Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Hemp Association To Host Informational Event

Source: emmetsburgnews.com

The Iowa Hemp Association is proud to announce that its Fields of Opportunity Industrial Hemp Educational Series will be coming to the Emmetsburg area.
On Monday night, October 12, IHA will be making its way to The Shores at Five Island located at 14 N Lawler Street in Emmetsburg. The presentation will be from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM. Pizza and beverages will be provided.
The presentation will focus on the advantages of utilizing industrial hemp in place of current feed stocks, including overviews of current technologies being developed and implemented for hemp processing in the 19 states with industrial hemp programs.
The presentation will further focus on the economic advantages of farming hemp in rotation with corn/soy here in Iowa,
including an overview of current economic potential for hemp cultivation based on statistics from multiple states/countries.
In addition, we will be featuring speakers on the environmental benefits of hemp, its historical use in the United States and an overview of current state and federal laws governing hemp cultivation.
Farmers, local community leaders, law enforcement officials and concerned citizens are all invited to attend this event, free of charge to learn more about the industry. All food and drinks will be provided courtesy of the Heartland Hemp Company in Des Moines, IA
The Iowa Hemp Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit, Iowa-based, advocacy and public benefit organization dedicated to the re-introduction and re-emergence of hemp as an agricultural crop in Iowa by educating farmers, farming organizations, landowners, students, and state legislators on the history, present, and future of hemp.
This "Fields of Opportunity" educational series involves a multi-faceted presentation on cannabis and hemp. Starting with an overview of the history of prohibition and the Controlled Substances Act, presntation moves on to discuss the environmental benefits of growing industrial hemp.
Following this discussion, a presentation on the Endocannabinoid System and the medicinal benefits of cannabis will follow.
The program closes out with an overview of the historical importance of hemp to the global economy, its subsequent prohibition, and the economic opportunities available to Iowa farmers with the passage of the 2014 Federal Farm Bill.
The mission of this tour is to educate Iowans on the differences between hemp and marijuana, the history of hemp, its economic and environmental benefits, current legislative obstacles, and how Iowans can get involved.
Through lobbying efforts, we have found that without grassroots support from Iowa farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders, the top agricultural state in the US will continue to lag behind its peers in industrial hemp cultivation, research, and production.


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Hemp products help dogs

By Darren Handschuh
Source: castanet.net




Dogs are eating up a new product from a North Okanagan company – literally.
True Leaf of Vernon, is marketing a line of hemp-based doggie chews that, the company says, offers a variety of benefits to the family dog.
Called True Love, True Spirit and True Calm chews, the company says the treats supply dogs with natural antioxidants and address joint pain and anxiety. The product attracted significant interest from collectives, pet stores and dog lovers at two recent trade shows and appears ready to fill a niche in the fast-growing “functional chew” category. The local brand will be for sale in stores by late October.
The products were developed by True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. of Vernon and officially launched on Sept. 20 at the Pijac Canada show in Toronto, Canada’s largest annual pet industry trade show.
The products have secured nationwide distribution and initial orders already represent 10 per cent of the revenue goal for year one.
Earlier in September at the International Cannabis Business Exhibition in Los Angeles, True Leaf gave the U.S. market a sneak peek at the products.  
More more than 85 people signed up for future orders of the company’s range of products, including several medical marijuana collectives, dispensary owners and a grocery chain, all anticipating a huge demand from customers with pets, according to Darcy Bomford, True Leaf CEO.
“The last two weeks have been a whirlwind as we introduced the product line to the North American marketplace. We’re blown away by the response. When you see people so excited about what we are doing, it’s obvious all of our hard work is starting to pay off,” said Bomford.
Bomford stressed the next few months will be a turning point for True Leaf as it starts shipping product and generating revenue. 


