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.
Alex Russell & Michael Johns say hemp has health benefits without the “high”
HENDERSON, KY (WFIE) - Kentucky lawmakers have gone back and forth on the issue of whether to ban or to allow farmers to grow hemp.
With the growing popularity of CBD oil, which comes from hemp, two Kentucky farmers are jumping on the hemp-trend through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s industrial hemp pilot program.
Surrounded by acres of corn and soybeans, Greenman Gardens' co-founders Alex Russell and Michael Johns, are growing thousands of hemp plants on Johns' family farm in Henderson.
Hemp looks, smells, and tastes like it’s botanical cousin marijuana, but Russell and Johns said hemp has health and wellness benefits without the high.
Greenman Gardensis the first to grow hemp in Henderson County but Russell is working to help other farmers and aspiring growers succeed in hemp growing too. He is passionate about the benefits hemp farming can have on the rural farming economy.
“We’re doing what we love and what we believe in, which is American grown industrial hemp. And this plant has benefits across the board and especially for the local community right here from farmers all the way to end users,” he said.
Hemp can be used to make products we use everyday, replacing materials like plastic, concrete, paper, and coal.
But what really excites Russell and Johns is the health benefits.
“Especially medicinally speaking it can remedy so many ailments and illnesses that we currently try to treat with man made pharmaceuticals, whereas this plant can naturally do that,” Russell said.
“It’s just wild the things we’re learning that it can do along with the things you read and hear and see you know migraines, epilepsy, helping sleep through the night or different pains or ailments,” Johns explained.
She compares hemp to non-alcoholic beer.
“You can drink all the O’Dooles you want but you’re not gonna experience any kind of buzz,” Johns said.
Alex Russell, Co-Founder of Greenman Gardens stands in front of a truckload full of harvested hemp plants. CBD oil will be extracted from the hemp flowers and then bottled and sold.
Russell also explained that there are also side effects of CBD oil are “really almost non-existent” compared to prescription medication or pharmaceuticals.
He said he takes CBD oil twice a day, most of the time just out of the bottle.
Greenman Gardens harvests the entire hemp plant and that none of it goes to waste because all of it can be used for something.
Right now, hemp is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug and through the state program, farmers can only grow what’s called a test plot.
But the most recent farm bill in congress could change that, and allow hemp farmers to expand their operations. Right now, Russell said the limitations on their product makes running their hemp business even more challenging.
“Right now we’re pretty limited with banking, insurance, financing... we can’t take credit cards so it’s very difficult to operate a normal business when you can’t take a credit card,” Russell explained.
Co-Founder of Greenman Gardens, Alex Russell, checks his hemp plants to see if they are ready to be harvested.
Russell anticipates the bill passing within the next month or two and said that the current classification of hemp as a Schedule 1 drug are outdated.
“Schedule 1 means by definition no medical benefit and highly likely to be abused. Well we’re 0-2 with that because there is a medical benefit and there’s no likelihood of abuse because there’s no euphoria,” Russell said about hemp and CBD oil.
“Passage of the farm bill would be incredible for us and this industry. It’s gonna allow more growers and allow them to produce and operate like a normal business,” he said.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Matt Bevin congratulated AgTech Scientific for breaking ground Thursday on a new facility to develop and manufacture hemp-based products in Paris. The facility is part of AgTech’s plan to work with Kentucky farmers to grow hemp and to partner with the University of Kentucky on research.
“The hemp industry is expanding rapidly, and Kentucky is on the leading edge of this growth in terms of its science and commercial viability,” Gov. Bevin said. “AgTech Scientific’s exciting new venture represents a unique collaboration with the state’s agricultural community, the University of Kentucky, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We are grateful for AgTech’s investment in Bourbon County, and we look forward to the innovation and job growth that will take root in the Bluegrass State as a result.”
Today’s ceremony took place in Paris, where AgTech is building a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art structure on a 10-acre site in the Bourbon County Business Park, 333 Cleveland Drive. The company has an option to purchase an additional 10 acres there. AgTech’s initial $5 million investment is expected to grow substantially. AgTech will start with around 50 employees, projected to grow to 271 within three years.
“The Ag Tech team is excited to announce that our first beta test planting season has been a success. We initially planned on 2,000 plants. However, as word and interest in our project spread in the farming community, we ended up planting 200,000 plants in 2018,” said Dr. Brian King, the company’s chief strategy officer. “We are planning to plant over 4 million plants next season. Our new state of the art 50,000-square-foot facility in Bourbon County will allow us to scale operations and ensure top quality throughout the supply chain. We deeply thank everyone in the community who has made this possible. Some of the biggest help came from the Governor, Ag Commissioner Quarles, Congressman Andy Barr, Matt Koch, Bourbon County Executive and all the great farmers of Kentucky.”
More than 6,700 acres of hemp were planted in Kentucky in 2018 under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program, placing the commonwealth behind only Colorado among all states in total industrial hemp acres planted. Approved Kentucky growers have skyrocketed from 20 at the program’s outset in 2014 to 210 in July 2018.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles noted the state’s success in the burgeoning industry.
