Skip to main content

The Great Hemp Conspiracy Part 6 | Cannabis in the Industrial Age: Hemp for Victory

Cannabis in the Industrial Age: Part 6 – Hemp for Victory


Part 6 of The Great Hemp Conspiracy

During World War II, the U.S. faced critical shortages of rope, textiles, and other materials essential to the war effort. Suddenly, the demonized hemp plant became a strategic asset. The government launched the “Hemp for Victory” campaign, urging farmers to cultivate hemp for national defense.




The Revival of Hemp

Hemp production surged across America. Farmers planted thousands of acres, producing rope, sails, and other military-grade materials. Henry Ford’s earlier experiments with hemp composites gained renewed attention, though industrial-scale adoption remained limited. Hemp was recognized not just as a useful crop, but as a matter of national security.

Propaganda Turned Positive

The government used posters, films, and leaflets to encourage citizens to grow hemp, depicting it as patriotic duty. The same media machinery that had demonized cannabis a few years earlier was now framing it as essential to victory. Despite this temporary reprieve, the post-war era saw a return to restrictive policies, and industrial hemp cultivation dwindled once again.

Legacy of “Hemp for Victory”

Although brief, this campaign highlighted hemp’s unparalleled versatility and importance. It demonstrated that the suppression of hemp had been economically and politically motivated, rather than based on the plant’s utility. Hemp’s strategic value during WWII remains a key chapter in understanding both its potential and the historical forces that sought to suppress it.

Sources & Citations

  • Booth, Martin. Cannabis: A History. St. Martin’s Press, 2003.
  • Abel, Ernest L. Marijuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years. Springer, 1980.
  • Hemp Industries Association. “Hemp for Victory.” U.S. Government Film, 1942.
  • Russo, Ethan B. “History of Cannabis and Its Preparations in Saga, Science, and Sobriquet.” Chemistry & Biodiversity, vol. 4, 2007.


🔗 Previous: Part 5 — Cannabis in the Industrial Age: Legislative Aftermath & the Fall of Industrial Hemp

🔗 The Great Hemp Conspiracy: Cannabis in the Industrial Age Hub Page


🌿 Explore the Series 🌿

Comments

Post a Comment

People's Choice

The European Foundation — Cannabis in Western Medicine & Alchemy

  Rediscovering 2,000 years of cannabis’ vital role in Western medicine — from ancient texts to Victorian royal approval. The European Foundation — Cannabis in Western Medicine & Alchemy Part 1 of the Cannabis Knowledge Restoration Project If you think cannabis is some foreign drug that showed up in the 1960s counterculture, you've been lied to. If you believe it's "alternative medicine" that real doctors would never touch, you've been lied to. If you assume your European ancestors would have been horrified by cannabis use, you've been lied to. The truth? Cannabis was foundational to Western medicine for over 2,000 years. It appears in the texts that trained every European physician from ancient Rome through the Victorian era . It was prescribed by royal doctors, documented by medieval nuns, studied by Renaissance alchemists, and listed in official pharmacopeias well into the 20th century. Prohibition didn't remove something dangerous ...
Post a Comment
Read more

While Europe Forgot — Cannabis in Asia, the Middle East & Africa

Cannabis through the ages: a timeless plant woven into the spiritual, medicinal, and cultural fabric of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.   While Europe Forgot — Cannabis in Asia, the Middle East & Africa Part 2 of the Cannabis Knowledge Restoration Project Ancient China Ancient India The Middle East Africa Archaeological Evidence The Pattern While Europe was forgetting its own cannabis knowledge — losing it to industrialization, colonialism, and eventually prohibition — other cultures were preserving theirs. Not just preserving it. Evolving it. Refining it. Passing it down through unbroken lineages of healers, physicians, and spiritual practitioners. In Post 1 , we established that cannabis was foundational to European medicine for 2,000 years — until it was deliberately erased in the 20th century. But that erasure was primarily a Western phenomenon. In China, cannabis has been documented for over 5,000 years. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Cannabis Beverage Revolution: How THC Drinks Are Disrupting Big Alcohol (And Why Tennessee Shut Them Down)

THC-infused beverages are rapidly replacing alcohol for many consumers—triggering a coordinated backlash from the alcohol industry  that culminated in Tennessee’s 2025 hemp crackdown. The Cannabis Beverage Revolution: How THC Drinks Are Disrupting Big Alcohol (And Why Tennessee Shut Them Down) A Deep Dive Into the Fastest-Growing Segment of the Cannabis Industry—And the Billion-Dollar Threat That Triggered Tennessee's Crackdown Jump to: Market Explosion Alcohol Industry Threat Big Alcohol's Response Tennessee's Response Product Reality Health Comparison Market Reality Federal Complication Tennessee's Position The Future Conclusion When Tennessee transferred hemp regulation to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission on January 1, 2026, most people assumed it was about public safety or protecting children. But the real story is far more revealing: it's about protecting the alcohol ind...
Post a Comment
Read more

Following the Money: Who Profits from Tennessee's Cannabis Prohibition?

  Let's examine who profits from Tennessee's current approach to cannabis. Table of Contents Introduction Private Prisons & Incarceration Economy Alcohol Industry & Hemp Takeover Law Enforcement & Asset Forfeiture TABC & Regulatory Capture Campaign Contributions & Political Reality The Cost of the System What Changed With the New Hemp Law The Missing Voice: Voters Cui Bono? Who Benefits? The Tennessee Prohibition Playbook Reform vs. Regulatory Capture What Happens Next? The Choice Before Tennessee Sources & Related Reading Following the Money: Who Profits from Tennessee's Cannabis Prohibition? A Political Economy Analysis of Cannabis Policy in Tennessee In our previous article , we demonstrated that Tennessee's neighboring states are generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from legal cannabis markets while Tennessee pays to enforce prohibition. Illinois collected nearly $500 million...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where Tennessee Stands on Cannabis in 2026: A Complete Guide to New Hemp Laws and Regulations

  Where Tennessee Stands on Cannabis in 2026: A Complete Guide to New Hemp Laws and Regulations Hemp in Tennessee enters a new regulatory era in 2026, as oversight shifts and legal boundaries tighten. On This Page The Big Picture: What Changed in 2026 Legacy License Grace Period New Regulations Starting July 1, 2026 THCa Ban Explained What Products Remain Legal The Federal Complication Law Enforcement Impact Industry Winners & Losers Advice for Tennessee Consumers Advice for Hemp Businesses Key Takeaways January 8, 2026 — As Tennessee enters 2026, the landscape for cannabis and hemp products has undergone its most significant transformation in years. New laws, regulatory shifts, and an ongoing transition period have created both confusion and opportunity. Here's everything Tennesseans need to know about where the state stands today. The Big Picture: What Changed on January 1, 2026 On Ja...
Post a Comment
Read more