But the many uses and advantages of hemp could not be ignored. During World War II, Japan cut off our supplies of vital hemp and coarse fibers. The hemp was needed for making, among other things, rope to be used on navy ships. Hemp harvesting machinery was made available at low or no cost. Both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were drafted on hemp, then copied onto parchment.
Paper made of hemp lasts many times longer than if made of wood.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture studies show that hemp yields more than four times as much sustainable pulp per acre as timber. Processing hemp uses much less chemical acid than does wood. Since it requires less bleach, hemp also reduces dioxin pollution. And each ton of paper made from hemp will save 12 mature trees. And, unlike fossil fuels, hemp does not contain sulfur, a major cause of acid rain.