Cannabis Sativa - antique botanical print

Hemp Brings New Hope For NSW

Source: publicnow.com

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair has welcomed a decision today to approve low THC hemp for sale as food, by the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation.

'This is exciting news for the existing hemp industry which will now continue to thrive, producing a healthy and sustainable product for consumers,' Mr Blair said.

'Low THC hemp is a healthy choice for consumers, containing a near perfect ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 and high levels of protein.

Mr Blair said low THC hemp is legally already grown in NSW under strict licensing conditions and it was a hardy and sustainable crop that had enormous potential for both domestic and export markets.

'It's already sold legally in more than 21 developed countries including the USA, Canada and the UK - It is now time for Australians to reap the benefits,' Mr Blair said.

'In the US alone, the Hemp Industries Association estimates the value of hemp based foods, supplements and body care sales to be between US$150-170 million per annum.'

Australian hemp growers are also developing drought resistant varieties for the domestic and international markets, to help improve its viability as a crop.

Forum members acknowledged today the considerable work undertaken to address earlier concerns that consuming low THC Hemp would have an effect on road side drug testing.

Consumption trials undertaken as part of the approval process have overcome those concerns finding its highly unlikely consumption of low THC hemp foods would result in a positive road side reading.

Today's decision to amend the Food Standards Code also imposes strict limits on the levels of THC and cannabidiol (CBD) in hemp foods.

There will be strict guidelines around the marketing and labelling of the foods - preventing any suggestions of psychoactive or therapeutic effects and branding that links illicit cannabis and any reference to the presence of CBD.

DEA holds up seeds headed for N. Carolina

Source: hemptoday.net

One member of the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission has charged the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with purposefully delaying hemp seed shipments to the state.

“It’s clear to me. They’re (the DEA) just trying to delay it. If (the DEA) said yes today, we’re not looking at getting (the seed) here in time to plant. We should be planting right now,” Commissioner Fen Rascoe told Mountain Express.

IHC is the state agency assigned to develop North Carolina’s industrial hemp pilot program. As in many states, however, the Commission has been hampered by strict DEA interpretations of hemp’s legality – which has caused import problems for the last several years.

Seed-only hemp standard a 'missed opportunity'

Source: cannasseur.co.nz



Hemp growers say allowing people to eat hemp seeds is a great step - but does not go far enough.

The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation, based in Adelaide, yesterday approved the use of low-THC hemp seed as food.

THC is one of the main psychoactive ingredients in cannabis, to which hemp is closely related.

Richard Barge, from the Hemp Industries Association, said it had taken 18 years of lobbying to get approval despite enormous economic and social benefits of hemp seed.

He said the seed, which has only been permitted as stock feed, is a superfood containing essential fatty acids - including omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 - and protein.

Mr Barge said not allowing the whole plant to be used was a missed opportunity, despite it containing some cannabinoids.

"Eighty years of prohibition means that not much work has been done in this space," he said.

"And we have a lot to offer to that industry because we have some talented food tech people who would just love to get their hands on the hemp seed - and the leaf and the flower.

Mr Barge said treating the seeds as a food would mean more jobs, a boost to rural industries and healthy food options for the public.

It could take up to 18 months before legal changes are made for the new standard to be introduced.


Room to grow

The largest Hemp seed producer in the country, Midlands Seeds, said allowing people to eat the seed would create a new market in our backyard.

The director of Midlands Seeds, Andrew Davidson, said he was delighted with the outcome, which he said was a long time coming.

Mr Davidson said it gives people access to the nutritious superfood in the form of oil, protein and whole hemp seed.

He said it also creates a consistent, and stable, crop for farmers.

"We now have our own market in our own backyard, but also, with that opportunity comes an investment in infrustructure and a confidence to invest in the product."

That will create export opportunities for the farmers, he said.

Kansas Area farmers endorse Hemp during unprofitable times

By Amy Bickel
Source: hutchnews.com

Lawmaker still hopeful hemp legislation could pass Senate and get to governor's desk this session.

