Hemp Therapies Wiki / Hemp Oil & Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp Cultivation and History

Hemp grown for oil production follows its own cultivation practices, distinct from fiber-oriented hemp, and the crop itself has an agricultural history stretching back thousands of years.

Cultivation and Sourcing

Hemp cultivation intended for either seed oil or cannabinoid concentrate production requires state cultivation registration in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, Vermont. Hemp seed used for oil production is generally sourced from a grain-type hemp variety, distinct from fiber-type or dual-purpose varieties. More than 40 hemp cultivars are reported to exist, grown variously for seed, fiber, or oil. Cultivation approach differs by end use: fiber-oriented hemp is planted at close spacing to encourage fiber development and suppress leaf growth, while seed-oriented hemp is planted at wider spacing. Growing region also affects fatty-acid composition — seed grown in extreme northern or tropical regions is reported to show higher gamma-linolenic-acid and stearidonic-acid concentrations than seed grown in moderate climates.

History of Hemp Oil

Hemp is an ancient cultivated crop; one cited claim places its cultivation in China roughly 20,000 years ago, though that specific figure is flagged as uncorroborated. By the 16th century, hemp was established as a widely grown fiber and seed cash crop in Europe, and is reported to have reached New England by 1645. U.S. hemp cultivation was prohibited under the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, though U.S. hemp production temporarily resumed during World War II in response to disrupted fiber imports and increased wartime demand, before restored controls followed after the war. Hemp seed oil is reported to have been the most widely consumed lighting oil until the 1870s, when hydrocarbon fuels and electric lighting displaced it; growth in cotton production and steam- and petroleum-powered shipping is also cited as reducing historical demand for hemp. Historically, hemp seed oil was also used in soap, linoleum, paints, and varnishes, alongside its use as a lighting fuel.

Summary

Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated crops, with a use history spanning lighting fuel, textiles, and industrial products long before its 20th-century prohibition and eventual return as a regulated agricultural commodity.