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Cited by 328Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchAgriculture and Agroindustry StudiesBioenergy crop production and management

Industrial Hemp in North America: Production, Politics and Potential

Open access
Cherney, Jerome, Small, Ernest·2016·Agronomy
DOI 10.3390/agronomy6040058
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Abstract

Most of the Western World banned the cultivation of Cannabis sativa in the early 20th century because biotypes high in ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the principal intoxicant cannabinoid) are the source of marijuana. Nevertheless, since 1990, dozens of countries have authorized the licensed growth and processing of “industrial hemp” (cultivars with quite low levels of THC). Canada has concentrated on hemp oilseed production, and very recently, Europe changed its emphasis from fiber to oilseed. The USA, historically a major hemp producer, appears on the verge of reintroducing industrial hemp production. This presentation provides updates on various agricultural, scientific, social, and political considerations that impact the commercial hemp industry in the United States and Canada. The most promising scenario for the hemp industry in North America is a continuing focus on oilseed production, as well as cannabidiol (CBD), the principal non-intoxicant cannabinoid considered by many to have substantial medical potential, and currently in great demand as a pharmaceutical. Future success of the industrial hemp industry in North America is heavily dependent on the breeding of more productive oilseed cultivars, the continued development of consumer goods, reasonable but not overly restrictive regulations, and discouragement of overproduction associated with unrealistic enthusiasm. Changing attitudes have generated an unprecedented demand for the cannabis plant and its products, resulting in urgent needs for new legislative, regulatory, and business frameworks, as well as scientific, technological, and agricultural research.

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Crossref · 10.3390/agronomy6040058

Cites

62 of 62 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Hemp cultivation was banned in 1938 in North America.

    “after World War II, hemp cultivation was banned in 1938 in North America (Cherney and Small 2016).”

    From A critical review of industrial fiber hemp anatomy, agronomic practices, and valorization into sustainable bioproducts (2025) · cites this paper as Cherney and Small 2016

    In §2, “North American History in Brief” (p. 3), the paper says a 1938 Canadian law made Cannabis cultivation illegal. It explicitly says the US law did not technically make cultivation illegal, and reports a revival of hemp production during World War II; the 1938 laws effectively eliminated North American production only after the war. Thus, a North America-wide ban in 1938, especially one described as occurring after World War II, overstates the source. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The US Farm Bill of 2014 permitted the cultivation of industrial hemp in the US on a pilot scale for research purposes, though it was still considered a controlled substance.

    “The US Farm Bill of 2014 permitted the cultivation of industrial hemp in the US on a pilot scale for research purposes, though it was still considered a controlled substance (Cherney and Small 2016).”

    From A critical review of industrial fiber hemp anatomy, agronomic practices, and valorization into sustainable bioproducts (2025) · cites this paper as Cherney and Small 2016

  • Hemp bast fibers are regarded as the strongest and longest natural fiber, are cheaper to manufacture, and last far longer than materials such as cotton.

    “Hemp bast fibers are regarded as the strongest and longest natural fiber, and they are cheaper to manufacture, and last far longer than materials such as cotton (Cherney and Small 2016; Manaia et al. 2019; Rehman et al. 2021).”

    From A critical review of industrial fiber hemp anatomy, agronomic practices, and valorization into sustainable bioproducts (2025) · cites this paper as Cherney and Small 2016

    The Fiber section (7.2; page unavailable) discusses hemp textiles, cheap labor in China, and the lack of cost-effective textile production in Europe. It does not compare hemp bast fiber with cotton on strength, length, manufacturing cost, or lifespan; searches for those properties found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 22

