Hemp: Marijuana's cousin could be boon to N.C. farmers

North Carolina's farmers are being urged by experts with the state Department of Agriculture to grow hemp, a plant that is related to marijuana but that contains no intoxicants.

Hemp is a valuable plant that can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Historically, it was used to make rope for sailing ships. But it also can be turned into cloth, food, fuel, paper, plastic and dozens of other products.

It could prove to be a good alternative to more traditional crops that have not done so well in recent years. Farmers are always looking to diversify, and hemp could prove to be a cash crop that makes up for low prices on corn, cotton and soybeans.

There will be critics, of course, who will claim it will be too easy for marijuana growers to disguise their plants if there are fields of hemp around. But the risk is small. Hemp fields are closely monitored to ensure nothing illegal is being grown.

Eastern North Carolina farmers are still struggling to find a crop to take the place of tobacco. Hemp could become that crop. The federal government has given the go-ahead for hemp growers, and a number of states have followed. Farmers looking to improve their bottom line should investigate the possibility of growing hemp. At any rate, it's worth a try.

Published in Editorials on March 15, 2017 9:42 AM