My blog is dedicated to the exploration of industrial hemp in America including the rich history of all forms of cannabis, the evolving law and politics of hemp and marijuana, the many products made from cannabis and the capacity, real or imagined, of hemp to re-industrialize rural America and revitalize the American family farm.
Republican lawmakers want to help Wisconsin's once-dominant hemp industry make a comeback, giving farmers the chance to add a versatile and hardy plant to their fields.
Rep. Jesse Kremer and Sen. Patrick Testin are circulating a bill to legalize production of industrial hemp, which has many uses.
Wisconsin was once a leading producer of hemp. At its peak during World War II, the state produced three quarters of the hemp grown in the country before demand plummeted and China took control of the market. But states across the country are rejoining the race and Wisconsin lawmakers want in.
Freshman Sen. Patrick Testin said he initially had some concerns because many people don't differentiate between marijuana and hemp. Both are forms of cannabis, but hemp won't get a person high because it doesn't have enough THC, marijuana's active ingredient.
"It's an opportunity to bring an industry back to the state of Wisconsin," he said.
Hemp has a growing number of uses. Hemp fiber strengthens fabric and insulation while its oil and seeds are used in cosmetics and cereal. The plant is also showing up in high capacity batteries and car door panels.
"It has come a long way from its original heyday, so to speak," said Kremer's spokesman, Nik Rettinger.
The bill, which has bipartisan support, would require anyone who wants to grow hemp to be licensed by the state through a program overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. People who have drug convictions wouldn't be eligible for licenses. It also includes a provision to ensure a licensed producer's plants don't contain more than 1 percent THC.
University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and horticulturist Irwin Goldman says hemp crops would be a great addition for the state's farmers because it would add variety and is a sturdy, low-maintenance plant well-suited to Wisconsin's climate.
The federal government in 2014 passed the Farm Bill, which gave states the right to run hemp research programs. At least thirty states — including neighboring Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois — have passed legislation allowing cultivation of hemp, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Some states, including Oregon, struggled to launch hemp production the way lawmakers envisioned because they were initially short on seeds. The Wisconsin proposal would let producers use seeds certified in Wisconsin or elsewhere, language Rettinger said was included to avoid hurdles like those in other states.
Hemp - The Multi Billion Dollar Crop - Part 2: Cultivation, NSP Products, Hemp Seed Oil, Hemp Seed Oil Powder
The global market for hemp applications consists of more than 50,000 products Markets include foods and beverages, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics Hemp Oil and CBD can positively affect cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, attested in more than 23,000 studies Hemp seeds have the ideal ratio of omega 3/6 fatty acids of 3 to 1 and contain very high levels of vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and fiber The Canadian cannabis market alone grew at a CAGR of 80.42% over the last two years The global nutraceutical market was estimated at around 205.39 billion USD in 2016 and is projected to reach around 294.79 billion USD by 2022, at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2017 to 2022
In this edition of the Round Table, experts like world famous nutritionist David “Avocado” Wolfe and entrepreneur Craig Goodwin investigate nutritional, medical and environmental benefits as well as the splendid financial prospects of the outstanding super commodity hemp.
While all world is watching closely at the marijuana markets, its non-psycho-active sibling hemp still lacks the attention it deserves. This super commodity has been used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world. Industrial cultivation and processing of hemp offers tremendous opportunity, over 50,000 different applications for hemp are recorded up to date. With its superior health benefits, especially hemp seeds are not only a gift for personal nutrition, health- and body care, but also have the potential to change several industries, including the functional food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical markets.
Cannabis legislation is catching up to socio-cultural reality on a global scale, thereby creating vast fortunes for investors. The explosion of the industry is the best prove of that: the Canadian cannabis market alone has grown by more than 300% over the last two years.
Industrial hemp will be legalised in South Australia after the government announced it would support a Greens bill.
The laws will allow for the growing of hemp for industrial purposes, such as cosmetics, clothing and textiles, and construction materials.
Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher will move a number of amendments to the Industrial Hemp Bill 2016, which was introduced to Parliament by Greens MLC Tammy Franks last year.
Mr Maher said the removal of legal barriers gives growers and manufacturers the opportunity to explore the economic potential for the hemp industry in SA.
"It will allow farmers to consider whether they want to grow hemp in SA and to become licenced to do so," he told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.
"It will also allow for the possibility of manufacturing of hemp products, such as textiles, building products and a range of cosmetics."
He said the state government is also interested in allowing the cultivation of medicinal cannabis but this is a federally regulated matter.
The SA government has written to Canberra asking them to explore streamlining the changes required for the cultivation and export of medical cannabis.
Grain Producers SA chairman Wade Dabinett said farmers were excited to explore the potential of growing hemp as the state's climate appears suited to it.
"Farmers are certainly supportive of it because we want as many options as we can in our rotation," Mr Dabinett said.
"In the US and Canada it's a booming industry. We want to see whether we can achieve that here."
Industrial Hemp Association SA president Teresa McDowell said the multi-faceted hemp industry was worth billions of dollars globally.
"Environmentally and economically, it's an incredible resource and one that we just need to allow our state to tap into."
She hoped the federal government would soon legalise the consumption of hemp foods because this would create more business opportunities as well as health benefits.
"If you look at the hemp food industry globally that's a billion-dollar market," Ms McDowell said
"It's an incredible health food. It's just filled with essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals."
Opioids, a class of drug that includes prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and codeine, as well as the illicit drug, heroin, were responsible for more than 30,000 deaths by overdose in 2015.
This statistic is even more alarming when one couples it with the fact that since 1999, the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids has nearly quadrupled, with approximately 165,000 people having died from an opioid overdose in the United States.
Needless to say, the opioid dependence and addiction epidemic in the United States is a growing problem, which begs the question: what’s the solution?
Cannabis for opioid addiction
Most who take prescription opioids do so to treat some version of chronic pain. And while opioids are, indeed, effective when it comes to alleviating pain, they’re also highly addictive, come with myriad harmful side effects, and increase one’s risk of death by overdose.
The detrimental effects of opioids on the body has led to increased research into better alternatives for pain management, with cannabis being at the forefront. And the results are encouraging.
In a Harvard-led review of 28 different studies examining the efficacy of cannabis to treat pain, it was found that the vast majority of participants felt a significant improvement in their symptoms, leading to the conclusion that, “Use of marijuana for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is supported by high quality evidence.”
Moreover, a University of Michigan study published in 2016 in the Journal of Pain found that cannabis decreased side effects from other medications, improved the overall quality of life for patients, and reduced the use of opioids, on average, by 64%.
Why, then, are opioids so widely prescribed but cannabis remains illegal in the majority of the country?
A major barrier to patients seeking cannabis for pain relief is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) unwillingness to declassify cannabis as a Schedule I drug.
A Schedule I classification puts cannabis in the same category as cocaine and heroin, formally indicating that cannabis has no known medical value, despite growing evidence to the contrary.
Because cannabis has been held firm in this classification, there have been government restrictions in place preventing the abundant research necessary to categorically confirming its efficacy.
Additionally, being that opioids are typically prescribed by a doctor, it means they’re less susceptible to the stigma that surrounds sometimes-illegal drugs like cannabis. This likely influences more people to opt for opioids regardless of the research suggesting cannabis is a better alternative.
So what, exactly, makes cannabis a better alternative?
Not only do a growing number of studies indicate that cannabis is a more effective treatment option for chronic pain with fewer side effects, but we’re learning that cannabis also has the potential to treat opioid addiction.
Recent studies have found that those suffering from opioid addiction and withdrawal could benefit from cannabis use because it reduces both the reward properties and withdrawal symptoms of opioids. Moreover, an additional study revealed that cannabis substantially reduced cravings and anxiety in heroin users.
