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Swedish hemp history Archaeological finds reveal that hemp was cultivated in central Sweden (Jämtland) as early as in the third century A.D. The Vikings used hemp as ropes and sails etc. for their ships. During the early middle ages, hemp was cultivated around Lake Mälaren, in Dalarna and on the island Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The first written records of hemp in Swedish came during the 12th and 13th century A.D. It is mentioned in provincial laws as an essential basic crop alongside flax, beans, peas, wheat and rye. King Gustav Vasa (1523-1560), recognises hemp as an important crop, not only for the common man but also for the navy and national army. Many royal administrations that succeeded him issued several publications on hemp cultivation, which can be studied today at the Royal Library in Stockholm.
The Swedish government subsidises hemp farming during W.W.II. Cannabis extracts were used in Swedish medicines as late as in the 1970:s. In the 1970:s the government finally bans hemp arguing that it is a narcotic plant. In 2001, a few Swedish farmers dared the national laws and under the risk of being arrested as serious drug criminals, planted industrial hemp. The police confiscated the crops but the farmers received supporting statements from local courts. The whole confusing situation will hopefully be solved once and for all by the EU-parliament. January 2003. At last! As expected, the EU-court declared that the Swedish government has no authority to prevent Swedish farmers from cultivating hemp. |
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Carolus
Linnaeus, in Sweden known as Carl von Linné (1707-1778), is often called
the Father of Taxonomy. His system for naming, ranking, and classifying
organisms is still in wide use today (with many changes). His ideas
on classification have influenced generations of biologists during and
after his own lifetime, even those opposed to the philosophical and
theological roots of his work. He classified hemp as Cannabis sativa
– meaning "useful", "industrial" or "cultivated" hemp.