It's not just for hippies anymore. This is the common name for the cannabis sativa plant, a cousin of the psychotropic plant marijuana; it's a highly versatile, eco-friendly, sustainable resource. Hemp is naturally resistant to pests and is cultivated for its long, durable, absorbent fibers, which can be used for paper, fabric, rope, and the like. The stalks also represent a potential source of biomass fuel and even bioplastics. Hemp is also grown for its seeds and their oil, which have numerous culinary uses. The use of hemp in the United States is limited, however, to imported material, as the plant cannot be legally grown here, despite the fact that it is not a narcotic.

Worldwide, hemp has been employed for a variety of uses since ancient times. Through the early part of the 20th century it was a significant crop in the United States, and its cultivation was even subsidized by the U.S. government during World War II. Before and after the war, however, a vocal anti-marijuana movement effected to shut down all hemp production in the U.S., in spite of the fact that industrial hemp and the marijuana plant were distinct and separate species. Today, countries around the world are rediscovering the value of hemp and cultivating it; some U.S. states are introducing legislation to allow for industrial hemp, but progress is slow. Authorities argue that it is hard to tell the difference between hemp and marijuana when they are growing; they say legalizing hemp would complicate drug-law enforcement.

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