There is historical evidence to suggest that there was a smear campaign against hemp in the early 20th century. The campaign was largely driven by various industries, including the paper industry, which had economic interests in promoting alternatives to hemp. One well-known example is the association of hemp with marijuana and the subsequent efforts to demonize both substances.

In the 1930s, there was a political and social push to criminalize marijuana, and hemp was caught up in the same narrative due to its botanical relationship to the cannabis plant. The term "marijuana" was used to associate both psychoactive cannabis and non-psychoactive hemp with negative stereotypes and fears. This campaign, fueled by misinformation and racist undertones, contributed to the decline of hemp cultivation and the rise of alternative industries, such as the wood-based paper.

It's important to note that there were multiple factors at play, including economic interests and changing societal norms, the smear campaign did play a role in shaping the perception of hemp and its potential uses. Over the years, as attitudes towards cannabis have evolved and environmental concerns have grown, there has been a resurgence of interest in hemp and its various applications, including paper production.