Rep. Willie Dove, far center, and Rock Gagnebin, a local business owner with Ag interests, discuss to a group of 50 or so farmers about the movement to grow industrial hemp in Kansas. 

John Fischer doesn't mince his words about the current farm economy.

"We're losing our asses on everything," he told a Kansas representative during a meeting in Abbyville about industrial hemp.

Fischer, 36, who farms in Kingman County, was one of about 50 people - many farmers - who gathered at an industrial hemp forum to learn more about a potential new cash crop that now needs the consent of the Kansas Senate before it can be researched and, someday, planted in Kansas farm fields.

For the state's farmers, faced with an economy not seen since the 1980s farm crisis, they need an alternative to crops like milo, corn and wheat, which at about $3 a bushel, is hovering below break-even levels, said Fischer.

"We need to do something different, growing wheat and corn we aren't making any money," he said, adding that with industrial hemp, "We are importing so much of this already from Canada and other countries, why don't we just grow it ourselves?"

But the clock is ticking this year for industrial hemp as lawmakers reconvene Monday - giving a bill centered on hemp research a small window to get passed with all the other big issues the Legislature must decide - taxes, the budget and school finance, said Rep. Willie Dove, R-Kansas, who introduced SB 2182.

Dove, however, already has made headway with hemp this session. Legislation enabling farmers to eventually obtain a license to plant industrial hemp passed the Kansas House in March, 103-18, with four members not voting.

Dove tried to pass similar legislation last year, but without the rallying of supporters - which was noticed by lawmakers.

"Last year no one showed up," he said. "This year is a different story."

Residents from across the state began lobbying their lawmakers. Farmers, economic development officials and others filled committee hearings from all corners of the state.

"When the board lit up to 103, I was startled - 103 is strong," Dove said of the overwhelming support by representatives who passed it through the House March 27.

But, from there, the Senate has yet to take action. Sen. John Doll, R-Garden City, told a crowd at a legislative coffee in Garden City April 13 that industrial hemp “won’t get through the Senate." Meanwhile, some have indicated that Senate President Susan Wagle would take up the legislation next year.

That puts it another year down the road before it can be grown on farms, Dove said.

"I've heard that if there is enough interest within our Kansas farming community, then there is a great possibility that we can do this and that is why we're here," he said.

Growing support

Most everyone in the room raised their hand when asked if they would be interested in someday growing industrial hemp.

That included Jim Fitzwater, a 73-year-old who farms northwest of Salina. He said he was just a small child but recalls his father taking him to a hemp farm sometime around the end of World War II.

Industrial hemp was once a prominent crop in the United States. Dove even said Kansas was among one of the top growers of hemp before the 1930s.

The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper. Even the first American flag, reported to be made by Betsy Ross, was crafted from hemp fiber.

But the hemp industry began to go downhill after that. Hemp was doomed by the "Marihuana" Tax Act of 1937, which placed an extremely high tax on marijuana and made it effectively impossible to grow industrial hemp.

During World War II, the U.S. Department of Agriculture campaigned with ”Hemp for Victory” – allowing farmers to grow it with a permit.

Yet, while Congress expressly expected the continued production of industrial hemp, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics lumped industrial hemp with marijuana, as its successor, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, does to this day, according to the hemp council.

The 2014 farm bill included a provision allowing states, through research institutions and departments of agriculture, to grow and possess industrial hemp. Already more than three-dozen states have taken down barriers. Research programs have been launched in 15 states so far, according to the hemp advocacy nonprofit Vote Hemp.

Dove's bill would allow research and business development related to hemp cultivation, processing and distribution. It would encourage public-private partnerships and academic research to that end. A summary attached to the bill indicates the Kansas Department of Agriculture would oversee logistics, such as licensing.

The Kansas Farm Bureau supports the legislation. Opponents include law enforcement agencies like the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, who fear marijuana growers could use it as a shield.

Industrial hemp, however, is not marijuana. While both plants are members of the genus Cannabis sativa, they are genetically different, which is noted in the current farm bill. The major difference in the two is THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Industrial hemp contains less than 0.3 percent THC. Marijuana, smoked for its euphoric and medical properties, contains 10 to 100 times that amount.

