WASHINGTON -- Hemp is one of the most versatile, economical and eco-friendly crops on the planet, but it is illegal to grow in the United States because it is a cousin to marijuana.
Hemp does not have any of marijuana's intoxicating properties, however, and with America going green, there's a movement to bring the hemp plant back to U.S. soil,
News4's Wendy Rieger reported.
Hemp can be used in a number of products, including milk, cereal, soap and lotions. Its fibers are used to make rope and clothing-- including
wedding gowns. Its seeds are rich in protein, iron, Vitamin E and Omega-3s.
We can eat it, we can drink it and we can wear it. We just can't grow it.
"It's the only crop legal to import into the United States but not legal to grow here," said Adam Eidinger of Vote Hemp, a nonprofit organization that wants farmers to be able to grow the crop.
Hemp is classified under the Controlled Substances Act because of its relationship to marijuana, even though hemp is genetically different. It's not allowed to be grown because drug enforcement fears marijuana growers will hide their illicit crop in the hemp fields.
"We enforce the marijuana laws through visual and aerial surveillance. You will no longer able to do that," said narcotics officer John Lovell.
But hemp supporters argue that marijuana can't be planted next to hemp because hemp produces a chemical that destroys THC, the substance that gives marijuana its potency.
That is why marijuana growers prefer to hide their crop in corn fields.
"There is a problem with pot being hid in corn fields, but we're not banning corn," Eidinger said.
Thirty countries grow industrial hemp. The United States gets most of its supply from Canada.
California recently passed a hemp bill allowing its farmers to grow it, but the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it.
Conservative Republican Chuck Devore was one of the bill's authors.
"This is a freedom issue. This is about freeing American farmers to grow crop that is legally imported into the United States every day," Devore said.
North Dakota farmers just sued to grow hemp, but the judge dismissed the case, telling them to take it up with Congress.
Yet hemp is growing in the United States in other ways. Retail sales of hemp products topped $70 million in the country last year.
Supporters estimate it would be a $300 million industry if our hemp was homegrown.
Related Links Copyright 2008 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
