17th–18th centuriesReputable sourceWell documented
Hemp in Colonial America
On the timeline · around 17th–18th centuries ·
What happened
Cannabis also crossed the Atlantic as industrial hemp, grown across the colonies for rope, sailcloth and thread. George Washington cultivated hemp at Mount Vernon, once weighing whether it might beat tobacco as a cash crop.
Why it matters
Industrial hemp is the same species as marijuana but bred for very low THC — a reminder that 'cannabis' has always meant both a vital fiber crop and a psychoactive drug.
Sources
- George Washington's Mount Vernon. George Washington Grew Hemp · Reputable source
Related timelines
- American History → — Hemp among the colonies' fiber crops