A boost to rural Kansas

Rock Gagnebin, a Reno County cattle producer and business owner who helped organize the event, said he attended a conference last year in Colorado about growing industrial hemp. He sees the potential revenue that could be had not only from farmers, but rural communities. If passed, work could begin on building processing plants - similar to what happened with the ethanol industry.

"I think we are in a bad situation," he said of the current farm economy. "We have the sixth generation of farmers coming into the picture. And what are you going to give them debt?"

Those who could see a windfall include seed companies like Kauffman Seed. Dustin Miller, who co-owns the Reno County business said he sees someday doing research plots to help farmers meet the needs of the area, as well as become a supplier of the certified seed.

"Everyone has to eat, but everyone has to be dressed also, and there are so many different items that can be made from hemp oil and the fiber," said Miller. "I know if we could grow hemp here and supply Sonoco (paper company) here in town with inputs ... that would be huge."

He noted with today's drone technology and farmers registering their fields, perhaps through GPS, law enforcement should be able to monitor the crop and keep tabs on who is growing it.

"I'm encouraged by it," Miller said. "I'm sure there is going to be hiccups along the way."

Fischer said he planned to call his state representatives and senators. Reno County farmer Jeff Preisser, who was sitting by Fischer during the meeting, said he would be making calls, as well.

"if we can make that much stuff out of it, why don't we try it," said Preisser, noting Dove's number that hemp can make 30,000 different products.

Rural Kansas is hurting, Fischer said. The oil industry is down and the farm economy is hurting. Hemp could help bolster the farm economy, in turn, boosting state revenue.

Preisser said he has sons ages 14 and 4 years old. Right now, farming isn't encouraging. 

"I don't know if I want them to farm," he said. "I almost want them to go to college and do something else. Unless it gets better, I wouldn't want them to be in my same shoes."

Washington removes hemp from drug list

Source: hemptoday.net

A bill passed this week by the state of Washington has removed industrial hemp from the state list of illegal drugs.

The state’s governor, Jay Inslee, said the bill will protect farmers and processors from federal interference. The measure affecting industrial hemp also included guidelines for edible marijuana products and licensed marijuana sellers. The law takes effect in July.

Washington last year established a pilot program for industrial hemp in response to supporters who say the crop could improve the economic fortunes of state farmers.

The first half of the Fresno Cannabis and Hemp Conference is devoted to industrial hemp.

Hemp Event
Source: fresnocannabis.org

The first Fresno Cannabis and Hemp Conference was held Wednesday at Bitwise Industries in downtown Fresno. About 60 people attended, many of them interested in commercial cannabis licensing.

9:30 a.m. – Introductory Comments

10 a.m. – Screening of Bringing It Home documentary. You can view the extended trailer below or watch Bringing It Home on-demand on Vimeo.

11 a.m. – Hemp Agriculture: Trends and Technology

California Hemp = Agriculture

“Bringing It Home” highlighted several attributes of commercial hemp farming. Some key concepts: 

• Government-authorized seed stocks. 
• Highly regulated (permits, potency testing). 
• Maximum threshold for THC (< 0.3%). 
• Growing interest in hemp-derived CBD. Multipurpose strains (food/fiber) boost income. Bulk processing/packaging plants are required. 
• Phytoremediation: Restores damaged soils.

Industrial Hemp = Industrial Products 

•  Modern hemp manufacturing is diverse. 
• Biofuel Fiberboard Automotive door panels 
• Building materials (hempcrete) 
• Insulation materials 
• Lubricants 
• Cosmetics/Soaps

Industrial Hemp = Food Products 

Food products are derived from hemp seed, which is rich in omega fatty acids. 

