Is Hemp Still Banned in the US?

Hemp was a legal crop in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries but was banned in 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. Recently, North Carolina passed a bill that would legalize industrial hemp production in the state. Learn more about hemp

Is Hemp Still Banned in the US?

Hemp was a legal crop in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, but it was banned in 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. Recently, the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill that would legalize industrial hemp production in the state. However, many farmers are hesitant to grow hemp due to past experiences. In Kentucky, businessmen who manufacture, market, or distribute THC delta-8 products could be prosecuted.

The interior space authorized for hemp production has grown to more than 168 million square feet this year. California lawmakers are considering a bill that would tighten the definition of “industrial hemp” by requiring that hemp extracts on store shelves have a THC concentration of no higher than 0.3%. Hemp can be converted into a wide variety of products, from rope to floorboards, granola and dog treats. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 placed hemp in the same category as marijuana, making it difficult to grow.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will approve plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for domestic hemp production and will establish a federal plan for producers in the states or territories of the Indian tribes who choose not to administer a specific state or tribal plan. Hemp is also used for practical uses, from clothing to concrete, where marijuana has no practical uses. Despite its variety of uses for textiles, food, cosmetics and other purposes, hemp's resemblance to cannabis has kept it banned in the United States for decades.