This plant was required growing for farmers from middle ages Europe to in 17th century America. President Thomas Jefferson declared it a "necessity;" it was Kentucky's largest cash crop until 1915. What was it?

For centuries, industrial hemp was a foundational crop for global economies due to its incredible versatility and durability. Its strong fibers were the primary material for making rope, canvas sails, and textiles, making it a non-negotiable strategic resource for any nation with a navy or merchant marine. This strategic importance is why governments, from King Henry VIII in 16th-century England to the colonial government in Jamestown, Virginia, passed laws mandating that farmers dedicate a portion of their land to its cultivation.

In the early United States, hemp was just as critical. Founding Fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew it extensively. Jefferson, in particular, valued it not just for naval supplies but also for its potential to produce paper and durable homespun cloth, which he believed were essential for a self-sufficient nation. He saw the plant as so vital to the new country's success that he declared it a "necessity of the first order."

The crop flourished in the fertile soil of the American interior, especially in Kentucky. For over a century, hemp was the state's most valuable cash crop, fueling its economy. Its dominance only began to fade in the early 1900s as the demand for sails and rope dwindled with the rise of steam-powered ships and the introduction of cheaper imported fibers. This economic shift, long before its 20th-century legal troubles, marked the end of hemp's reign in the Bluegrass State.