• Hemp cereal/granola bars 
• Hemp milk 
• Hemp hearts (shelled seed) 
• Hemp protein powders 
• Hemp salad oil (low-temp; not ideal for cooking) 
• Whole hemp seeds/toasted seeds Animal feed/bird seed

Industrial Hemp = Fiber Products 

• Hemp has been prized for its strong fibers throughout recorded human history, but its modern use goes well beyond rope and sails. 
• Fiberboard 
• Clothing & apparel (hemp-cotton blends) 
• Paper/cardboard Twine Carpets

Industrial Hemp = Cannabidiol (CBD) 

 By legal definition, industrial hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC, the psychoactive compound that creates the “high” effect in marijuana. Hemp plants can contain other cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), which has medicinal properties but no psychoactive effects. Pilot programs suggest cultivation of hemp for CBD extraction may emerge as a profitable niche market. Because “medical marijuana” is regulated under different state laws, and because California’s hemp program is in its infancy, hemp-derived CBD has not yet been addressed in state law or local regulations.

Senate Bill 566 (2014) The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act ... Conditionally permits growth and cultivation of industrial hemp in California. Designed to align with then-pending U.S. Farm Bill. Hemp Act authorizes both research and commercial cultivation, where permitted by federal law. Created state Industrial Hemp Advisory Board. Earlier versions of the Hemp Act were vetoed by Govs. Brown, Schwarzenegger.

Seeds of Change: 2014 U.S. Farm Bill In 2014, the U.S. Congress approved a new Farm Bill that provided for “agricultural pilot programs” for “research and development” by state agriculture departments and/or institutions of higher education. State must register and certify cultivation sites. Products may be sold for “marketing research.” General commercial activity prohibited. Interstate shipment of products prohibited.

State Attorney General: Not So Fast In 2014, then-Attorney General Kamala Harris issued a legal opinion regarding the implications of the 2014 Farm Bill on hemp farming in California. Keys: Hemp cultivation may be done only by CDFA registrants and/or public/private “institution of higher learning,” e.g. Fresno State, UCSF Fresno. Any “agricultural pilot program” must conduct only “agricultural or academic research.” Commercial hemp cultivation still prohibited. Hemp advisory board provision is inoperative.

Proposition 64 Section 9 of the voter-approved Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA/Prop. 64) rebooted hemp. Amends statutory language of SB 566 in the Health and Safety Code, Food and Agriculture Code. Clarifies that industrial hemp is not subject to the same state laws and regulations as cannabis*. Reduces minimum cultivation area to 1/10 acre. Assigns primary authority to Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). *Bureau of Marijuana Control may regulate hemp grown by cannabis licensees.

Next Steps 

•  The Industrial Hemp Advisory Board application period closed March 31. 
• No meetings are set yet. 
•  Staff contact is Joshua Kress in CDFA’s Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program at (916) 654-0435. 
•  Send email to subscribe to hemp program listserv: join-cdfa_list_phpps_industrial_hemp@lists.cdfa.ca.gov 
•  Local registration of cultivation sites will be required. 
• Fresno County has not considered industrial hemp cultivation or created a site registration process.

 This slide show, videos and other resources are at fresnocannabis.org/conference/hemp

Hemp seeds legalised: Local company set for mass expansion

By Hamish Broome
Source: northernstar.com.au

Paul Benhaim, of Hemp Foods Australia, is optimistic about 2017 after finding new hemp growers. Digby Hildreth

A BANGALOW business has global expansion plans following the long awaited approval of legislation today making hemp seeds legal for food consumption.

Hemp Foods Australia is the largest producer of hemp food products in the Southern Hemisphere despite hemp seeds being illegal to eat in Australia until now.

The company's founder and CEO Paul Benhaim launched the business 17 years ago after discovering the nutritional qualities of the seed.

But until today, it has only been able to sell its products domestically for skin care purposes, with a consumption warning label attached.

That has now changed with the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation finally giving hemp seeds the tick of approval during today's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

It opens the flood gates for a whole new range of hemp-based foods with the use of hemp seeds in everyday food products.

Mr Benhaim has been speaking to restaurants who are planning hemp menus, large retailers who are interested in stocking its products, and a role call of household food brands which want to incorporate hemp seeds into their foods

These include everyday foods such as non-dairy milks, cereals, breads, pastas, snack bars, and sauces.