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It Was High Time the City Got a Hemp Bar

By Joshua Alvarez
Source: bedfordandbowery.com

Owner (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)
Owner Lev Kelman. (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)

First the East Village got the city’s first kava bar and now comes its first hemp bar.
A large dark blue banner hangs just outside Brooklyn Dark Hemp Bar, amidst all the head shops on St. Marks Place. Earlier today, we found owner Lev Kelman setting out free samples of his ubiquitous Brooklyn Dark chocolate bars on the counter. Next to him, a coffee and espresso machine was primed and ready. Hemp chocolate brownies, pastries, and cookies were laid out on baking sheets in a small showcase on top of the counter.  A few hemp t-shirts were displayed on a red brick wall.
Wearing a green hemp t-shirt emblazoned with “YES WE HEMP” in gold letters, Kelman, a U.S. citizen with a warm Uzbek-Jewish accent, explained what led him to start producing Brooklyn Dark chocolate-hempseed bars three and a half years ago.
“The way it started was I was reading about hemp and marijuana and I realized hemp is a superfood. I saw there were hemp products like milk, cereal, health bars, but there was no hemp chocolate. People love chocolate, so might as well eat chocolate that is good for you, not like Hershey’s, that’ll poison you,” he said with a laugh.
hemp6
The growing popularity of Brooklyn Dark bars led Kelman to test the market for a hemp bar. He said he’s seen a few hempseed stores, but never a fully dedicated hemp cafe complete with hemp lattes, hemp tea, and “Rocket Fuel” (matte, hemp, and espresso). He considers the establishment, which opened its doors last month, a pop-up business. Depending on how business goes, the bar may shut down by the end of October.
The FDA still has not yet recognized hemp as a “Generally Recognized as Safe” ingredient for food and beverages. But reality on the ground has long since left those guidances behind.
Hemp pastries. (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)
Hemp pastries. (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)
“I mean, you can buy hemp seeds in Trader Joe’s. I don’t see why you can’t make hemp brownies, hemp chocolates, or hemp drinks. For thousands of years humans have been eating hemp seeds,” said Kelman.
According to Kelman, hemp boasts several health benefits. “It gives nutrition, it has omegas three, six, and nine. For vegans and vegetarians we don’t get those nutrients from fruits or vegetables, we get them from seeds and nuts,” he said. Hemp seeds also have a lot of fiber and it slows down sugar metabolism. 
Though hemp seeds come from the cannabis plant, which is also the source for marijuana, hemp contains negligible levels of THC–the stuff that gets you high. Though hemp seeds have traditionally been imported, last year New York passed the New York Hemp Law, which made industrial hemp production legal for research purposes.
Chocolate-hempseed bars. (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)
Chocolate-hempseed bars. (Photo: Joshua Alvarez)
Kelman supports the legalization of marijuana but is pessimistic legalization would happen under Governor Cuomo’s watch. “Governor Cuomo, who is miseducated or not educated about hemp, and even though he is Democratic but he has a Republican view on this thing, is just utterly–I can’t express enough how silly it is. It’s like a grown man giving childish excuses for not doing something that’s right.”
If Cuomo departs and makes room for legalization Kelman would love to expand into making edible marijuana products. “Theoretically speaking, I know how to make hashish chocolates. And they’re really fabulous,” he said, breaking into laughter. “I have a technology that is really different from most others. I’m from Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan. Culturally there were a lot of ways they were using [hashish] so I know how to properly use it.”
Brooklyn Dark Hemp Bar, 9 St. Marks Place, bet. Second and Third Ave., East Village, 800-222-9911; open Monday–Friday from 10am to 10pm, Saturday–Sunday from 11am to 10pm.

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Guiding Principles for Cannabis Industry

Source: go-jamaica.com

 Since the formal establishment of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) some four months ago, there has been much speculation among the public regarding the development of a legal marijuana and hemp industry in Jamaica. The CLA, which is the authority responsible for crafting the regulations for the sector, has committed to providing continuous updates on the progress being made; demonstrating the highest level of probity in addressing all issues.
In a recent statement issued by the Authority, a list of guiding principles have now been put in place to provide assurance, transparency and structure for individuals and/or companies seeking to operate in the space.

“To reinforce our commitment to the growth of the sector, the CLA has now developed eight guiding principles to inform how the regulations will be developed and how we will operate,” said the Chairman of the Authority, Dr. Andre Gordon.

He noted that, “The Authority was in the process of reviewing recommendations received from the consultants contracted to guide the process, along with other recommendations that have arisen through internal deliberations and initial discussions with key stakeholders in the public and private sector.”

“No licenses or applications for licenses will be considered until the required regulations are in place,” he added.

The CLA in their statement outlined the following as the eight (8) guiding principles for the sector:

1. The main focus of the CLA is to foster the growth, development and orderly regulation of a legal marijuana (ganja) and hemp industry in Jamaica, including the use of the plant and/or derivatives thereof for medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes. This must be done consistent with Jamaica's international treaty obligations regarding the cultivation, production, use and export of narcotic substances.

