Hemp Growing Again At George Washington's Estate

MOUNT VERNON, VA—A little known fact about George Washington is that he grew hemp at his Mount Vernon estate. Now the group running his estate decided to carry on the tradition, growing it there for the first time in possibly hundreds of years.

In partnership with the industrial hemp research program at the University of Virginia, Mount Vernon planted hemp at its Pioneer Farm site in May. Harvesting started on Aug. 22. Once the crops dry, they will be used in fiber-making demonstrations on the site and to share the history of Washington's hemp farming.

According to the Mount Vernon estate, Washington used the hemp to make rope, sail canvas, thread for clothing and material to fix fishing nets. In the 1760s, he pondered using it as a cash crop but decided against it. His records indicate the crop grew at his five farms: Mansion House, River Farm, Dogue Run Farm, Muddy Hole Farm and Union Farm.

Hemp, a type of cannabis that's a relative or marijuana, has industrial rather than recreational uses. Although they can smell similar, hemp does not have the high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that causes a high from marijuana.

Hemp is not legal in the eyes of the federal government yet. However, Mount Vernon was able to plant it under Virginia's 2015 Industrial Hemp Law. The 2014 federal Farm Bill also allows for small amounts of hemp to be grown for research intentions, NPR reported. A Farm Bill renewal with hemp legalization could pass; the Senate gave it approval in June.

Stay tuned for events involving the hemp demonstrations. Learn more about Mount Vernon's hemp farming here.

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