Hempstead was an agriworld in the Inner Rim that was known for its production of cannabis (otherwise known as hemp, hence the planet's name). Livestock such as bovines and swine as well as other psychoactive herbs such as tobacco and savorium were also produced in large quantities on Hempstead. Hempstead's cannabis was considered to be among the best in the galaxy, and was found in abundance of several markets on highly-populated planets from the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim; hemp produced on Hempstead was sold in foreign markets as "source-hemp", as Hempstead was considered to be the first source of mass-produced cannabis in the galactic community.
By the modern era, Hempstead had a population of 50,000 Humans (virtually all of which working on farms or in mines) and was governed by a democratic republic headed by an elected Governor-in-Chief.
History[]
Hempstead was terraformed and settled by Corellians in c. 800 BBY and, after its ecosystem was fully established, quickly became one of the most productive farm worlds in Corellia's sphere of influence. When cannabis became illegal in most parts of the Galactic Republic, Hempstad was one of the only worlds where production of cannabis remained legal, though only for industrial purposes (such as for clothing, paper, and rope). Without a legal market to sell the psychoactive parts of their plants, many farmers on Hempstead turned to criminal syndicates such as the Black Sun. Naturally, the Black Sun's rivals, the Hutts, also attempted to establish a foothold on the planet, leading to several battles between mercenary armies of both underworld factions that took place on Hempstead. When cannabis was relegalized for medicinal purposes by the end of the Clone Wars, farmers on Hempstead returned to the legal markets and managed to drive the syndicates off of their world after there was no more need for associating with them.
The Hempstead Company, which owned most of the farms and mines on Hempstead and shipped cannabis and tobacco products to other corporations, was the only corporation centered on Hempstead and the planet's largest employer. The company was purchased by the Trade Federation in 24 BBY and remained under its control through the course of the Clone Wars, though regained its independence when the Trade Federation was nationalized by the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY. During the war, many farmers on Hempstead left their homeworld to fight for the Confederacy of Independent Systems as crewmen aboard Separatist warships and even restricted trade with nearby Republic worlds; these restrictions were of course lifted when the Hempstead Company gained its independence from the Trade Federation. An Imperial recruitment center was established on Hempstead and more than 25,000 Hempites (half of the planet's entire population) left to serve in the Imperial Army and Navy - a shortage of farmers, as many of them left to fight as Imperial soldiers, meant that remaining Hempites had to turn to droids to help in their farms and processing plants, making Hempstead a target for the greedy droid-manufacturing companies.