It's Definitely Not Your Father's Hemp.

• Position: Brief Article

States are eyeing a new crop for cash-strapped farmers--hemp.

The "weed" was grown extensively in the United States for the first 150 years of the republic--it was used in the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was written, in Betsy Ross' first flag and in early Ford cars.

A federal prohibition on growing hemp has been in place for more than 50 years because of the notoriety of its "kissing cousin," marijuana. (Hemp has very little of the narcotic chemical found in pot.)

Today, (imported) hemp can be used in as many as 25,000 products, including rope, clothing, diapers, car parts and carpet. Oil from the seeds is used in shampoo, beer, vitamins and lip balm.

A number of states have considered legislation to allow research and study of industrial hemp as a cash crop, but only Hawaii has been authorized by Uncle Sam to plant it.

The Maryland legislature sent HB 1250 to Governor Parris Glendening to establish a four-year pilot program, beginning July 1. The law requires the state secretary of agriculture to administer the pilot program in consultation with state and federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. Only state-owned land may be used to grow industrial hemp during the pilot program.

The Illinois General Assembly is...