In conclusion, there’s mounting evidence which suggests that not only is cannabis a safer, less addictive alternative for chronic pain than opioids, but it can also be used to manage opioid addiction. Now it’s just a matter of continuing research so that there are fewer restrictions and more access to the drug for those in need.
Both hemp and marijuana have been getting a lot of attention lately but for much different reasons. While both are cannabis sativa plants, the two have much different properties. Hemp does not contain THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid that makes users feel high), but instead is typically higher in cannabidiol (CBD), which is known for its medicinal benefits. Additionally, hemp has long been used to make fabric, rope, paper, soap, and many other things. So if hemp doesn’t get you high, can help the sick, and may be used to make several conventional products, why is it illegal to grow?
A Storied History
Hemp has been grown for various purposes since the beginning of time, and many of the Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, grew the plant for a variety of reasons. It was not until 1937, with the enacting of the Marihuana Tax Act, that growing and distributing cannabis was outlawed. Hemp returned in popularity during World War II, when the government encouraged citizens to grow hemp in order to help the war effort. In 1970, President Nixon put marijuana on Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act (industrial hemp was also included) where it has remained ever since.
The hemp industry is now worth tens of millions of dollars. Products containing the plant (including everything from wallets to breakfast cereal) are a big business – Americans spend around $580 million per year on these typical consumer products. With the growing popularity of CBD, it is estimated that the hemp industry will only continue to grow at incredible rate. Many government officials – both Republican and Democrat – believe that hemp should be legal, as it will bring medicine and economic growth to local economies.
The Health Benefits of Hemp
In the hemp versus cannabis debate, more people are discovering the many health benefits of both with a focus on hemp. The plant has shown great efficacy in a variety of illness and ailments, including muscle aches, arthritis, menopause and much more. Here are some of the evidence-based benefits, according to Authority Nutrition:
Hemp seeds are high in protein, and jam-packed with two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3).
Seeds are also shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Hemp seeds may aid digestive issues.
It is vital to also mention the many benefits of CBD, which hemp plants are typically high in. The cannabinoid has shown efficacy in treating epilepsy, autism, anxiety, inflammation, and has even been used to help treat cancer patients. While CBD remains on the Schedule I list of dangerous drugs, it is becoming more widely accepted across the country due to its remarkable abilities.
The Growing Hemp Industry
It’s no secret that the medical and adult-use cannabis markets are exploding, and hemp is quickly becoming a multi-million dollar business. In addition to CBD, hemp has an array of other end markets, such as food, protein, supplements, clothing, pharmaceuticals, skincare, paper, and more. According to The CBD Report, hemp consumer products sales are exploding with several companies receiving huge investments.
The hemp industry is growing at a rapid rate, thanks to broader legalization of the plant and its potential medical benefits. As the popularity continues to grow, more and more politicians are looking at hemp to help revitalize economically depressed areas, perhaps even turning the plant into the nation’s next cash crop. Hemp has a potentially wider reach than cannabis and could even overtake the plant in its projected earnings – only time will tell.
The global market for hemp applications consists of more than 50,000 products
Markets include foods and beverages, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics
Hemp Oil and CBD can positively affect cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, attested in more than 23,000 studies
Hemp seeds have the ideal ratio of omega 3/6 fatty acids of 3 to 1 and contain very high levels of vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and fiber
The Canadian cannabis market alone grew at a CAGR of 80.42% over the last two years
The global nutraceutical market was estimated at around 205.39 billion USD in 2016 and is projected to reach around 294.79 billion USD by 2022, at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2017 to 2022
In this edition of the Round Table, experts like world famous nutritionist David “Avocado” Wolfe and entrepreneur Craig Goodwin investigate nutritional, medical and environmental benefits as well as the splendid financial prospects of the outstanding super commodity hemp.
