Hemp History
AMERICAN HISTORICAL NOTES
In 1619, America’s first cannabis law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia, “ordering” all farmers to “make tryal of” (grow) Indian hempseed. More mandatory (must-grow) hemp cultivation laws were enacted in Massachusetts in 1631, in Connecticut in 1632, and in the Chesapeake Colonies into the mid-1700s.
Even in England, the much-sought-after prize of full British citizenship was bestowed by a decree of the crown on foreigners who would grow cannabis, and fines were often levied against those who refused.
Benjamin Franklin started one of America’s first paper mills with cannabis. This allowed America to have a free colonial press without having to beg or justify paper and books from England.
Even in England, the much-sought-after prize of full British citizenship was bestowed by a decree of the crown on foreigners who would grow cannabis, and fines were often levied against those who refused.
Benjamin Franklin started one of America’s first paper mills with cannabis. This allowed America to have a free colonial press without having to beg or justify paper and books from England.
The U.S.S. Constitution “Old Ironsides”
There were at least 60 tons of Hemp on the U.S.S. Constitution alone.Partial list of rigging (rope) required for the 1927 restoration of the U.S.S. Constitution from “The Frigate Constitution” by F. Alexander Magoun, S.B., S.M. The Southwest Press. ©1928 by the Marine Research Society, Boston, Massachusetts, Pgs. 96, 97. Each mast (fore, mizen, main, etc.) required lifts, braces, reefs, jiggers, tackles, etc. The Constitution carried well more than four miles of hemp rope.
