Hemp Timeline

USDA publishes Interim Final Rule establishing federal hemp production regulations

October 31, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register fulfilling their statutory requirement to establish federal hemp production regulations. States and tribes may now submit plans to USDA to regulate hemp under state or tribal law or they can choose to allow farmers to apply directly to USDA for a license to grow hemp.

2018 Farm Bill legalizes commercial hemp production

December 20, 2018

President Trump signs the 2018 Farm Bill into law legalizing hemp and authorizing USDA as the federal regulator of hemp production.

Section 7606 of the Farm Bill signed into law authorizing hemp research

February 7, 2014

President Obama signs the 2014 Farm Bill into law including Sec. 7606 defining industrial hemp for the first time and authorizing hemp research and pilot programs by Universities and state departments of agriculture.

Sen. Wyden (D-OR) introduces first Senate companion hemp bill

August 2, 2012

On August 2, 2012, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced hemp companion legislation in the Senate. Wyden along with Senators Paul (R-KY), Merkley (D-OR) and Sanders (D-VT), introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2012 as a companion bill to Rep. Ron Paul’s House hemp bill.

North Dakota farmers Dave Monson and Wayne Hauge file suit against DEA to compel issuance of hemp licenses

May 18, 2010

Hemp farmers Dave Monson and Wayne Hauge file a lawsuit in District court to compel DEA to act on their license applications to grow hemp. Vote Hemp assists in their defense.

North Dakota Department of Agriculture issues first hemp licenses

February 6, 2007

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson issues the first two state hemp farming licenses in the United States to farmers Dave Monson and Wayne Hauge.

Vote Hemp helps draft first federal Industrial Hemp Farming Act

June 22, 2005

Vote Hemp assist Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) in drafting the first modern federal hemp legislation, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005 (H.R. 3037). The bill takes a states rights approach that has continued through the 2018 Farm Bill.

9th Circuit Court issues unanimous ruling for the hemp industry in HIA v. DEA case

February 6, 2004

On February 6, 2004 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision in favor of the Hemp Industries Association in which Judge Betty Fletcher wrote, “[T]hey (DEA) cannot regulate naturally-occurring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana-i.e. non-psychoactive hemp is not included in Schedule I. The DEA has no authority to regulate drugs that are not scheduled, and it has not followed procedures required to schedule a substance. The DEA’s definition of “THC” contravenes the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and cannot be upheld”. The Ninth Circuit held that a rule issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was a procedurally invalid legislative rule because the DEA failed to comply with the notice and comment requirements established by the Administrative Procedures Act (APA),

9th Circuit grants stay of DEA Interpretive Rule to Hemp Industry

July 1, 2002

The Hemp Industry files a lawsuit against the DEA in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court to overturn DEA’s Interpretive Rule on THC in hemp foods.

DEA publishes rules purporting to make hemp foods illegal

October 9, 2001

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published 3 rules in the Federal Register purporting to “clarify the status of hemp.” These ill conceived rules were an attempt to ban legal hemp foods. Vote Hemp board members David Bronner, Eric Steenstra and Patrick Goggin lead an effort to file a lawsuit and injunction against the DEA rules. For more info on the legal case, visit our Hemp Food Rules page.

Vote Hemp founded

May 4, 2000

Vote Hemp was founded in 2000 by members of the hemp industry including David Bronner, Erik Rothenberg, Eric Steenstra, Lloyd Hart and Eric Lineback with the goal of brining back hemp farming in the U.S.

Jack Herer publishes “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”

June 1, 1985

The Emperor Wears No Clothes is a non-fiction book about the history of cannabis hemp written by Jack Herer. Starting in 1973, the story begins when Herer takes the advice of his friend, “Captain” Ed Adair, and begins compiling tidbits of information about the Cannabis plant and its numerous uses, including as hemp and as a drug. After a dozen years of collecting and compiling historical data, Herer first published his work as The Emperor Wears No Clothes, in 1985. Herer believed that hemp could save the planet promoted his vision and the end of Cannabis prohibition.

Nixon signs the Controlled Substances Act into law

October 27, 1970

President Nixon signs the Controlled Substances Act into law making marihuana a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The definition of marijuana was comprehensive and did not distinguish hemp from drug type varieties of Cannabis.

Marihuana Tax Act signed into law requiring farmers to register and pay a federal tax to grow hemp

August 2, 1937

President Roosevelt signs the Marihuana Tax Act into law beginning the era of regulation and control over all cannabis production. Hemp farmers must now register and pay a “marihauna tax” to grow hemp.