Hemp For Victory:

"Hemp for Victory is a black-and-white film produced in 1942 by the USDA outlining a plan to distribute 400,000 lbs. of cannabis seeds to ... all American farmers with the goal of producing 350,000 acres of cannabis by 1943 -- all for the war effort. The USDA even went as far as to urge 4-H clubs to grow at least half an acre, but preferably 2 acres of cannabis. All American farmers were required to see the film, sign a paper saying that they had viewed the film, and read a booklet on the matter. Farmers who agreed were waived from serving in the military, and all their family members were also exempt. They received farm equipment at a discounted price, and sometimes for free.

However, before and after the war -- the same plant was considered "demon weed" and the killer of the same kids that were pressed into service to grow it during the war. Furthermore, the USDA and Library of Congress denied the creation or existence of such a film until 2 copies were found and sent in to the Library of Congress. Talk about hypocrisy."

With the exception of the recent prohibition, hemp has always been an extremely important crop. Hemp makes cheap very high quality fabric, rope, paper (the Constitution of the United States is written on hemp paper) and a vast array of other products. Hemp seeds have a perfect balance of essential fatty acids found nowhere else. Henry Ford invested heavily in researching fuel made from hemp. It doesn't deplete the soil, you don't need pesticides or herbicides and is a fully renewable resource (it grows like a weed). This has been an indispensable plant throughout the history of civilization. Wars have been won and lost because of hemp, or the lack of. The fact that it is illegal has very little to do with the fact that it gets you high, and an awful lot to do with cotton growers, the forestry industry, big oil, and so on.