5 Little-Known Facts About the History of Cannabis in Virginia

Richmond, Va. — As lawmakers work on legislation to (ahem—finally) create a retail market for recreational cannabis sales, it is worth noting that hemp and cannabis are nothing new to the Commonwealth. In fact, the documented connection reaches back more than four centuries.

Here are five little-known facts about the historical role of cannabis in Virginia:

1: Ships Using Hemp Sails and Rigging Carried the First Colonists

In 1607, when the English ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery landed at what would become known as Jamestown, their ropes, rigging, and sailcloth were all made of hemp fiber. Hemp rope was prized as strong and resistant to saltwater, making it indispensable for crossing the Atlantic.

2: Virginia Passed America’s First Hemp Law in 1619 — And It Wasn’t a Ban

Hemp was considered so essential that Virginia’s earliest cannabis law actually required people to grow it. In 1619, colonial authorities mandated hemp cultivation in Jamestown to support England’s naval and shipping industries.

3: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson Grew Hemp

George Washington grew hemp at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson did the same at Monticello. Of course, the difficult work of hemp cultivation was performed almost entirely by enslaved people.

4: Virginia Passed One of the Nation’s Earliest Medical Cannabis Laws

In 1979, Virginia passed legislation allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis for patients suffering from glaucoma or the side effects of chemotherapy. But there was a catch: the law did not create any pathway for producing or distributing cannabis.

5: Virginia Was the First Southern State to Legalize Possession

In 2021, Virginia again made cannabis history by legalizing adult possession of small amounts of marijuana, and permitting adults to grow up to four plants for personal use. The law made Virginia the first of the former Confederate states to legalize adult possession and consumption.