CBD and hemp may help boost Kentucky’s tourism in 2019

CBD and hemp tourism is expected to rise in Kentucky in 2019 thanks to the US Senate and House both passing the 2018 Farm Bill, which is now with the country’s president, Donald Trump, for final signature. It permanently removes all hemp, including CBDs (cannabidiol – commonly used for medicinal purposes), from the Controlled Substances Act, and Kentucky is expecting an increase in tourism around this area as a result.

The production of hemp in Kentucky has a history dating to pioneer times. The state was once known as the “hemp capital of the world,” and at its height, hemp-covered 52,000 acres of Kentucky. Hemp has recently resumed as a legal industry, as Kentucky was one of the first states to pass a hemp bill that would set up the framework for legalization. This allowed for reinvestment in mass hemp production, an agricultural sector that was integral to the early growth and prosperity of Kentucky, especially in Lexington, which is home to a number of hemp testing sites.

There are two separate trails that are likely to appeal to visitors. First is the self-guided Hemp Heritage Trail, which features 20 historic landmarks in Central Kentucky tied to the antebellum hemp history. In addition to the historical markers, the tour incorporates historical attractions such as the Mulberry Orchard in Shelby County, which offers seasonal tours of a working hemp farm.

Then there’s the Hemp Highway of Kentucky, which starts with the 13 historical roadside markers in 11 counties that discuss the hemp in Kentucky. It also identifies relevant places of interest in each county, which all have a connection to the history or future of the hemp industry, such as restored mansions originally built with hemp-generated wealth.

For further information, see VisitLEX’s website here.

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