How to Grow Hemp Legally In Your State

Most of us tend to accept the laws surrounding the use of certain substances and we presume that they are based on some kind of scientific evidence, or, you know… logic. So if you want to know how to grow hemp, it’s important to get the facts.

The average person may never have given much thought to the legal status of hemp, hemp flower, or CBD oil. The assumption is that hemp is used to grow THC marijuana, and that therefore it should be illegal… right?

Well, ignoring the legal status of cannabis for the moment (which, of course, is controversial in itself!), it’s considered ludicrous by many that hemp was ever a controlled substance. Hemp has been grown for over 12,000 years and NOT as a way to get people high. It was only in the 1950s that hemp was made illegal in the US, which of course was owing to its association with cannabis.

But hemp is a specific variety of the cannabis plant that is grown specifically for its industrial uses and not for the psychoactive contents. In fact, hemp contains less than 1% of the psychoactive THC that gives marijuana its properties.

Why These Hemp Laws Exist

Why do laws like this exist? Simple: it’s easier to create a blanket rule than it is to try and understand the nuances and communicate those.

A similar example can be seen in the UK right now. There, a ‘psychoactive substances act’ has banned the use of all psychoactive substances. This even includes the use of numerous beneficial ‘nootropics’ – harmless supplements that can help boost concentration and alertness! Things like l-theanine, which is an innocuous and entirely safe amino acid that occurs naturally, are banned under this act. While caffeine – which is much stronger – is the only exception. And this just perfectly demonstrates the lack of scientific consideration that law-makers often employ!

But can hemp make a comeback? Actually, it already is! Thankfully, governments have come to their senses in many cases. The 2018 Farm Bill for instance allows many states to grow industrial hemp for research, commercial, and development purposes. Others, like Kentucky, Colorado and Oregon are researching the viability of altering the laws.

And of course in some states, marijuana is now completely legal – in most cases that is!

So we’re making positive progress and moving toward smarter laws and more forward thinking in general. The result might be more eco-friendly resources for construction and even biofuels that we can use to power a greener future.