Different kind of marijuana plant I believe, but I could be wrong...Don't know much about hemp cause it doesn't get me high.
@Misterman228 Yes but there is no THC in it. If you can grow a plant aka a seed or smoke it then yes. I believe it's only the stems and plant fiber that makes the paper. Like regular paper made of wood but with a pot plant. So the plant itself would be illegal in non medical states but after the boiling and steps taken to make it paper fiber it has no THC. Hope that answers because I confused myself I think...
The amount of THC in industrial crop hemp is so miniscule, you'd die from smoke inhalation long before you got any effects from it. It's legal to buy and own hemp products: paper, clothing, rope, etc. However, for absolutely no logical reason in the realm of reality, it is illegal to grow industrial hemp. That's pretty much it, with no sense involved: products, okay; plant, no.
Simple answer? Because it's "legally" imported. We import 3-5 billion dollars from canada every year but refuse to let our farmers grow it for both commercial use and export with the only excuse being that "it would confuse stoners and put farmers at risk." From what Ive read, Canada genetically modifies the plant to contain virtually no thc whatsoever.
Because hemp isn't going to get you high. That's why we have hemp lotions, shampoo, oil, paper, jewlery etc etc.