It’s been a persistent urban myth among some cannabis advocates that the Declaration of Independence and its 56 signatures were written on hemp paper. Of course, that theory has been thoroughly debunked by researchers at Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s estate), the Library of Congress and the National Archives. The final document signed by the founding fathers at the Continental Congress in July 1776 was engrossed on parchment made from animal skin. The original rough draft, written by Jefferson and kept among the Jefferson Papers collection at the Library of Congress, has watermarks indicating it to be Dutch-made paper consisting of flax or linen rags.
Nevertheless, some 242 years later, hemp is revolutionary in its own way. As recently noted in our December 2017 column (“Is This Finally the Big Moment for Hemp?”), hemp is enjoying an international renaissance. Both extremely versatile and ecologically friendly to produce, hemp is being grown and used worldwide in the development of an ever-expanding array of commercial applications including hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) and terpenoid oils, tinctures, foods, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, body-care products, textiles, construction materials, applied materials, and industrial products.
Despite a long, rich history in America (preceding the establishment of the United States itself) and being touted for its benefits as recently as World War II (“Hemp for Victory!” was a rallying slogan to defeat the Axis), for the past half-century industrial hemp has suffered prohibited federal classification because of its kinship to cannabis. The plants are related, but while marijuana remains banned under the federal Controlled Substances Act due to the psychoactive properties of THC, hemp typically contains less than 0.3 percent of it, whereas medical and adult-use cannabis commonly features between 5 and 25 percent THC.
New Frontier Data is tracking some detailed prospective market trajectories, and recently acquired the Hemp Business Journal to bolster resources for leading data and market intelligence in the industry. As Sean Murphy, New Frontier Data’s director of hemp analytics, notes, “There is continued tension in the industry, with actions being taken by and between hemp and marijuana players in states like Oregon. There’s also industry love happening with an increase of M&A [mergers and acquisitions] deals in Canada being driven by Canadian LPs [licensed producers], Big Tobacco, and Big Pharmaceuticals placing bets and positioning their interests in the market.”
As detailed in the Hemp Business Journal’s “CBD Report 2018,” the total CBD market in the United States grew at a rate of 40 percent in 2017 and is projected to reach $1.2 billion in sales by 2020, and nearly $2 billion by 2022. In 2017, $190 million of those sales came from hemp-based sources, compared to $177 million from adult-use and medical cannabis sources. Given the potential profits involved, it is no surprise to learn of some fissures opening among interested players within the reform movement.
Assuming such skirmishing to be indicative of future market activity, projections for the production, use and sales of low-THC products will remain sky-high.
This feature was published in the July 2018 issue of High Times magazine. Subscribe right here.
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