"We expect that particular part of our business to grow substantially," Mr Benhaim said.

The company is also developing a range of its own finished food products currently under development set for launch before the end of this year.

The market for Australian hemp foods is expected to quadruple in the next few years.

Globally, it is already worth $1 billion annually.

Mr Benhaim said his goal was to see hemp seeds become a mainstream part of many different food products, "not just (for) vegans, vegetarians, and body builders".

"Not only does it taste good, it's extremely nutritious for you because of its Omega 3 and Omega 6 content and highly digestible protein."

In great news for the local economy, Hemp Foods is planning to add several more people to its current 12-strong full-time workforce.

It has just finished installing seven new silos on top of its existing storage facilities, and is planning a new purpose-built facility nearby to expand even further.

The company's long-term goal is to become the world's largest certified organic supplier of hemp grain.

Mr Benhaim said he was both "very excited" plus a "little bit scared".

"We won't have long to celebrate, we have to get straight into the hard work," he said.

"Thankfully we have an amazing team which have been dedicated to this for a number of years... and we hope to expand that team as soon as we can."

The legislation change is also great news for farmers, who will benefit from new long-term supply contracts thanks to the security provided by change.

"We intent to really focus on teaching farmers how to become sustainably organic," Mr Benhaim said.

"We've got a great farming team who are based in Victoria."

Benefits of hemp seeds

- High quality, concentrated protein

- High quality 'good fats'.

- The only food to contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils in the most nutritional proportion.

- A natural source of B vitamins, vitamin D3, minerals and magnesium.

Approval of hemp seed consumption “great news for farmers and consumers”

By Alice Burnet
Source: bellingencourier.com.au

NSW Greens agriculture spokesperson and Bellingen resident, Jeremy Buckingham.

The Greens welcome the decision to allow the sale of hemp food for human consumption, which was made today by the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation at a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting. 

“The Greens have campaigned for this rule change for many years as a key to making hemp cultivation viable for Australian farmers and providing consumers with a good source of nutrition,” NSW Greens agriculture spokesperson and Bellingen resident, Jeremy Buckingham said:

“A year and a half ago I admitted in parliament that I occasionally eat hemp seeds on my breakfast cereal – effectively breaking the law. It is pleasing to see this silly law has been dropped and Australia has joined with the rest of the world in accepting hemp food consumption.

“This is a big win for farmers, consumers, and the Greens. Finally COAG has stopped dragging its feet, got beyond the stigma, and recognised hemp as a crop and food product with enormous potential.

“Allowing farmers to sell both the seed and the fibre will make hemp a viable crop for farmers to grow and potentially create a new export market for Australia. 

 “The Greens look forward to working with the government to pass any required legislation to implement this decision.”

Background

Australian Ministers, the New Zealand Minister responsible for food safety and the Australian Local Government Association met in Adelaide today (April 28) and agreed the priority areas for the food regulation system for both countries for 2017 – 2021. 

The meeting was chaired by the Australian Government Assistant Minister for Health, Dr David Gillespie. 

The Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation is responsible for maintaining a strong food regulation system that is based on scientific evidence and expertise and is focused on protecting the health and safety of consumers.

At the meeting today Ministers discussed a range of food regulation issues, including finalising their investigation into low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hemp seeds as a food.

They also discussed the latest updates on food labelling of sugar and fats and oils and released the two year progress review report on the implementation of the Health Star Rating system. 

Outcomes from the meeting included the decision that low-THC Hemp seeds is a food.

Ministers received a report by the Swinburne University of Technology regarding consumption of low THC foods and the effect on random drug testing protocols in Australia and New Zealand (the Consumption Report). 

Ministers had requested that the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) investigate information gaps identified in considering the adoption of low-THC hemp seeds as a food. These covered marketing and labelling issues, legal and Treaty implications, maximum levels of cannabidiol(CBD) and the potential effects on road side drug testing.

Ministers noted the key finding of the Consumption Report is that it is highly unlikely that consumption of food products containing the levels of THC tested would result in any positive tests on oral fluid, blood or urine. 

