The Historical Journey of Hemp in Turkey – Part II
9/4/20252 min read
The story of hemp in Turkey underwent a dramatic turning point beginning in the 1970s. International pressure and newly signed treaties reshaped the crop’s future. The 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs classified hemp among “controlled plants,” placing its cultivation and trade under state authorization. This was followed by the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1972 Protocol, which imposed even stricter regulations. The strongest pressure came from the United States, which, under its newly declared “War on Drugs,” demanded a complete ban on cannabis with high THC content. Since industrial hemp and psychoactive cannabis were difficult to distinguish in the field, and because laboratory infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms were inadequate, even low-THC cultivation was considered risky. As a result, hemp acreage in Turkey declined rapidly.
The ban had significant impacts on both agriculture and industry. Many farmers who depended on hemp for income faced serious losses and were forced to shift to more profitable crops such as corn, sunflower, and tobacco. On the industrial side, securing adequate supplies of fiber and seed became increasingly difficult, leading to a rise in imports. This created an economic gap for farmers while centuries of accumulated knowledge about hemp cultivation began to fade.
By 1990, the state introduced a new regulation: the “Regulation on the Cultivation and Control of Hemp.” From that point forward, hemp could only be grown in provinces designated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers were required to obtain written permission in advance; unauthorized cultivation led to destruction of the crop, with costs charged to the grower. Black Sea provinces such as Samsun, Kastamonu, Amasya, and Sinop emerged as the main centers, though cultivation remained small in scale. While in the early 1990s hemp was grown on several thousand decares, by the 2000s this had dropped to just a few hundred, and in some years below 50 decares. In certain years, official records show that no cultivation took place at all. This decline made the industry heavily dependent on imports. Fiber, yarn, and semi-finished hemp products were increasingly sourced from China, India, Ukraine, and European countries. For farmers, hemp lost its appeal: weak market demand, low purchase guarantees, and bureaucratic hurdles discouraged production.
A new turning point came in 2016. The “Regulation on the Cultivation and Control of Hemp” reintroduced hemp into Turkey’s agricultural agenda. Controlled cultivation was permitted in 19 provinces, later expanded to 21. Only licensed farmers were allowed to grow hemp, certified seeds became mandatory, and regular inspections were carried out. These measures restored hemp’s status as a strategic crop. At the same time, local seed development programs were launched. In cooperation with Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University and the Ministry of Agriculture, low-THC, high-yield varieties such as “Vezir” and “Narlı” were developed.
Through university–industry collaborations, hemp began to regain value. Pilot projects were initiated in textiles, construction materials, biocomposites, and cosmetics. Cultivated areas began to expand again, offering farmers a new source of income and providing industry with a sustainable alternative raw material. After a long period of stagnation, hemp managed to re-enter Turkey’s agricultural and industrial agenda with renewed strength.