Salutations,

During this festive Christmas Season, amidst the flurry of preparations, gift exchanges, and contemplation of the birth of our Savior, there's much on everyone's plate. I extend warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all.

Recalling the Christmas of 2019, amidst the usual conversations about the holiday football game, an unexpected topic took center stage: the buzz around hemp cultivation! The excitement stemmed from the potential profits in this new multi-billion dollar industry, legalized once more thanks to President Trump's signing of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Yes, you read it right—hemp was once legal to grow and was, in fact, mandatory at a point in American history. To kick off this discussion, I'd like to delve into a brief history of hemp in the US.  (Check out my Youtube video on the Founding Fathers and Hemp)

Hemp production was immensely crucial to the early colonies. Virginia farmers faced fines and even imprisonment for neglecting to grow hemp. Notably, several founding fathers, such as James Madison, after whom JMU is named, took pleasure in consuming hemp. George Washington, the Commander of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States, was a hemp cultivator. He understood the importance of cultivating only female plants for potent hemp, focusing on flower production rather than seed production.

Our predecessors comprehended the myriad benefits of hemp—from its nutritional value in seeds to its use in clothing, medicine, construction, and beyond.

In 1938, Popular Mechanics highlighted hemp's versatility, listing over 28,000 different applications. However, excessive taxation and regulation made hemp cultivation unprofitable, leading to its effective prohibition in 1937 with the signing of The Marihuana Tax Act. Then, in 1970, President Richard Nixon cemented its illegal status by signing the Controlled Substances Act.

That's a snapshot of hemp's history in the US. I hope you found it intriguing. Feel free to watch my video on "Hemp and Our Forefathers."

For those intrigued by cultivating hemp affordably, now is an ideal time to procure seeds. Ordering promptly will ensure your plants are ready for cloning and planting season.

ILGM is a reputable source for seeds, I also have found good deals at Seed Canary each offering end-of-year sales. Be sure to explore them!

Until next time