History Hemp in Kentucky

1 history

1.1 cultivation
1.2 decline , criminalization
1.3 partial relegalization

history


19th century kentucky hemp field



soldiers in kentucky warehouse guarding seed 1943 hemp crop


early cultivation

in 18th century, john filson wrote in kentucke , adventures of col. daniel boone (an appendix of 1784 work discovery, settlement , present state of kentucke) of quality of kentucky s land , climate hemp production. first hemp crop in kentucky raised near danville in 1775.

kentucky greatest producer of u.s. hemp in 19th , 20th century, thousands of acres of hemp in production. senator henry clay hemp pioneer , strongest advocate of kentucky hemp. grew on kentucky estate ashland , brought new seeds state asia. clay s oratory on senate floor in 1810 in favor of requiring navy use domestic hemp exclusively ship s rigging reprinted in newspapers , credited beginning elaboration of american system. production reached peak in 1917 @ 18,000 acres, grown in bluegrass region, waned due market forces after world war other sources of fiber introduced. federal program reintroduce hemp wartime needs in kentucky , other states during world war ii reached 52,000 acres in kentucky in 1943. wwii effort documented in usda film hemp victory .

decline , criminalization

production of hemp had seen decline after world war i. decline due market forces including rise of tobacco cash crop of choice in kentucky , foreign sources of hemp fiber , finished products. availability of cheap synthetic fiber after world war ii further discouraged farmers growing it.

federal policies, tightened controlled substances act of 1970, virtually banned production of industrial hemp during war on drugs. according industry group, 1970 act abolished taxation approach [of 1937 marijuana tax act] , made cannabis cultivation illegal . drug enforcement administration refused issue permits legal hemp cultivation , held that, since industrial hemp same species plant prohibited cannabis (despite being of lower thc yield), both prohibited under controlled substances act. in words of 2015 pbs newshour segment on hemp, federal government, hemp illegal marijuana , , according newsweek, cannabis sativa—whether grown ease chronic pain, stoned or make rope—is schedule controlled substance .

partial relegalization

by late 20th century, consumer demand hemp products resurgent american farmers left bystanders. imported agricultural products allowed other countries, including canada, growing hemp legally not possible in united states. in 1994, kentucky 1 of first states consider reintroducing hemp cultivation, commission convened governor brereton jones investigate legal pathways so. in 2013, kentucky passed state law, senate bill 50, allowing production agricultural research purposes. although industrial hemp farming act of 2013, have allowed hemp production, failed, agricultural hemp allowed federal law under agricultural act of 2014 (farm bill). provision allowing research added kentucky s senior u.s. senator, majority leader mitch mcconnell. production 33 acres in 2014, 922 acres in 2015, 2,350 in 2016, , agriculture experts expect increase c. 9,400 acres in 2017. of 2016 harvest season, 2 u.s. states other kentucky had on 100 acres (40 ha) in hemp production: colorado , tennessee, smaller projects under way in 6 other states including indiana, nebraska, new york, , virginia.

the industrial hemp research program being conducted under auspices of kentucky department of agriculture. research @ university of kentucky s spindletop research farm seeking improved agronomy , includes research on optimizing cannabinoid yield. first research crops @ spindletop , murray state university planted in may, 2014, seed obtained california and, after legal battle drug enforcement administration, imported italy. researchers engineering new mechanical harvesters can reach 10–12-foot (3.0–3.7 m) high flowers of tall-growing hemp.

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