Hemp has a wide variety of different uses including cloth, ropes, chemicals, paper, plywood, food, and insulation. Hemp is a member of the marijuana plant family, Cannabis sativa, and has a very low potency of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that causes the marijuana high. Because of this potential, cultivation of hemp in the United States is limited and very regulated. Hemp as a Natural Alternative: What is Hemp Purdue University: Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America
Hemp Cultivation Ban
Though hemp has negligible THC content, the DEA classifies hemp as marijuana. This incorrect classification raises costs of hemp products because Americans are forced to import hemp from other countries.
The United States government used to make a distinction between industrial hemp and marijuana, and it used to be illegal to refuse to grow hemp for the government (as seen in the Hemp For Victory video).
References
Fast Facts
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Produces 2 to 3 times as much fiber per acre as cottonHemp as a Natural Alternative: History of Hemp
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Contains less than 0.3% THC compared to 25% found in marijuanaHemp as a Natural Alternative: What is Hemp
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Sail material of choice from the 5th century BC until the 19th centuryHemp as a Natural Alternative: History of Hemp
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May have originated in the HimilayasHemp as a Natural Alternative: History of Hemp
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There is a 8,000 BC piece of Mesopotamian hemp fabricHemp as a Natural Alternative: History of Hemp
