On Thursday, April 29, the Government of Armenia approved a draft law to allow the cultivation, import, export and sale of industrial hemp, per PanArmenian.

According to the package of proposals, about 1/3 of Armenia’s agricultural lands are uncultivated. By allowing hemp production in Armenia, the authors argue, an attempt is made to boost the development of agriculture, to use all the resources to achieve economic development.

Hemp is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth and can be used to make a wide range of products. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.