The Weed Science Society of America developed from the Association of Regional Weed Control Conferences. A "Temporary National Advisory Committee" for the regional weed control conferences first met in 1949 to "explore the need of a national weed organization...that could speak for the four regional weed conferences on matters of mutual or national concern." Representatives from the Western Weed Conference, the North Central Weed Control Conference, the Northeastern Weed Control Conference, and the Southern Weed Conference were in attendance. The name was decided upon and the purpose was determined to be "to coordinate the activities of member conferences on weed control problems of national scope."

The Association was to be comprised of two delegates from each member conference. At the second meeting in 1950, a constitution for the Association was approved, and it was decided that a publication should be established to "publish articles of basic value in all phases of the national weed program, such as research education, and regulatory functions." In 1951, a name, Weeds, and an organizational structure were approved for the publication, and the first issue appeared in October. Also in 1951, a motion was passed to work toward a national meeting in 1952-1953.

The First National Weed Control Conference was held in December 1953, just prior to the North Central Weed Control Conference, in Kansas City, Missouri. In December 1954, at a meeting in Fargo, North Dakota, the Association of Regional Weed Control Conferences formed a national society, to be called the Weed Society of America. The charter meeting was held in 1956 in New York City. The object of the Society was to "encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their control through publishing research findings, fostering high standards of education, encouraging effective regulation, and promoting unity in all phases of weed work." Membership was open to individuals and organizations of all nations interested in the objectives of the Society. The name of the Society was changed to Weed Science Society of America in 1967.