There actually might be a silver lining to the fact that "China's ban on scrap could overwhelm U.S. recycling" (Washington Post, June 21). In a word: hemp. Banned in 1937, through the "Marihuana (sic) Act" this biodegradable yet sturdier-than-steel crop, used by Henry Ford for his automobiles, was myopically lumped together with its smokable cousin. Despite efforts by 16 states to reintroduce it, hemp remains illegal at a national level, ironically while cannabis has been elbowing its way into respectability, certainly greater prominence and availability; even the current White House has expressed support--for the latter. While plastic needs hundreds of years to be absorbed by nature, the virtuous non-weed requires a mere six months. Growing it indeed is said to improve the soil. It can replace plastic on almost all fronts, while not establishing continental garbage dumps and murdering anything from turtles to whales. It can also be turned into paper, textiles, and a myriad of other products This is certainly an area to make America (and the world) great and certainly more hospitable. It would of course reduce the need to export scrap to China.