In light of these findings Ministers supported the draft standard that will allow low-THC hemp seeds to be sold as a food. The standard will take effect six months after it has been gazetted and Ministers acknowledged that there is still a range of New Zealand and State and Territory legislation that currently prohibits the sale of low-THC hemp seeds as a food which will need to be amended. Ministers also supported the establishment of an Implementation and Monitoring working group. 

Harvesting and Decorticating Hemp Video 2017

Source: hempfarm.co.nz

Hemp Farm is delighted to share this beautiful video of our 2017 harvesting with you, featuring hemp fibre and hurd decorticating.

Decortication: the act or process of removing the outer coverings (hemp fiber) from something (hemp’s cellulose core a.k.a. hurd).

After many years of hard work, our dream of producing the world’s best hemp fiber from fresh stalks has come to fruition. Our machine, known as the Clarke D8 after it’s late inventor Adrian Clarke, is a hemp decortication system that uniquely processes hemp stalks fresh from the field. 

This new machine very special, as the traditional method of fiber separation used throughout the world today involves cutting down the hemp stalks and leaving them to ret (partially rot) in the field for several months. Following this, the stalks pass through a hammer mill, which crushes them to separate the woody cellulose core from the outer fiber. This extensive processes weakens fiber.

However, the Clarke D8 simply “peels” the fiber away from the inner core of the hemp stalks, preserving all of its natural strength. This means we are able to produce the world’s strongest hemp fiber, and in record time.

With this technique, we are able to either process hemp stalks fresh from the field, or store them dry  for later processing.  This way the land can be cleared at the time of harvesting, allowing farmers to utilize their land immediately with another crop, such as winter grasses.

Hemp fibre and hurd has many thousands of uses, such as building (hempcrete), composites, textiles, animal bedding, 3D printing, space suits… The possibilities are endless! We have already successfully prototyped an eco-matting with this year’s fiber, which has potential uses in insulation, weed matting and more.

If you want a piece of this year’s bounty, you need to get in quick. We have a limited supply of samples of eco- matting, fibre and hurd available to purchase from this crop, so please contact sales@hempfarm.co.nz to get your sample and stake your claim on the products of our 2018 harvest.

We look forward to hearing from you in the comment section!

Dave & Anne Jordan

Video by Harley Aspinall

Blogger's Note:

If you want more informaiton on the Clarke D8 Decorticator, leave a comment with your e-mail and we will contact you directly. 

Letter to the Editor
Source: stabroeknews.com

Dear Editor,

Upon entering office, President Granger quite rightly prioritized the “green economy.”  While some effort has been made towards promoting the “green economy”, the “black economy” (crude oil production) seems to be getting “significantly” more buzz, more priority.  This letter seeks to highlight one possible avenue for moving towards the highly touted “green economy.”  In what follows, I offer my non-expert opinion on the issue of producing industrial hemp in Guyana.

