Hemp farming in the USA has a long and complicated history. Hemp is a versatile plant that can be used for a variety of purposes, including textiles, paper, building materials, and even food. However, it has been illegal to grow hemp in the US for many years due to its association with marijuana, which is also a variety of the cannabis plant. Some hemp is farmed for industrial use and other hemp is farmed for use in natural products such as supplements, drinks, vape, edibles, topicals and other various delivery systems.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to legalize hemp farming in the US. One major milestone was the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, which included a provision allowing for the cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes. This opened up the door for some limited hemp farming in certain states.
However, it wasn't until the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill that hemp farming was fully legalized in the US. The bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and classified it as an agricultural commodity. This means that farmers can now legally grow hemp for commercial purposes, such as producing CBD oil or other hemp-derived products. The industry of CBD and hemp derived ingredients really took off in a major way following President Trump's signing of the 2018 farm bill.
The 2018 Farm Bill also established a regulatory framework for hemp farming, which includes requirements for testing THC levels (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana) and obtaining licenses from state agriculture departments. The bill also allows for interstate commerce of hemp and hemp-derived products. The 2018 farm bill allows for hemp and hemp derived products to have less then 0.3% THC Delta 9. Products that are made with a hemp supply chain and have belowe 0.3% THC D9 be weight are legal to be sold and transported across the USA.
Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, there has been a surge in interest in hemp farming across the US. Many farmers are looking to diversify their crops and take advantage of the growing demand for hemp-based products. However, there are still many challenges facing the industry, including a lack of infrastructure and processing facilities. Farmers have had their ups and downs with hemp as a crop. The volatility of the hemp price has been a major threat to the hemp industry. May farmers who have experience with hemp have stayed away from the crop because of the fast moving changes in quality from bulk hemp biomass buyers and the wild price swings for hemp ingredients like CBD Isolate.
Overall, the recent history of hemp farming in the US has been marked by significant progress towards legalization and regulation. While there are still many hurdles to overcome, it is clear that there is a bright future ahead for this versatile and valuable crop. The brightest future comes from advancements in genetics and consumer demand. The consumer demand is driven by the innovations in how customers consume hemp ingredients. Hopefully legislation does not cripple the hemp industry again and get back the freedom of the plant another 100 years.
