What comes to mind when the word “hemp” is mentioned in conversation? Even with readily available information, there still appears to be confusion about the realities of hemp. “Hemp is called the 'billion dollar crop.' This was the first time that a commercial crop had a commercial potential exceeding $1 billion (Popular Mechanics, 1938), but due to its many uses, its cultivation still remains illegal in the United States. To legally grow cannabis in any form in the United States, one must obtain a permit from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), but the strange thing is that the DEA does not issue any permits. In fact, the DEA “kicked its lobbying against industrial hemp legalization into high gear” (Grim). The strangest part of all this commotion is that the government allows the importation of this crop and Americans are allowed to do with it what they want, but the cultivation of this crop is illegal within the boundaries of the country. The reason behind this is the common psychoactive chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in both hemp and its cousin species, marijuana. The difference is that industrial hemp contains 0.03% or less THC, making it impossible to get “high” from hemp because the levels of psychoactive substances are so low. The facts all show that hemp is not a dangerous plant, that it could have many benefits for the industrial world thanks to the use of its fibers, that it has immense nutritional value thanks to the seeds and the oil, and that it could help the environment in the international crisis of deforestation in comparison. to the usual suppliers, soya, trees and cotton. Before diving into the wonders of hemp, a little clarification on the differences between hemp and medical grade marijuana will be explored. Marijuana is mentioned by a large number of dif...... middle of paper ......2013.Haskin-Popp, Cindy. “Soy vs. Hemp Protein.” LIVESTRONG.COM. Ed. George Krucik, MD. Demand Media Inc., December 10, 2010. Web. November 21, 2013. “Hemp is hip, hot and in vogue. » Utné. ©VoteHemp, Sept.-Oct. 2004. Internet. November 10, 2013. Kahn, Jared B. “Hemp...why not?” “Hemp... Why not?” by Jared B. Kahn. Bepress™, 2007. Print. Leizer, Cary, David Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Slavik Dushenkov and Ilya Raskin. “The composition of hemp seed oil and its potential as an important source of nutrition.” Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional and Medical Foods 2.4 (2000): 35-53. Print.Mitchell, Dan. “Why legalized hemp won’t be a miracle crop.” Modern farmer. Modern Farmer Media, 2013, October 13, 2013. Web. December 2, 2013. Rothenberg, Erik. “A revival of common sense: the arguments in favor of hemp in the 21st century. » (nd): n. page. Rep. in the Vote Hemp archives. Np: ©VoteHemp, 2001. 1-29. Print.