“Kentucky continues to be a leader in industrial hemp production,” Commissioner Quarles said. “We congratulate AgTech Scientific on this important milestone. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue working hard to position the commonwealth as the epicenter of industrial hemp research.”
AgTech holds both a Processor/Handler License and a Grower License from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture hemp program and intends to partner with Kentucky farmers for largescale hemp production. The company would then extract cannabidiol (CBD) from the locally grown hemp. CBD differs from THC, the intoxicant in marijuana. Initially, the facility would produce an energy drink incorporating CBD and would later expand its product lineup.
In partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, AgTech is researching potential health benefits of hemp-based additives for animal food. AgTech plans to eventually begin manufacturing pet and equine foods, among other products, contingent on changes to regulations.
Sen. Stephen West, of Paris, said he is eager to see the fruit of the company’s labor.
“I’m pleased to hear that AgTech Scientific has chosen Paris as the home for its new facility as the hemp industry continues to grow in our state,” Sen. West said. “I look forward to seeing what this partnership with the University of Kentucky can produce and the opportunities it will bring to Bourbon County.”
Paris Mayor Mike Thornton said the company’s presence could have a far-reaching impact locally.
“We are excited to welcome AgTech Scientific to Paris and Bourbon County. I look forward to helping them grow and expand on the opportunities that this area can provide,” Mayor Thornton said. “Their willingness to locate in Paris creates much needed employment opportunities and offers an exciting new process for industrial hemp that will surely be a huge benefit to our local farmers. I anticipate seeing great things from AgTech Scientific in the future.”
Bourbon County Judge-Executive Michael R. Williams said he is proud to see the community at the forefront of a new industry with unlimited potential.
“Bourbon County is thrilled to have AgTech Scientific join our family of business partners. This is a great day for all of Bourbon County and central Kentucky,” Judge-Executive Williams said. “Their impact on our farmers has already been very positive and will continue to bolster our already leading-edge agricultural economy. They will truly be pioneers in an industry that is positioned to bring new prosperity and a bright future to our farms and businesses. Their plans for more than 200 jobs in the processing plant is a major impact to the economy and their confidence and support of Bourbon County will be the inspiration for other businesses who will consider our community in the future. It’s a great day for Bourbon County and a great day for Kentucky. Welcome AgTech Scientific to your new home and your new business family!
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in January preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $2.4 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, AgTech can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal year 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
The spread of legalization is sending ripples through the economy. By Phillip Smith
Marijuana legalization continues to spread. It's already legal for adults in nine states (including California, the nation's most populous), and medical marijuana is legal in 30. Canada goes legal next Wednesday, and we could see two more medical marijuana states, Utah and Missouri, and two more legalization states, Michigan and North Dakota, on Election Day. And New Jersey is on the path to legalizing it via this legislature by year's end—if all goes well.
The biggest impact of marijuana legalization has to be in the criminal justice system, where hundreds of thousands of people who would have been arrested for pot possession were not arrested, and will not be arrested. But marijuana is also now a big legal business, with recent research reports estimating the industry will reach the $20 billion mark by 2025.
And legal marijuana is having a disruptive impact on any number of economic sectors, from advertising to farming to booze, and more. Public and private investment in new forms of ingestible marijuana is up, marijuana startups are popping up everywhere, and financing for pot companies more than doubled last year. Meanwhile, more traditional industries, including medicine, banking, agriculture, and others, are beginning to incorporate marijuana into their products and business strategies.
There’s also been a large uptick in public and private investment in new, safer forms of ingestible marijuana, while cannabis startups—focused on everything from therapeutic applications to cultivation techniques—are also cropping up. Financing to cannabis companies more than doubled in 2017.
Health Care.Marijuana is revolutionizing the way some ailments are treated, from forms of epilepsy to chronic pain—and beyond. The FDA recently approved the use of CBD to treat two forms of epilepsy. States that have legalized medical marijuana report falling rates of opioid prescriptions. Marijuana's cannabinoids, CBD in particular, are drawing increasing attention from researchers, as they examine its potential for treating other conditions, including neuropsychiatric disorders, anxiety, and cancer. And CBD is just one of more than a hundred cannabinoids contained in the plant, leaving plenty more exploring to do for researchers seeking medical applications for the plant.
Pharmaceuticals.With the spread of legal medical marijuana and its use to treat pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and other medical conditions, the pharmaceutical industry is likely to take a big hit—as much as $4 billion a year, according to a University of Georgia study. That's why a number of pharmaceutical companies are moving to incorporate marijuana into their strategies. Just in the past month, Sandoz Canada became the first major pharmaceutical company to affiliate with a marijuana producer. And then there are firms such as GW Pharmaceutical, which recently made history when the FDA approved its full-plant prescription drug Epidiolex.
