The Great Hemp Conspiracy Part 5 | Cannabis in the Industrial Age: Legislative Aftermath & the Fall of Industrial Hemp

Cannabis in the Industrial Age: Part 5 – Legislative Aftermath & the Fall of Industrial Hemp

Part 5 of The Great Hemp Conspiracy

Following the sensationalist media campaigns and Anslinger’s strategic positioning, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed. While presented as a measure for public safety, its real impact was devastating for industrial hemp and early cannabis industries.

The Marihuana Tax Act

The Act imposed strict regulations and taxes on the cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis. Industrial hemp, although non-psychoactive, fell under the same restrictions as marijuana. Farmers, manufacturers, and innovators found themselves suddenly unable to operate legally, effectively ending the widespread cultivation of hemp in the United States.

Impact on Industry

Hemp-based products — including paper, rope, textiles, varnish, and even early plastics — were dramatically curtailed. Visionaries like Henry Ford, who had experimented with hemp composites for automobiles, saw their projects stifled. The industrial potential of the plant was suppressed, while synthetic alternatives from companies like DuPont flourished, ensuring that big money interests remained protected.

Societal and Cultural Effects

The law also entrenched the stigma against cannabis. Public perception, already influenced by Hearst’s newspapers and Anslinger’s rhetoric, framed cannabis as dangerous and morally corrupting. As a result, hemp — once a cornerstone of American industry — was almost erased from mainstream commerce and culture for decades.

Sources & Citations

• Booth, Martin. Cannabis: A History. St. Martin’s Press, 2003.
• Abel, Ernest L. Marijuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years. Springer, 1980.
• Grinspoon, Lester. Marijuana Reconsidered. Harvard University Press, 1971.
• Russo, Ethan B. “History of Cannabis and Its Preparations in Saga, Science, and Sobriquet.” Chemistry & Biodiversity, vol. 4, 2007.

In Part 6, we’ll explore attempts at hemp revival during World War II and how “Hemp for Victory” showcased the plant’s strategic value — briefly redeeming industrial hemp before prohibition pressures returned.