Originally posted by: Ynog
http://www.earthgreen.org/hemp.htm
But in the early 1900?s, as the paper industry grew, it came to a crossroads, needing to choose between hemp and trees as its primary source of pulp. If the hemp plant was chosen, the logging industry would be threatened with financial ruin.
William Hearst, owner of a large timber company and many newspapers printed from tree-derived paper, started a campaign to stop hemp. He filled his newspapers with stories portraying hemp as a drug used by ?criminals and minorities.? Hearst used the Mexican slang word ?marijuana? instead if ?hemp? to help change its image from the all-American plant to an evil drug ?used by minorities. Hearst was joined by Du Pont and several other companies that saw a potential for profit in outlawing hemp. For Hearst and his enormous timber company, making hemp illegal was attractive because it guaranteed an enormous market for paper made from wood. For Du Pont, making hemp illegal would eliminate the stiffest competition for the company?s new synthetic fabrics, such as nylon. Because of their efforts, people became afraid of this ?dangerous drug,? and hemp became illegal. In the process, many potential benefits to our society were also lost.
The fact that some forms of the hemp plant also produce a psychoactive substance (THC) should not blind us to the tremendous benefits this plant can provide. Hemp can be grown without any THC, making it pharmacologically inert and completely undesirable to smoke.
Edit: Forgot the link