2.  The Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act (DDA Act) 2015 gives the CLA the power to issue such licences, permits and authorizations, as may be appropriate, for the handling of hemp and marijuana (ganja) for medical, therapeutic or scientific purposes. The CLA does not have jurisdiction over religious use of ganja, but rather this remit falls to the Ministry of Justice.

3. Marijuana (defined as Cannabis sativa with THC levels in excess of 1%) remains an illegal drug in Jamaica, a status which has not been changed under the DDA Act.

4. The CLA recognizes, respects, will actively seek the counsel of and will seek to protect the rights of, persons who have been long standing advocates for and the pioneers in the development of legal marijuana and hemp industries in Jamaica, including small farmers. This is recognized by the representation of these interests on the Board.

5. The CLA recognizes the unique contribution and cultural and historical legacy of Rastafarians to the development of the industry and will work closely with their representatives and the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) in supporting the protection of their cultural identity as the industry develops and grows. This is reinforced by the presence of their representatives on the Board as members of civil society.

6. In guiding the development of the marijuana industry, the CLA will place primary focus on strains and cultivars that are indigenous to Jamaica, for which the country can claim intellectual property rights and can leverage the advantages of its global brand recognition.

7. The CLA is strongly against the use or handling of marijuana by children, teenagers, adolescents and at-risk adults given the well-known and scientifically established potentially negative effects of the drug on physical and mental health. In this regard, the CLA fully subscribes to, endorses and will actively support initiatives of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) to educate at risk groups about the potential negative effects of the drug. This support is also consistent with Government’s obligations to fund activities of the NCDA and is recognized by a position on its Board being reserved for the NCDA.

8. The CLA is cognizant of parallel frameworks that may need to be developed and implemented to form comprehensive guidelines for the industry. These, however, may fall outside of the remit of the Authority, as stated in the DDA Act, and will be considered if they impact those areas of the industry under the CLA’s regulatory control.



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Testing for best hemp crop

Source: frasercoastchronicle.com.au

Australian and international hemp consultant John Muir in hemp crop.
Australian and international hemp consultant John Muir in hemp crop.
HEMP has a bright future in our cropping districts, with eight-week turn-arounds and omega oils oozing from the seeds when pressed.
Just watch the monolepta beetles - apparently the crop is so seductive they just can't help themselves.
But to comply with the law the drug content of these paddock plants must measure less than 1% THC content.
There are varieties out there that can pass the test, but it's not easy getting enough seed to be commercial.
British-born PhD student Matthew Welling has been studying these variants at Southern Cross University in Lismore for the past few years now, just completing first class honours and now embarking on a doctorate on the same theme.
Funded by Ecofibre Industries Operations, the research could find a way of providing a nursery industry with the basis for a legitimate crop
Nonetheless, the risk for reward ratio is high indeed. Produce is nothing short of remarkable: Tough, elongated fibres suitable for everything from clothes and rope to industrial filters. Oil-rich seeds suitable for human consumption with by-products perfect for animal feed.
Getting commercial quantities of correct seed, suitable for either food or fibre and complying with THC requirements, is not easy. And this is why Matthew is working hard to classify variants, with the end result being to supply those seeds.
"Our over-riding aim is to characterise the germ plasm," Matthew said.
At the moment the plant sciences faculty at Southern Cross University manages a collection that Matthew has developed as part of his first class honours degree.
During his next phase of study he is keen to dig deep into the plant's past, and hopes to find the original genetic composition before it branched off into the many varieties we have today.
He intends to unravel the genetic information stored in these individual plants and see if he can find clues to where they might have originated. And that local stamp can help researchers isolate desirable traits.
"For instance the THC quality can be higher or lower in different regions," Matthew said. "So the question is can we select for that?"
Turpenoids are another range of compounds produced in cannabis, and one of them, canobidolic acid, is valuable to pharmaceutical science and has the potential to benefit human health.
So there are at least three separate market channels for legal modern hemp - all of them promising. But the industry will need seed to grow and thrive.
In the old days, plant traits were selected for things people wanted - like fibre for rope. And they didn't care that it also produced THC. Nowadays things are different.
"Selecting for fibre is not necessarily counter selecting for THC," warns Matthew. And so he expects that detailed genetic analysis will isolate varieties very accurately, at a young age.
"Before people waited for the plant to become sexually mature before they could see its traits. With new methods we can type them at only two to three weeks old."



