Hemp has woven its way through history—fortifying ancient textiles with its rugged fibers and now, strengthening modern wellness with its botanical breakthroughs. Tough by nature and tenacious in the public sphere, it’s a plant that’s weathered stigma, regulation, and reinvention. 

Despite it all, hemp stands tall.  

Because you can’t keep a good thing down.  

So, what the hemp—let’s unravel its wild legacy. 

Spoiler: Hemp has centuries of receipts.

Ancient Plant, Timeless Purpose

Humans and hemp? It’s been a thing since 8,000 BCE. That’s older than math. Early civilizations used it for everything from fabric to rope to the world’s first paper. Roll the highlight reel: 

• 8,000 BCE – Hemp shows up in ancient settlement.
• 4,000 BCE – Chinese artisans weave hemp into pottery.
• 140 BCE – Hemp becomes the first paper source.
• 1616 – Jamestown settlers grow hemp as a staple.
• 1631 – Hemp is valuable enough to pay taxes with.
  
  

The History of Hemp in America: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Hemp

The history of hemp in America runs deep: hemp came to North America via Spanish and English colonization during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was grown for all sorts of uses, from rope to canvas. 

Fun fact: the word canvas is derived from the word cannabis.  

The 1900s, however, were a rough ride—especially for a plant so powerful. Once a cornerstone crop, hemp was swept up in shifting policies and public perception: 

Despite it all, hemp never lost its potential. Tucked away in research and advocacy, hemp’s champions fought long and hard—and not without results.  

The Hemp Strikes Back 

Don’t call it a comeback. Hemp’s been here for years.  

The 2014 Farm Bill loosened longstanding prohibition on cultivating industrial hemp in the U.S. by allowing cultivation under state research programs. Prior to the bill, federal law did not distinguish between hemp and cannabis cultivation (with both being deemed illegal). 

In 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. The hemp renaissance flourished, unfurling: 

But what’s hemp’s biggest flex? Oh! That’s right.  
 
Wellness.  

Hemp for Wellness, Crafted the Charlotte’s Web™ Way

We’re not growing hemp. We’re growing purpose. A good night’s sleep. A productive workday. A moment of zen. From a plant that does it all, we’re finding new ways to help you do it all.  

CBD, CBG, CBN, THC - it’s a gift that just keeps on giving. And just like any crop, not all hemp is made equal. For instance, ours has: 

*THC-free means no detectable THC. 

Why the hemp obsession? Because of the wellness obsession, silly. We only do wellness that works—and that’s why we do hemp.  

What’s Next? Tell Us.

Hemp’s legacy is long, and its future is bright. We’re only breaching the surface of what this plant powerhouse can do. For now, it’s built civilizations, transformed communication, and fueled a wellness revolution.  

Something tells us it’s just getting started.  

Want to see hemp’s full potential? Explore our educational resources or try CBD products centuries in the making. Together, we’re writing hemp’s next chapter.