Not Pot: US Hemp Farms Take Root Under State Pilot Programs

 Because of its resemblance to marijuana, the hemp field at JD Farms had a prominent “No Trespassing” sign that advises “No THC.” Even if marijuana plants were hidden among the hemp, cross-pollination would render the pot impotent.

Hemp has been used for millennia as a source of oil, protein and fiber used in clothing, rope and paper. Modern uses include cosmetics, nutritional supplements, biofuels, building materials and pharmaceuticals.

Justh was thinking of growing it simply as a cover crop — a crop grown for soil enrichment — when he met Dan Dolgin, who was looking to partner with a farmer to grow it for its broad market potential. Dolgin, who had worked in national security in Washington, fell in love with the farm and bought into it. He’s now renovating a farmhouse there near the log cabin where Justh and his wife and teenage sons live when they’re not at their home in Brooklyn’s Park Slope.

“Hemp is a triple-value crop, with a multitude of products made from the seeds, stalks and fiber,” Dolgin said. “We hope the results of what we’re doing here will convince other farmers that this is a great opportunity.”