1. Hemp and marijuana are part of the cannabis family of plants. Industrial hemp is produced in several countries, such as China and Canada.  Regulations in the EU and Canada require that the hemp flowers contain no more than 0.3% of the cannabinoid compound Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. There are more than 60 types of cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the most popular, and is the compound which causes the “high” a person gets from marijuana.  Marijuana contains upwards of 3% of THC. The other notable cannabinoid is Cannabidiol (CBD).  There’s more CBD in hemp than in marijuana.  Therefore, while hemp and marijuana are “cousins,” hemp does not make the user “high” unless a ridiculous amount of it is used.
2. The legal environment in Guyana presents the biggest stumbling block to the production of industrial hemp. In Guyana, marijuana and hemp are conflated under the “legal banner” of narcotics. On the contrary, the UN 1961 Drug Convention does not regard industrial hemp as a narcotic. To be sure, Article 28 of The Convention is clear that, “The Convention shall not apply to the cultivation of the cannabis plant exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) or horticultural purposes.” Therefore, in my non-expert opinion, a good place to start would be to adjust the law to clearly delineate what constitutes industrial hemp and what constitutes a narcotic.
3. Regulating the production of industrial hemp will require more work than changing the legislation, but need not be overly difficult. For example, contrary to the opinion of some, it would not be optimal to plant marijuana and hemp together as hemp would undermine the THC quality of the marijuana plants. Naturally, regulators would have to ensure that the THC content of the hemp is not above the prescribed level. Given the pervasive culture of corruption in Guyana, regulation could prove problematic. However, incentives promoting self-regulation by industry players could complement regulation by the authorities, and thereby mitigate against improper and illegal practices.
4. Hemp production is still effectively illegal in the US. In 2014, Mr. Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill allowing for the production of industrial hemp, for “research purposes,” either by universities or state departments of agriculture.
5. Hemp can be used to produce several products, such as, paper (pages are longer lasting and less likely to yellow over time); fuel; construction material (e.g. Hempcrete which has been touted as flame, water, and pest resistant); clothing; cosmetics etc. The development of the industrial hemp industry is one possible way for us to counter the likely effects of Dutch Disease.
6. Dr. Kadamawe Knife (UWI-Mona), has suggested, ad nauseam, that the production of both marijuana and hemp can give a boost to the Caribbean regional integration movement through the specialization and coordination of the production of marijuana and hemp products. For example, Guyana could focus on the production of hemp given the availability and topography of the land.  Countries such as Jamaica could focus on the production of marijuana. He has suggested that “mined out” lands in Guyana could be reafforested through the planting of hemp.  Indeed, hemp is known to be an excellent plant for replenishing the soil. Proponents of industrial hemp often also note the decontaminating properties of the plant. For example, hemp has been planted within the environs of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  Hemp also has more biomass than sugar cane and corn, making it an excellent source for producing ethanol.
7. It must be made clear that Dr. Knife’s view on the production of marijuana and hemp is not narrow. Rather, it is situated in a broader proposition which centres on food production in general. In the article “The economics of marijuana” (SN March 8th, 2014), Dr. Knife is reported to have given a lecture in Guyana where he not only advocated for the production of hemp, but also the production of coconuts. Indeed, both hemp and coconuts are not “relatively” susceptible to bad weather and therefore present sustainable long term products.  Additionally, relative to other plants, hemp has a lower chance of being affected by pests.
8. In October of 2016 the group, Guyana Hemp Association (GHA), submitted a petition to the Parliament of Guyana seeking the legalisation of industrial hemp. In response to the GHA’s efforts, the Minister of Business, Mr. Gaskin, is reported to have shown interest in Guyana moving towards the production of industrial hemp. He stressed the need for a change in the Laws of Guyana, and expressed concern for the necessary regulation of industrial hemp production.  I’m not sure where on his ministry’s list of priorities the sector rests.  For the record, I’m in no way affiliated to the GHA and its principals.
9. The foregoing notwithstanding, the current estimated value of the global industrial hemp industry is just under US$1 billion. To illustrate how small the global industry currently is, note that Guyana’s total exports is about 1.5 times that figure. Put differently, the value of the global hemp industry is 0.02 % of the total value of global trade. Annual hemp exports to the US accounts for about half of the total global value. If Guyana were to get into the industry in the near future, it’s reasonable to assume that the country can capture no more than say 1% of the global value. This amounts to approximately US$ 10 million. This figure amounts to approximately 10% of Guyana’s 2015 sugar exports, and 4% of Guyana’s 2015 rice exports. Naturally, the small size of the industry is representative of the decades of deliberate undermining of industrial hemp for other products. The global shift towards industrial hemp, however, presents an opportunity for rapid expansion of the industry.  Further, the environmental benefits, and the myriad uses of industrial hemp, provide benefits which are not easily placed into dollars and cents.

In closing, it is my hope that we will emancipate ourselves from the mental slavery which continues to retard the development of our country and region, and perpetuates the demonization of an entire plant family.  Let’s continue the dialogue. Let’s advance the research. Let’s remove the legal hindrances. Let’s educate ourselves.  Let’s emancipate ourselves from mental slavery.

