National Hemp Day Date in the current year: February 4, 2024

Hemp, also known as industrial hemp, is one of the names of the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa). This name refers to cultivars that are lower in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, and are specifically cultivated for industrial and medicinal purposes. Industrial hemp cultivars are unsuitable for producing psychoactive drugs.

Hemp is a very fast growing plant that has been used as a source of fiber for tens of thousands of years. Hemp fiber was used to make fabrics, ropes, sail canvas, etc. The production of hemp fiber climaxed soon after the introduction of the plant to the New World.

One of the first proponents of hemp cultivation in the United States was George Washington. Sadly, after more than 150 years of thriving the American hemp industry took a heavy blow due to the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. The tax on hemp was temporarily lifted during World War II because the U.S. Army needed fiber for uniforms, canvas and ropes, but after the war, the production of hemp decreased again.

Today, industrial hemp has a very wide range of uses. Hemp fiber is used in a variety of consumer goods (clothes, shoes, accessories, home wares, rope, etc.), as a sustainable and lightweight building and insulation material, in the production of bioplastics, composite materials and paper, and for animal bedding. 

Hemp seeds are a source of oil that can be used in cooking, as a cosmetics ingredient, in varnishes and paints, and in biofuels. In addition, hemp seeds can be eaten raw, made into hemp meal or dried hemp powder, sprouted, or used to make hemp milk. Hemp also has agricultural uses. It is grown as a “mop crop” to purify soil and water, as well as a smother crop to protect more vulnerable crops from tough weeds. 

As for the medicinal use of hemp, the plant is a source of CBD (cannabidiol), which was approved by the FDA for epilepsy treatment. CBD derived from industrial hemp with a low concentration of THC (0.3% or less) is not FDA-regulated and can be used as a cosmetics ingredient.

The legality of hemp and hemp products varies by jurisdiction. In the United States, hemp was legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill that designated it as an agricultural commodity rather than a Schedule I drug. The bill made it easier for hemp farmers to acquire production licenses and loans, as well as to receive federal crop insurance.

The celebration of National Hemp Day was initiated by cbdMD in 2019. The holiday aims to educate the general audience about the uses of hemp and dispel the common misconceptions about the plant, support hemp farmers across the nation, and encourage people to try various hemp products, which can range from skincare to socks. 

There are many ways to celebrate National Hemp Day. You can learn more about hemp and hemp products, share the facts you’ve learned with others, buy hemp products, and spread the word about the holiday on social media using the hashtags #HempDay and #NationalHempDay.