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Hemp farming gets support from NC House panel

Source: newsobserver.com

Crop is currently illegal in North Carolina
Bill would launch regulated pilot program
‘I’m asking you to give our farmers a chance to do this’
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Understanding the “Hemptourage Effect” and the Diversity of Compounds in Agricultural Hemp

Source: leafly.com

You may have already heard about the "entourage effect" present in high-THC Cannabis sativa. But did you know that a similar dynamic exists with regards to hemp? Many cannabis consumers and advocates in the industry have been misinformed about the actual composition of some CBD-rich hemp products. This article will clear up a common misconception regarding high-quality, low-THC/high-CBD cannabis extract, also known as agricultural hemp.
It may come as a surprise to some cannabis consumers that the total plant complex of PlusCBD oil products is made and extracted from sustainable European agricultural Cannabis sativa (hemp), and completely grown outdoors prior to harvest. This strain of hemp grows to over 15 feet tall, and when mature contains over 500 distinct compounds, including:
  • essential, mon, poly, and saturated fatty acids;
  • six different cannabinoids;
  • five terpenes;
  • plant sterols;
  • natural vitamin E;
  • and chlorophyll.
Many of these bioactive compounds optimize health and wellness. The interplay of all these bioactive compounds is capable of producing physiologic effects that we are referring to here as the "hemptourage effect."
Essential fatty acids have been a darling of the natural products industry for over three decades, taking the spotlight for the essential role that omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fats play for optimal brain, heart, vascular, muscular, joint, ocular (visual), hormonal, and skin health. These fatty acids are found readily in total plant complex-containing PlusCBD oil dietary supplement products completely derived from hemp.
Moreover, a cornucopia of cannabinoids exist in these hemp-derived extracts, including THC, THCV, CBG, CBC, cannabinol, and, of course, CBD (in highest concentration). This is another fact that often gets lost in translation when some groups warn consumers about the "pure, isolated CBD" products that are also in the marketplace. Another key point about cannabinoids is that not all hemp CBD products are created equally, so not all CBD products are capable of producing this hemptourage effect.
Cannabis terpenes have been a hot topic amongst scientists, enthusiasts, experts, and consumers in this space, and for good reason. Terpenes present in high caliber agriculture PlusCBD hemp such as amyrin, squalene, phytol, and humelene have been shown to interact with cannabinoid receptors and physiologic systems including immune, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems.
Plant sterols such as sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol have been shown to help regulate blood lipids such as cholesterol levels. As a matter of fact, the FDA allows for qualified health claims that credit sterol consumption with helping to keep blood cholesterol levels (an established cardiovascular disease risk factor) within the healthy range.
Most synthetic vitamin E supplements utilize only one isomer out of the eight different vitamin E isomers found in the body, which is why naturally occurring vitamin E tocopherols are important. Many dietary supplements contain only one specific synthetic isomer of vitamin E in a different form known as "dl" (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate) in an ester chemical linkage. In excess, over-supplementing with this form can cause an imbalance in the cell-protecting function of vitamin E against oxidative stress and highly reactive free radicals.
Natural vitamin E is only found in the "d" form (d-alpha tocopherol) in a non-esterified form, often along with the seven other isomers that may play different, yet complimentary roles for optimizing the health & integrity of your cells. PlusCBD hemp oil's total plant complex contains this critical fat-soluble antioxidant known to help protect cell membranes and other structures like DNA from excess oxidative stress.
Finally, chlorophyll is another important bioactive compound found in Hemp CBD total plant complex products that are thought to protect cell structures and can bind other potentially harmful compounds due to their sophisticated heme ring chemical properties.
The hemptourage effect is to hemp (high-CBD agricultural Cannabis sativa) what the "entourage effect" is to high-THC Cannabis sativa. 
We are just beginning to understand how these hemp-derived botanical compounds may exert a synergistic or "hemptourage" effect on human health.
References:
ElSohly M, Gul W. Constituents of cannabis sativa. In: Pertwee R, ed. Handbook of Cannabis. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2014:3-22.
Friedman D, Devinsky O. Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy. N Engl J Med. 2015 Sep 10;373(11):1048-58.
Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Aug;163(7):1344-64.
Martens S, Mithöfer A. Flavones and flavone synthases. Phytochemistry. 2005 Oct;66(20):2399-407. Epub 2005 Aug 30.

