In 2017, $820 million worth of legal hemp products were sold in the United Stares, from medicinal purposes, to textiles, and everything in between. It is the focus of studies in 32 universities across the US and over 1400 licenses were issued to grow hemp. This booming business is deterred only by laws, many of them almost a century old. Aside from being the cousin to marijuana and sharing the same legal status as a controlled substance with no medicinal value and a high risk for abuse, hemp gets a bad rap. Fortunately, public sentiment has grown curious and more open minded on the crop, encouraging industry growth and even influencing law changes. This is not the first time in American history that necessity influenced change in this particular area. Back during WWII era, a program called Hemp for Victory encourages farmers to use their land to grow hemp and use it to supply necessary textiles like rope and parachutes to aid the US in the war effort. Though today this program is oft forgotten, it stands as a testament that change is possible. Today its the medicinal properties and environmental factors that have caught on. CBD supplements have been shown in numerous studies to alleviate chronic pain, anxiety and depression, digestive health, and more. Hemp offers a solution to farmland issues as it requires a reduced acreage, water demands, and labor needs compared to cotton, and stands as one of the most environmentally friendly crops. It’s no wonder that at one point hemp was a farming staple and even considered legal tender in the early years of US history. Modern hemp is a growing industry, so to speak. Useful for industries like textiles, medicine, paper, and even industrial applications, the uses for hemp have exceeded 25,000. Take a look at this infographic for , it’s legal challenges, how smart business leaders are standing up to old fashioned laws, and what to expect for the future of hemp in the United States. the current state of hemp production

The Dangerous State of IoT Security

How to Bridge the Gap of Eastern vs Western Medicine

Founder & President of NowSourcing, a leading infographic design agency

NowSourcing

The Innovate Summit

Book a Call

Case Studies

HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - STORYTELLING

Too Long; Didn't Read

Download free Tech Leaders Productivity Report!

Navigating the Business of Hemp

About Author

Comments

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN

Related Stories

Untitled Story

10 Best Infographics Of 2018

10 Best Infographics Of 2018

Blaze of Glory: the Hottest Cannabusiness Moments of SXSW

Can CBD Replace Your Anxiety and Depression Medication?

Cannabis Extraction Offerings with Technology: Where Do We Stand

10 Best Infographics Of 2018

10 Best Infographics Of 2018

Blaze of Glory: the Hottest Cannabusiness Moments of SXSW

Can CBD Replace Your Anxiety and Depression Medication?

Cannabis Extraction Offerings with Technology: Where Do We Stand

Light-Mode

Classic

Newspaper

Dark-Mode

Neon Noir

Minty

HN StartUps