Hemp In Early America

Hemp played a vital roll in early America, from providing paper, money, material and even food that were nutritious, all in crops that grew quickly. This was especially important for the New England villages where the growing season was short and the winters long.

These crops were at one point ordered to be grown due to their high yield and their fast maturity, there is evidence as early as 1585 in the American colonies. George Washington grew crops of hemp and Thomas Jefferson who were both American presidents and who both understood the many uses of this plant.

One of the other places that it was of great importance was for the many ships that traveled from port to port, the industrial hemp plant was used to manufacture rope and sail material for these ships.

There was a period of time from approximately 1631 until the 1800’s it was permitted to use hemp to pay taxes, first to the King of England and later for taxes in the colonies, villages and to the newly formed government in America.

Hemp was just as important in other countries, because of the many uses and also the fact that it could grow to maturity within 120 days. This made it the perfect crop in Europe, Asia, Canada and America in these early years with the many uses there were, including the seeds for food consumption. The facts were not known, the seeds were exceptional nutrition for them with the many vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids found in the seeds.