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Comer predicts that Kentucky will be 'the epicenter of industrial hemp' in the U.S.

BY JANET PATTON
Source: kentucky.com


Hemp has come a long way, increasing from 33 acres in 2014 — the first legal crop in Kentucky — to more than 922 acres planted this year.
"Welcome to Kentucky, the leading industrial hemp-producing state in the country. It feels good to say that," Agriculture Commissioner James Comer told a sold-out crowd Monday at the annual Hemp Industries Association Conference in Lexington.
This was the first time in 22 years that the conference of hemp entrepreneurs and activists has been held in a hemp-producing state, said Eric Steenstra, executive director of the Hemp Industries Association.
Among the crowd of 200 were attendees from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska and Australia, including people well known in the fight to legalize industrial hemp and separate it from more controversial marijuana. The notables included Hawaii state Rep. Cynthia Thielen, who fought to establish one of the first DEA-regulated test plots years ago, and David Bronner, whose multinational soap company has contributed $10,000 to grants for Kentucky farmers to transition to organic hemp.
Comer, the conference's keynote speaker, was greeted with a standing ovation for his efforts to bring industrial hemp back to Kentucky after decades of federal banishment.
"We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for his efforts," said Andy Graves, CEO of Atalo Holdings, a Central Kentucky group that has organized growers and processors.
Kentucky has more than 121 growers working with seven universities around the state on research into growing, processing and marketing hemp into everything from oil, food and fiber to energy, manufacturing, textiles, automotive composites, construction materials and paper, Comer said.
Most importantly, Kentucky has attracted more than 20 processors, who will be key to taking the crop into profitable markets.
Comer predicted that in coming years, Kentucky will go from less than 1,000 acres to thousands, and from 24 processors to hundreds.
"We're going to be the epicenter of industrial hemp in this country," Comer said.
The next battle, he said, will be with the Food and Drug Administration. He plans to lobby to keep cannabis oil products regulated as supplements rather than as medications.
Comer plans to work on the FDA until December, when he will leave office for the private sector, he said. He has no plans "at this time" to run for political office again, he said.
Kentucky's hemp program will be in the hands of a new agriculture commissioner; candidates Jean-Marie Lawson Spann, a Democrat, and Ryan Quarles, a Republican, are scheduled to meet with hemp conference attendees on Tuesday.
Both candidates have indicated that they support continuing the state's hemp program, which Steenstra said will be crucial because it isn't clear that the pilot program could continue without the state's involvement in coordinating farmers with researchers through legal memoranda of understanding.
Federal efforts to legalize full-scale industrial hemp production continue, Steenstra said.
"Groups like HIA and Vote Hemp will be more important than ever, because now we have something to lose," Steenstra said.





Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/09/28/4060820_comer-predicts-kentucky-will-be.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Malawi Legal Hemp Growing to Start With Trials - Minister

By Louis Phiri
Source: allafrica.com

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Allan Chiyembekeza has said President Peter Mutharika has approved the cultivation of industrial hemp.
The Minister has however said that the approval is for trial purposes in the country and explained that the industrial hemp is not the same as much talked about and known Indian hemp.
"Let me point out that industrial hemp is different from the much talked Indian hemp chamba or Cannabis Sativa] that is prohibited. This [industrial] hemp does not contain the psychoactive chemical elements that affect people when smoked even though it is from the same family of crops," Chiyembekeza is quoted in a local paper.
Legalization of hemp has been of public debate in the country and during the last sitting of Parliament, it was also an issue in the House.
And University of Malawi economic professor based at Chancellor College in eastern city of Zomba, Ben Kalua said industrial Hemp has the potential to steer the country's economy towards recovery.
Ntchisi North Member of Parliament Boniface Kadzamira who raised the issue during the last sitting of parliament said time has come for Malawi to wake up and reap from its resources.
The recent research which was led by Dr Yankel Gabet of Tel Aviv University, revealed that Cannabis could be used in medicinal form to speed up the healing of broken bones.
Cannabis reportedly has a number of health benefits. A 2014 study found that THC reduced tumour growth in an aggressive strain of brain cancer within mice with virtually no psychotropic side-effects

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The 10 Most Common Misconceptions About Hemp

By Kentucky Hempsters
Source: leafly.com

If you’ve been keeping up with our Leafly series about hemp, you know that the industrial properties of the cannabis plant are widely misunderstood. In an effort to help set the record straight, here is a breakdown of the top 10 misconceptions we hear about hemp.

