"It can be a billion-dollar crop if we wanted it to be," said Geoff Whaling, president of the Pennsylvania Hemp Industrial Council.

Hemp was once a major Pennsylvania cash crop used to make rope and other textiles.

If you ever wondered how the various Hempfield townships got their name, you need look no further than this non-psychotropic cousin of marijuana.

Now, with the state Department of Agriculture's approval of 16 research projects that explore possible uses for and the viability of industrial hemp, the industry could soon see a resurgence.

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Wallace McKelvey ~ PennLive.com ~