While all world is watching closely at the marijuana markets, its non-psycho-active sibling hemp still lacks the attention it deserves. This super commodity has been used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world. Industrial cultivation and processing of hemp offers tremendous opportunity, over 50,000 different applications for hemp are recorded up to date. With its superior health benefits, especially hemp seeds are not only a gift for personal nutrition, health- and body care, but also have the potential to change several industries, including the functional food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical markets.
Cannabis legislation is catching up to socio-cultural reality on a global scale, thereby creating vast fortunes for investors. The explosion of the industry is the best prove of that: the Canadian cannabis market alone has grown by more than 300% over the last two years.
Craig Goodwin
J. Craig Goodwin is the President, Director, & Founder of Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. He has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience including Senior Account Executive for one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world, The Jim Pattison Sign Group. While with The Jim Pattison Sign Group, Craig was one of the most successful sales executives in Western Canada and received numerous awards for outstanding achievements.
David Wolfe
David “Avocado” Wolfe is the rock star and Indiana Jones of the superfoods and longevity universe. The world’s top CEOs, ambassadors, celebrities, athletes, artists, and the real superheroes of this planet - Moms - all look to David for expert advice in health, beauty, herbalism, nutrition, and chocolate!
Simon Scholes
Simon Scholes is a CFA® charterholder and brings 20 years of financial experience to supervising equity research projects. Prior to First Berlin, he worked as a sell-side analyst at ABN AMRO in London and at Bankgesellschaft Berlin in Frankfurt. Simon holds a BA degree in German from Oxford University.
Rafael Dulon
Rafael Dulon is the founder and general manager of Hanf Farm AG, a larger company located in Germany, which grows ecological hemp and processes it to diverse food products. His main focus is in the development and processing of high-quality hemp food products. Rafael Dulon finished education in biological Agriculture and Marketing, and is permanently upgrading his functional knowledge about hemp.
Joscha Krauss
Joscha Krauss just recently took over the management of MH medical hemp GmbH, which is based in Berlin. For the past three years he has been active worldwide in the area of medicinal cannabis and Cannabidiol (CBD) in particular. He holds an Bsc. in Forest Science & Ressource Management as well as a Master of Science in ecology.
Georg Holzach
Georg Holzach is a renowned German TV journalist who presented 14 TV formats in seven German networks, including subject areas like: business, stock market, world affairs, science and health.
He also moderated more than 250 international conferences and corporate events for 100+ clients in German, English and French, trains managers for interviews and is a lecturer at ten higher education institutions.
Craig Godwin:
"The hemp plant itself is one of the most nutritional plants that have ever been known to be on earth."
"The base products of hemp: seed, protein and oil should be in everybody’s diet, every single day.”
"It has been around for 6.000 years and been used by civilizations the world over."
"Naturally Splendid has positioned itself very well indeed by investing in science and technology, research and development."
David "Avocado" Wolfe:
"20 trace minerals, making it one of the most unusual and most important seed crops in the world."
"CBD is game changer to all who have to deal with a child who has any kind seizure disorder."
"Ideal food for the developing brains of children."
"24% of the American population is on any kind of anxiety medication, anti-depression medication or some kind of mental disorder medication – all these things can be supported, helped or even eleviated by CBD."
"In 1942 Henry Ford produced a fiber 10 times the strength of steel at a fraction of its weight."
Simon Scholes:
"One of the major drivers is the functional food industry."
"The diversification is obviously very interesting to invest, the company has several legs to stand on."
"Ethical Investing is a big trend and Naturally Splendid is a part of that."
Joscha Krauss:
"CBD has very strong antioxidant effects and very good anti-inflammatory effects."
"There is a HUGE variety of diseases you can treat with CBD."
"The American market (for CBD) is huge, the European market is very undeveloped in regards to Cannabidiol, a very big market is the Asian market. There is no CBD there. There is a huge potential!"
Rafael Dulan:
"It has so many opportunities for the human being and for agriculture."
"The effect of the hemp cultivation for the soil is really great."
"I am very convinced that we will have the boom here in Europe as well."
