It is a real stealth crop. They are now growing commercial amounts in Canada, but even while marijuana is booming in the US, the DEA is still blocking the growing of hemp.
“The final 2014 Farm Bill agreement included a provision that would allow institutions of higher education and state departments of agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp.
“Nineteen states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia—currently have laws to provide for hemp pilot studies and/or for production as described by the Farm Bill stipulations.
“Eight of these states—California, Colorado, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia—sponsored hemp resolutions and have laws to promote the growth and marketing of industrial hemp.”
Once full scale hemp production is legal, the industry has an expected growth to $6b annually in the first decade, producing not only paper; but fine textile hemp (like silk) fabrics, with most of it exported at least at first; and a multitude of other uses including high quality animal fodder.
But back to lumber. With demand for paper pulp crumbling, it will also force lumber prices significantly lower; and, as an added bonus, preserve the remaining old growth hardwood forests in the US and even allow for reforestation of hardwoods, which have a very different forest ecosystem than pine.
It seems that as the plants have been manipulated to increase THC that it would be possible to do the opposite. A plant with only trace amounts would be received better as a commercial crop.
Also makes a much better line for ships and boats then what is currently available. Less rot than other natural fibers and less snap back than nylon.