National Hemp Day is a holiday that falls on February 4th and celebrates a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant that has been grown for industrial uses for hundreds of years. Although hemp was originally used for making rope and fibers for clothing, it is now used for hundreds of different applications, including pharmaceutical research, biofuel, and CBD oil. All of these are good reasons to celebrate this hard-working plant.

The History of National Hemp Day

Although we often have difficulty finding out the origin of some holidays, finding the origin of this holiday wasn’t difficult. It was invented in 2019 by cbdMD—a company that, not surprisingly, sells CBD topicals, tinctures, gummies, and other assorted THC-free CBD products made from hemp.

The History of Hemp

Hemp has been grown for approximately 4,800+ years—all the way back to China in 2,800 BC. It was also widely used around the Mediterranean, and during the Middle Ages, it spread to the rest of Europe. Ships used hemp rope, and the canvas made from hemp was used to make sails.

In fact, the word “canvas” derives from the word cannabis. It was also used to create paper, clothing, and other materials. During the 1500s, hemp began to be grown in Chile, and by the 1600s, it was also being grown in North America.

As was the case during the Middle Ages, hemp was extremely useful for ships. Hemp was used for making the lines, sails, and even the caulking on ships. Ships even carried stores of hemp seeds so that captains could distribute them far and wide. This was to allow it to be grown anywhere hemp fibers might be needed for ship repairs. Even British farmers in North America were compelled by law to grow hemp.

By the mid-17th century, hemp was an important part of New England’s economy. It was used for creating cordage, sacks, paper, and cloth. It continued to be an important part of the American economy until it was outlawed in 1937. Fortunately, marijuana legalization is making hemp more accessible to a new generation of people and industries.

Fun Facts About Hemp

As we researched this hemp holiday, we came across some interesting facts about hemp—some of which we’d like to share with everyone now. Below are some of the top facts about hemp we think everyone will find fascinating.

• Hemp seeds can be used as a meat alternative due to their high protein content.
• A single acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four acres of trees.
• Hemp helped the Allies defeat the Axis Powers during World War II.
• Agricultural hemp doesn’t contain THC—the ingredient in marijuana that makes people high.
• Hemp seeds are more nutritious than the same amount of chia seeds.

Observing National Hemp Day

Observing National Hemp Day is easy. All you have to do is support the farmers, researchers, and industries that use or make hemp products. This can be done by actively purchasing these companies’ products or by using the hashtag #NationalHempDay on your social media accounts.