Yours faithfully,

Samuel Braithwaite

The UWI (Mona)

Young Hemp Plant

Hemp business seeks to grow facility west of Steamboat

Source: steamboattoday.com

Steamboat Springs — The principals in Hayden Hemp Industrial are seeking county approval for plans to grow hemp plants in new greenhouses off U.S. Highway 40, 20 miles west of Steamboat Springs. But it’s not what you may be thinking.

#Thomas Walsh and John Emery aren’t planning a marijuana grow operation; instead, they want to raise hemp plants with the intention of selling bulk hemp fiber, consumer products and resin concentrates. It’s a business model that is sanctioned and permitted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

#“All of our hemp plants grown and processed will be approved by the State Of Colorado Department of Agriculture permitting system. No hemp containing more than the legal limit of 0.3 percent THC will be grown or allowed onto the property,” the two men wrote in their application to the county.

Industrial hemp is distinctly different from the type of cannabis sativa which produces the psychoactive chemical in marijuana pot smokers seek. Industrial hemp does not yield significant amounts of THC. In other words, when grown properly to take advantage of the plant’s practical uses, industrial help won’t make people high.

#Assistant Routt County Planning Director Kristy Winser said April 26 that Hayden Hemp’s application makes a fairly straightforward request to change the current permitted use from a retail establishment with outdoor storage to a light industrial facility.

#“This is one of very few properties in Routt County located outside of designated growth centers that is zoned commercial,” Winser said. “It’s actually a less-intensive use. Before, there were people coming in and out,” multiple times per day.

#The building was last used as a satellite retail center for Tri-State Equipment, with its main business location in Craig. The hemp entrepreneurs have a date — May 18 — with the Routt County Planning Commission to seek approval for the change of use.

#Future goals: growing hemp as outdoor crop

#Emery said this week the long-term goal he and Walsh share is outdoor production of hemp plants for fiber and its many applications. But, in the near term, they plan to emphasize the production of hemp oil, which is used in creams that make life more enjoyable for people suffering from muscle and joint pain.

#“We definitely have further goals of producing fiber products in traditional hemp, but there’s immediate demand for the medical component,” Emery said. “This is an opportunity to share the benefits of hemp with mainstream American that can’t or doesn’t want to get high. This is a product that allows them to get the benefit of the hemp plant versus marijuana.”

#Emery expects the new facility, on 1.34 acres, will be able to grow up to 100 hemp plants in each of three 40 by 100-foot greenhouses. Time to maturation could be less than three months. Seedlings would be started in the existing steel building.

#Walsh and Emery expect daily operations to require fewer than four employees and fewer than two commercial truck visits per day, on average. Emery confirmed April 27 that all the water needs for growing the hemp plants indoors will be met by an existing permitted well.

#Hemp perspectives

#Emery said Walsh has an agricultural orientation and owns the building that formerly sold skid-steer equipment and where they hope soon to be growing hemp. Emery added that, though he is not in the marijuana culture and does not smoke pot, he acquired skills in growing the plants at a marijuana grow facility in Oak Creek. He has also worked in the mining industry.

#Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown told a Steamboat audience in June 2016 that industrial hemp held the promise of creating a much-needed new commodity in the state, and his board and the Department of Agriculture were working hard to facilitate the growing interest in the industry as allowed by the 2013 Colorado Industrial Hemp act.

#“Hemp is a growing commodity here in Colorado,” Brown said. “Do we know its potential? No. But we think we really need to look at it — we need new commodities.”

#The climate of Northwest Colorado is just outside the ideal range for hemp, however, Canadian hemp expert Andrea Hermann told Steamboat Today in 2013 that it can grow on the plains of Manitoba, where she lives, and also in semi-arid Northwest Colorado.

#“Can it grow there?” Hermann asked rhetorically during a phone interview “Absolutely. Do we know the cultivars — the varieties and parental lines that will do the best? No, we don’t. We’d have to test them. But in Manitoba, hemp grows with 8 to 13 inches of (annual moisture) without any worries. We have dryland production in Manitoba, and we get our share of winter.”