Hemp flag to fly over US Capitol on July 4

An American flag made of industrial hemp will fly over the U.S. Capitol on Independence Day.

Democratic Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado announced Wednesday that his request for the hemp-made flag was granted.

Polis has long pushed for the plant to be legal for farmers to grow. Industrial hemp looks much like marijuana but does not have its psychoactive properties. Federal law prohibits growing hemp, but not importing it.

Historians say the first American flags were made of hemp, which was raised by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Polis successfully amended the federal farm bill last month to allow farmers to raise industrial hemp. However, the farm bill ultimately failed.

Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon also sponsored the hemp farm bill amendment.