The annual herb Cannabis sativa, commonly known as hemp, is cultivated in the United States, Chile, Europe, and
Asia for a variety of purposes. Manufacturers of soft clothing fabrics extract recently pollinated fibers from the inner
bark of the hemp stem, while producers of coarse fabrics, ropes, and sailcloth utilize the strong, coarse fibers of more
mature stems. In addition, the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant are used to produce narcotics such as hashish
and marijuana.
