Farms desire a distinction of Hemp from Marijuana

There is a growing movement among farms and farmers across the country.  The desire of a distinction between Hemp and Marijuana is growing.

Hemp, which lacks the potent hallucinogenic effects of its relative marijuana, can be used for many products including fabric for clothing, to automobile door panels, to even floor carpet backing.  Currently, it takes a federal approval for a farm to grow hemp.  Advocates for a distinction between the two claim that you can smoke a length of hemp as long as a telephone pole - and not get high from its use  (though a strong headache is far more likely).

The law as it is currently slated on the books, however is much more stringent.  It treats all forms of Cannabis sativa L. as being the same.

The active hallucinogenic material found in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (otherwise known as THC).  Hemp contains approximately 0.3% THC, whereas the leaves & flowers of the plant which is what is desired by pot smokers contains 5-30% THC.

As farms and farmers continue to look for alternate crops, it will be interesting to see how this battle shakes out.