1. Hemp, Medical, and Recreational Cannabis are All the Same

hemp,cannabis,marijuana,farm,leafly
Although industrial hemp, medical marijuana, and recreational marijuana are all members of the cannabis family, hemp is distinguished from other cannabis species by its extremely low THC content. While medical and recreational cannabis often contain THC levels upwards of 25%, hemp varieties contain less than 1%. Hemp is also cultivated in very different ways from medical and recreational marijuana, mostly at commercial scale for industrial purposes ranging from health food to building materials.

2. Hemp is the Male Cannabis Plant

Hemp plant against a blue sky
Just like all cannabis species, hemp plants can be male or female (or both, in monoecious species). It is the female plants that are grown to full maturity and harvested at the end of the season. Male plants die off shortly after they have completed pollination.

3. Hemp Can Get You “High”

marijuana,cannabis,leafly,hemp
Because hemp varieties contain such low amounts of THC, the human body processes it faster than it can be absorbed. As a result, there is no way a person can get high on hemp. None. Don’t bother trying!

4. Hemp Foods Can Cause You to Fail a Drug Test

hemp,food,vegetables,leafly,cannabis,marijuana
Hemp foods don’t contain any more THC than the plants they come from, so it is impossible to fail a drug test from ingesting them, even in large quantities. Hemp is a superfood that will provide your body with all the essential omegas necessary for a healthy diet. Eat all you want!
Keep in mind that there are other food products that can make you fail a drug test. For example, eating too many poppy seeds can make you fail a test for opiates!

5. Hemp Is Only Good for Making Rope

hemp,rope,cannabis,marijuana,leafly
Although the value of hemp fiber has been recognized for centuries, other parts of the plant have become valuable in the modern era: seeds, core, and flowers. Today, many thousands of uses for the plant are well known, and what was once seen as plant waste is now seen as valuable commodities.
See our article about hemp being the "Green Buffalo" of plants to view the extent to which the hemp plant can be used!

6. People Will Hide Illegal Cannabis Plants in Their Hemp Fields

Hemp field
The idea that “pot farmers” will hide their illegal plants in hemp fields is ridiculous. Pollen from industrial hemp can ruin the THC quantity and quality in marijuana. Experienced cannabis growers know this and actually see hemp as a threat, not as a camouflage crop.

7. Legalizing Hemp Will Ruin the Medical and Recreational Industry

cannabis,marijuana,medical marijuana,leafly,weed,bud
While it is true that hemp pollen travels long distances and can threaten the integrity of medical and recreational cannabis plants, hemp need not ruin the industry. An organized infrastructure can be developed to keep different cannabis grows properly separated. With cooperation, different cannabis industries can flourish simultaneously.

8. Buying, Selling, and Transporting Hemp is Legal in the US

trucking,transportation,cannabis,hemp,marijuana,leafly
This one is a bit tricky. Just like all cannabis varieties, hemp is still illegal at the federal level. It is completely legal, however, to buy hemp products in their final form (e.g., soap, clothes, health food products, etc.). So, dealing in raw hemp is illegal, but dealing in hemp products is legal. As a result, most hemp products sold in America are made from foreign hemp. Only when Congress legalizes hemp will American farmers be able to grow hemp for American consumers!

9. Hemp Research is Not Necessary

research,hemp,marijuana,cannabis,science,leafly
Hemp research is crucial for the success of the re-emerging hemp industry. We can’t just dust off some old books from last century and pick up where they left off! Modern hemp research will provide invaluable insight into agronomy, cultivation, harvesting, and processing, all necessary precursors to building the essential infrastructure for a modern hemp industry.

10. Hemp Will Save the World

hemp,farm,cannabis,marijuana,leafly
While hemp provides clean, sustainable alternatives to many products and practices that are currently devastating our planet, it cannot solve all the world’s problems. Industrial hemp is a valuable crop for American farmers and it can greatly benefit our economy and our environment. It’s good to be enthusiastic about hemp, but don’t burden the plant with responsibility for saving the planet!
As all forms of cannabis spend more time in the spotlight these days, it is vital that the general understanding of each type is improved. We hope that clearing up these misconceptions about hemp can help elevate the conversation about hemp and increase support for its legalization at all levels.


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