I’ll bet you didn’t know the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Nor did you know the first American paper mill (established by Benjamin Franklin) exclusively produced hemp paper. Our nation began with an acceptance of industrial hemp, an agricultural staple to the economy. Great leaders from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson cultivated large hemp crops to sell for profit.  But what exactly is hemp?

Industrial hemp is a sustainable crop that yields far more pulp per acre than trees. If harvested for paper, the U.S. would consume less energy than it takes to harvest trees, fewer chemicals, and aptly preserve the natural habitat of thousands of animals.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Hemp seeds create a combustible fuel oil that can be generated into ethanol. The legalization and production of hemp crops in the U.S. could help solve our energy crisis faster, while providing a sustainable and renewable green energy.

Industrial hemp can be used to make clothes, textile fiber, plastic, paint, and concrete – not to mention super nutritional, high protein food. An abundant source of amino and Essential Fatty Acids, this miracle plant contains 43% more proteins than animal products and has been shown to lower blood cholesterol.

The benefits of hemp are endless. Why is it now illegal?

Most Americans have been led to believe that industrial hemp is a close relative of the psychoactive substance marijuana, therefore a drug that should be kept off-limits. A person cannot get high off hemp; however, they could instead make bio-degradable plastics, bio-fuel, and never have to cut down another tree to make paper. The government would be wise to reverse its unfounded prohibition of the miracle plant by passing Ron Paul’s Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009 as soon as possible.

Industrial hemp was made illegal in 1938 by President J. Edgar Hoover. Up until then hemp was used for everything from food to clothing. Even Henry Ford, who dreamt of automobiles grown from soil, experimented with hemp-manufactured fuel and hemp-based plastic to produce a more efficient vehicle.

But it turned out that hemp was too useful, too efficient, and corporate fat cats couldn’t gain enough control of the massive market to produce huge profits. DuPont, a company involved in oil and coal production, developed a chemical that enabled trees to be processed into paper for a cheaper rate than hemp, luring in powerful investors like William Randolph Hearst. Coming under a barrage of political pressure, the Hoover administration decidedly added hemp to the list of narcotics, and prohibited any growth of the plant in the U.S.

Hoover’s decision has led our forests to be ravaged down to nothing and our oceans polluted by non-biodegradable plastics. If Congress passes the Industrial Hemp Farming Act we may not be able to reverse history’s mistakes, but we can prevent more from happening in the future.

Given all the opportunities industrial hemp could provide this nation, the government would be wise to legalize a product that could single-handedly create thousands of jobs at a time of economic crisis. Popular Mechanics, in February 1937, predicted hemp would be the world’s first “billion dollar crop” that would support thousands of jobs and provide a vast array of consumer products from dynamite to plastics.

That dream was cut short by big business, but it doesn’t have to be forgotten. Put into use, hemp could help with our struggling agricultural sector, stimulate new businesses, and put Americans back to work – all of which is essential to getting us out of this nasty recession.

Congress might be slow to act. The prohibition of hemp cannot be swiftly reversed since the ban is based on corporate, fat cat greed which would create much unwanted political pressure on the Obama administration. According to sdearthtimes.com, “The drug war is big business, a huge business. If hemp cultivation were legalized, there would be an awful lot of DEA agents out of a job.” Ron Paul may not be alone, and other members of Congress may understand what industrial hemp could do for this country. But the fear of losing the support of big business outweighs even the most rational decision.

That is why we must support Ron Paul’s Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009. We as citizens must stand up against big business, voice our opinions, and show Congress that a favorable vote will be met with a united citizenry – a force much stronger than a few CEOs. Industrial hemp should be legalized and it’s up to us to make it happen. I urge you to visit www.thepoint.com and get involved in the hemp legalization campaign. Encourage our representatives to make the right decision and lead our country to a better future.