America's ON/OFF Love Affair With Hemp: Hemp Battles for its Future

Hemp—it’s been around for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations cultivated it for fiber, seeds, and oils. American settlers relied on it for sails, fishing nets, and rope. In fact, in 1619, the Virginia legislature passed a law requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Early on, in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, hemp was even accepted as legal tender—you could literally pay your taxes with it.

Even George Washington himself grew hemp, and to this day, it’s still cultivated at Mount Vernon.

But America’s love affair with hemp didn’t last forever. By the early 1900s, the rise of recreational marijuana use stirred public concern. During the Great Depression, the government cracked down hard, enter the era of Reefer Madness.

However, there was a brief comeback during World War II. With the U.S. cut off from Philippine and East Indian hemp supplies, the government turned back to American farmers, offering subsidies, free seeds, and even draft deferments for those willing to grow hemp.

They were so serious about it—they made a whole propaganda film.

1930s Radio Voice—Cue the Old-Time Announcer…

“But now, with Philippine and East Indian sources of hemp in the hands of the Japanese, American hemp must meet the needs of America’s Army and Navy! Our industries need rope for marine rigging and towing, thread for shoes for thousands of American soldiers, and parachute webbing for our brave paratroopers—all made from hemp. Hemp for Victory!”

Despite its wartime comeback, things tightened up again with the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which made all forms of Cannabis sativa—including hemp—completely illegal.

Farming it. Selling it. Consuming it. Manufacturing it. Possessing it. All off-limits.

This hardline stance lasted until 2018, when the Federal Farm Bill reclassified hemp as anything containing 0.3% THC or less—legalizing it once again. But with modern chemistry advancing rapidly, the distinction between hemp and marijuana has become a blurry line.

And here we are today—living in the age of the modern hemp marketplace, where the plant is back in the spotlight and desperately needed for industrial applications.

Arizona’s Latest Hemp Battle

But in Arizona, the line between hemp and marijuana is now the center of legal controversy. Attorney General Chris Hayes and Governor Katie Hobbs have issued a stark warning to businesses across the state: sell hemp cannabis products without proper licensing, and you’ll face serious consequences.

This crackdown isn’t just targeting small gas stations and convenience stores—it extends to major retailers like Total Wine and other well-known chains selling unregulated hemp-derived cannabis products. Businesses have been given 30 days to comply with licensing requirements or risk steep penalties, including fines of up to $20,000 per violation or even a Class II felony charge.

The crackdown highlights a growing regulatory battle: should state law, which governs cannabis licensing, take precedence? Or does federal law, which still classifies cannabis as a controlled substance, hold more weight?

Retailers caught in the middle are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex legal landscape. Many have been operating in a legal gray area, selling hemp-derived products like Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC under the assumption that they are federally legal. However, Arizona officials are signaling a shift—one that could reshape the future of hemp and cannabis sales in the state.

So… what does the future hold for hemp? If history has taught us anything, it’s that hemp refuses to disappear. But for now, Arizona businesses are facing a tough decision: comply with stricter licensing regulations, or risk becoming the next battleground in America’s ongoing cannabis war.