Oahu Weed.

• Author: Sullum, Jacob
• Position: Brief Article

Once famous for especially potent cannabis, Hawaii may soon be known for a variety that is weaker than ditchweed. In December, as part of an experiment sanctioned by the state legislature, University of Hawaii researchers began planting industrial hemp on a quarter-acre plot in Oahu.

Since it contains a negligible amount of THC, marijuana's main psychoactive ingredient, this crop isn't worth smoking. But it is useful in manufacturing a wide variety of products, including textiles, paper, cord, foods, beauty aids, and building materials. Although such products are legally available in this country, the plants from which they're made have to be grown elsewhere, because state and federal laws do not distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana.

That's starting to change. Hawaii is the third state to endorse the experimental cultivation of hemp, following North Dakota and Minnesota. The Oahu project--backed by a $200,000 grant from Alterna, a company that uses hemp seeds in its hair care products--is the first to get started. The experiment is aimed at...