Cannabis is a truly ancient crop. It first entered the record of human history around 12,000 years ago in Central Asia. 1 Seeds of the plant moved with nomadic tribes, first spreading to the rest of Asia and Africa before making its way into Europe and eventually the Americas.
Hemp was a staple crop of developing civilizations, providing fiber for sails, ropes, food and oil. In the developing United States, some states mandated growing hemp and even George Washington grew it at Mount Vernon.