  1. Ehrensing, D.T. Feasibility of Industrial Hemp Production in the United States Pacific Northwest; Station Bulletin 681; Oregon State University: Corvallis, OR, USA, 1998.
  2. Carus, M.; Sarmento, L. The European Hemp Industry: Cultivation, processing and applications for fibres, shivs, seed and flowers. European Industrial Hemp Association, May 2016; pp. 1-9. Available online: http: //eiha.org/media/2016/05/16-05-17-European-Hemp-Industry-2013.pdf (accessed on 8 November 2016).
  3. Carus, M.; Karst, S.; Kauffmann, A.; Hobson, J.; Bertucelli, S. The European Hemp Industry: Cultivation, Processing and Applications for Fibres, Shives and Seeds; European Industrial Hemp Association: Hürth, Germany, 2013; pp. 1-9.
  4. Suardana, N.P.G.; Piao, Y.; Lim, J.K. Mechanical properties of hemp fibres and hemp/PP composites: Effects of chemical surface treatment. Mater. Phys. Mech. 2011, 11, 1-8.
  5. Huang, H.T. Science and Civilization in China, Vol. 6: Biology and Biological Technology, Part V: Fermentation and Food Science; Cambridge University: Cambridge, UK, 2000.
  6. Laakkonen, T.T.; Callaway, J.C. Update on FIN-314. J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 1998, 5, 34-35.
  7. Callaway, J.C.; Pate, D.W. Hempseed oil. In Gourmet and Health-Promoting Specialty Oils; Moreau, R., Kamal-Eldin, A., Eds.; AOCS Press: Urbana, IL, USA, 2009; pp. 185-214.
  8. Leson, G.; Pless, P. Hemp seed and hemp oil. In Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential; Grotenhermen, F., Russo, E., Eds.; Haworth Integrative Healing Press: Binghamton, NY, USA, 2002; pp. 411-425.
  9. Mölleken, H.; Mothes, H.; Dudek, S. Quality of hemp fruits and hemp oil in relation to the maturity of the fruits. In Proceedings of the Bioresource Hemp & Other Fibre Crops: Proceedings of the Symposium, Wolfsburg, Germany, 13-16 September 2000; Nova Institute: Hürth, Germany, 2000.
  10. Small, E.; Marcus, D. Hemp germplasm trials in Canada. Irregularly paginated. In Proceedings of the Third International Symposium Bioresource Hemp, Wolfsburg, Germany, 13-16 September 2000; Nova Corporation: Hürth, Germany, 2000.
  11. Mölleken, H.; Theimer, R.R. Survey of minor fatty acids in Cannabis sativa L. fruits of various origins. J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 1997, 4, 13-17.
  12. Potter, D.J. Cannabis horticulture. In Handbook of Cannabis; Pertwee, R.G., Ed.; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2014; pp. 65-88.
  13. Grotenhermen, F.; Karus, M. Industrial hemp is not marijuana: comments on the drug potential of fiber Cannabis. J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 1998, 5, 96-101.
  14. Montford, S.; Small, E. Measuring harm and benefit: The biodiversity friendliness of Cannabis sativa L. Glob. Biodivers. 1999, 8, 2-13.
  15. Montford, S.; Small, E. A comparison of the biodiversity friendliness of crops with special reference to hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 1999, 6, 53-63.
  16. Kerckhoffs, H.; Kavas, Y.; Millner, J.; Anderson, C.; Kawana-Brown, E. Industrial hemp in New Zealand-Potential for cash cropping for a better environment in the Taranaki region. In Proceedings of the 17th Australian Society of Agronomy Conference, Hobart, Australia, 20-24 September 2015.
  17. McNulty, S. (Ed.) Report to the Governor's Hemp and Related Fiber Crops Task Force; Commonwealth of Kentucky: Frankfort, KE, June 1995; Available online: http://www.globalhemp.com/1995/06/report-to-the-governors- hemp-and-related-fiber-crops-task-force.html (accessed on 14 October 2016).
  18. Johnson, P. Industrial hemp: A critical review of claimed potential for Cannabis sativa. Tappi J. 1999, 82, 77.
  19. Van der Werf, H.M.G. Hemp facts and hemp fiction. J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 1994, 1, 58-59.
  20. Chan Halbrendt, C.; Wang, Q.; Mole, M.C. Alternative agricultural strategies in Vermont: The case of industrial hemp. In Proceedings of the Vermont Agricultural Economic Development Conference, South Burlington, VT, USA, 16 December 1996.
  21. Cortilet, A. Industrial Hemp Research. Report to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Minnesota Law 2014: HF3172-3 (SF2785); Chapter 312: Article 12; Section 3. 15 January 2015. Available online: www.mda.state.mn.us (accessed on 14 October 2016).
  22. N. D. Law Rev. 2009, 85, 403-434. 113.

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Authors
Cherney, J., & Small, E.
Affiliations
  • Cornell University (US)
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (CA)
Corresponding author
Cherney, Jerome
ORCID
Venue
Agronomy
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2016-11-12
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
58
ISSN
2073-4395 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/agronomy6040058
OpenAlex
W2550928996
Cited by
328
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3
FWCI
7.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Agronomy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agriculture and Agroindustry Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
Keywords
industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa, hemp fiber, cannabidiol, THC, hemp breeding, hemp industry, North America

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