intoxicants and overlook the difference between THC-rich varieties and industrial hemp. These misconceptions often slow down political decisions and prevent the plant's full potential from being exploited.
Luisa P.
The history of hemp in the USA impressively demonstrates how closely culture, economy and politics are intertwined. From currency to prohibition to modern rediscovery, a wide arc spans the history of hemp, making it clear that hemp was never just a plant. It has always been a part of social developments. Today, we are at a point where we can rewrite this history – by no longer seeing hemp as a danger, but as an opportunity.