March 1, 2025

USA Celebrated the Seventh National Hemp Day

On February 4, 2025, the USA celebrated the seventh National Hemp Day. 

The wellness brand cbdMD established this event in 2019 to celebrate the plant’s benefits and potential. The vision behind National Hemp Day has always been to educate the world about hemp’s uses.

cbdMD - The wellness brand

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The seventh National Hemp Day celebrated the economic boost hemp has given U.S. farmers and the rural economy.

The legalisation of hemp has been a boom for the U.S. economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been monitoring the progress of the hemp industry through its National Hemp Report. The total value of hemp production was reported at 824 million dollars in 2021.

By 2023, this value decreased to 291 million dollars. 

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting surveys to collect data for 2024. The results will be published soon.

Grand View Research estimated that the U.S. industrial hemp market was worth 1.63 billion dollars in 2023. It is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1% from 2024 to 2030.

Colorado generated 1.5 billion in 2023 through hemp. Kentucky has replaced its reliance on tobacco with hemp. The state now has over 1,000 hemp farms. 

The global hemp market is expected to cross 18 billion by 2027. Hemp’s versatility ensures demand from a wide range of industries. 

The seventh National Hemp Day also celebrated hemp’s contributions to sustainability. 

American environmentalist and writer Winona LaDuke says, “Hemp isn’t just a crop—it’s a climate solution.”

Hemp is more effective than trees in lowering the global carbon footprint. One ton of harvested hemp absorbs 1.6 tons of CO2. Climate change activists advocate for choosing hemp-based products. 

Hemp crop grows in just 90 days. It doesn’t need tons of pesticides. 

It can produce fire-resistant and lightweight concrete. Brands like HempWood are making furniture and flooring with hemp fibres. 

Hemp bioplastics offer a revolutionary solution to the waste crisis caused by petroleum-based plastics. In 1941, Henry Ford revealed a prototype car made of hemp-based bioplastic. This car ran on hemp ethanol fuel. 

Hemp seeds have all nine essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Brands like Manitoba Harvest now sell hemp-based milk, protein powder and snacks. 

Hemp has often been confused with its psychoactive cousin, marijuana. The production of industrial hemp under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 till the Farm Bill of 2018 legalised it. 

However, the positive impact of hemp on the U.S. is being noticed. Countries like Panama are following the U.S.’s lead.

Vishal Vivek is the Founder and CEO of Ukhi, a pioneering bio-materials company dedicated to ending plastic pollution by converting agricultural waste into high-performance compostable polymers. With a background in sustainable entrepreneurship and over a decade of technology experience, he leads Ukhi’s vision to create scalable, planet-positive material solutions. Previously, Vishal founded the Hemp Foundation, where he empowered more than 1,000 farmers and advanced sustainable livelihood initiatives. His work has been recognized through awards such as the HDFC Parivartan Grant and featured in leading publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. Times Group recognized him as a legendary entrepreneur and published his biography in “I Did IT- Vol 2” alongside social pioneers like Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). Vishal has authored more than 200 articles on sustainability and hemp, reflecting his deep expertise and advocacy for regenerative solutions. His commitment to grassroots impact led him to live in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand, where he immersed himself in the lives of marginal farmers, understanding their challenges and co-creating economic opportunities through hemp-based initiatives. A deeply passionate innovator, Vishal often draws inspiration from seemingly impossible achievements: “If Elon Musk can make rockets reusable, or Dashrath Manjhi can carve a path through a mountain with rudimentary tools, why can’t we eliminate the demon of single-use plastic while uplifting struggling farmers? We will make it happen—whatever it takes.” Ukhi is proud to be supported by premier institutions including IIT Guwahati, NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR Pusa), and the Indian Institute of Packaging. Vishal is committed to demonstrating that business can be a powerful catalyst for global environmental and social good. Connect with Vishal Vivek