Hemp is not pot and does not represent hippies and free love. "Industrial hemp and marijuana are both from the same species, but are distinguished by the level of THC, the substance which causes a high from smoking marijuana. Marijuana contains levels of THC which can be greater than 10 percent, while the level of THC in hemp is less than 1 percent."(2). "By definition hemp is an annual plant belonging to the Nettle family. They have green flowers, toothed leaves and a rough, hollow stem"(6).
Hemp is native to central and western Asia and is cultivated in both temperate and tropical regions. It thrives best in humid climates having rich soils. In other words hemp can and will thrive from as far north as Alaska to the southern tip of Florida. "Estimates of costs and returns for fiber hemp offer what they consider to be a conservative profit per acre of $272.04. This is based on a six-ton-per-acre harvest, the volume now produced per acre in Canada"(1). Some agriculturists believe that land in the United States could produce as much as eight to ten tons per acre resulting in an even higher per acre profit. In addition farmers will not have to use herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides since the plant grows extremely well without them.
"Seventy percent of Montana adults who responded to a December survey said they supported the cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes. At least twenty-nine nations, including Canada, France, England, Germany, Japan, and Australia, allow farmers to cultivate the non-psychoactive crop for its fiber content"(5). Each country uses its hemp industry for various purposes, from research to making raw materials for resale or export. The United States is only allowing the growth of hemp for research at this time while other countries are exporting its product for a healthy profit. "Hemp can be grown only with permission from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration"(3).
