KEARNEY — Two years after Nebraska legalized the growing of industrial hemp for research purposes, not a single seed has been planted. The delay, some advocates say, is an economic mistake, leaving the state out of the rush to capitalize on the potential of what some call a “magical plant.”

“It’s got 2,500 uses,” said Ismail Dweikat, an agronomy and horticulture professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Cornhusker State, he said, is an ideal location to grow hemp, which with little water or fertilizer can be used to make medicine, clothing, cosmetics and building materials.

“You go to the store and you can buy a bottle of hemp oil for $15,” Dweikat said. “We could grow it here.”

Click here to read the complete article

Paul Hammel ~ World-Herald via Omaha.com ~