Wellness & Beauty.With the spread of legalization, marijuana is becoming more openly integrated into consumer products, especially those focused on health and beauty, with CBD oil in particular attracting a lot of attention. Its proponents claim it offers relief from pain, anxiety, and depression, as well as possessing anti-inflammatory and anti-acne properties. It's making its way into beauty and makeup products as well, including mascara and lip balms. CBD oil also has potential applications for athletes and people looking to boost workout performance. Lord Jones, for example, makes a popular body lotion to soothe "sore muscles, joint pain, and skin conditions."
Packaging.Who knew? Marijuana legalization has been big business for the packaging industry. Packaging for pot products is highly regulated, typically with requirements for tamper-proofing, resealable odor-resistant bags, and opacity. The multitude of different marijuana products, with differing packaging requirements for different products, has also contributed to the rush of new companies entering the market, including manufacturers of innovative packaging products, such as tins, slide boxes, joint tubes, tamper-proof tincture bottles, and more.
Banking.Because marijuana remains federally illegal, the big nationwide banks that dominate the industry won't touch pot industry money. That's creating an opportunity for smaller, localized banks and credit unions to bridge the gap, and more than 400 local banks and credit unions have taken on marijuana-related clients—a number that has more than tripled since 2014. California even toyed with the idea of creating its own state-chartered bank to handle pot cash. That bill died, but if legalization spreads further without the federal government making room for pot banking, a state marijuana bank could become a reality.
Agriculture.The non-psychoactive variety of marijuana known as hemp is threatening to alter the landscape of the agriculture industry. It only requires half as much land as cotton to produce a ton of finished textiles, and hemp's applications are seemingly endless. It can be used for clothing, durable textiles, rope, side panels in automobiles, building, and much, much more. Right now, the biggest market for hemp growers is CBD oil products, but that is going to change.
Billboard Advertising.Legal pot has been a real boon to the billboard industry, in part because state laws limit signage at retail locations and in part because marijuana gets excluded from paid advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. In Los Angeles, MedMen pioneered the use of mobile billboards, employing trucks wrapped in advertising to drive around the city. Billboards are old school, but they are relatively inexpensive, and they get a lot of eyeballs. The industry couldn't be happier with legal pot.
Food.Marijuana edibles are a big and growing business, too. Californians spent $180 million on marijuana-infused food and drinks last year, accounting for 10 percent of all pot sales in the state. That figure was up to 18 percent by early this year. It's not just California, either: in Colorado, edible sales tripled from 2014 to 2016, while in Washington state, edible sales jumped 121 percent in 2016. Companies such as Colorado-based Dixie Elixirs are leading the way with product lines that include truffles, chocolate bars, mints, juices and many more, but expect plenty of competitors for this lucrative market to emerge.
Alcohol.For alcohol companies, marijuana is a competitor, but it could also be a solution for declining global sales. Beer, wine, and spirits companies are looking to expand their offerings through marijuana-infused beverages. Constellation Brands (Corona Beer) just invested $4 billion in Canada's Canopy Growth Company, while British spirits maker Diageo (Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Guinness, and Baileys) has been holding talks with at least three other Canadian pot producers. Also, various cannabis beverage companies are looking to rival beer, and beer companies are taking note, partnering with pot businesses to create special brews.
Law.While marijuana legalization means less work for prosecutors and defense attorneys, it also means more work for attorneys who specialize in the intricacies of state marijuana laws. The National Cannabis Bar Association, founded in 2015, now has 400 members, and law firms are shifting their practices to focus on the industry. With tight, closely written regulatory regimes, state marijuana laws are fertile ground for attorneys who can help businesses navigate the hurdles.
Phillip Smith is a senior writing fellow and the editor and chief correspondent ofDrug Reporter, a project of the Independent Media Institute.
Researchers found the pools used by the Romans for hemp maceration in the former land of Sandrigo in Aquileia. This is the first system of the Roman period known so far. The discovery was made by a group of archaeologists of theCa’ Foscari University, during a stratigraphic archaeological excavation that has been carried out by the University of Venice since 2010.
“These are the first Roman archaeological findings of facilities related to the cycle of cultivation and processing of hemp (Cannabis sativa), resulting from a complex project of palynological analyses within a larger study aimed at the reconstruction of the ancient vegetable landscape”, saidDaniela Cottica, Director of the campaign and professor at the Department of Humanities.
The pools are elongated and shallow, circumscribed by parapets made of clay, sand and pebbles with thin layers of opus signum coating with waterproofing function.
“Italy has a long tradition in the cultivation of hemp and has been one of the most important producers of hemp globally”, saidGabriella Buffa, Professor of Vegetable Biology at Ca’ Foscari.
Hemp is a highly ecological crop, being the cultivation techniques needed very simple and its products multi-functional and sustainable. Ancient Romans had already discovered its usefulness and appreciated it for making lines, ropes, mats and nets.
The researchers identified the use of these facilities by means of archeopalynology, which studies pollens, spores and sporomorphs embedded in archaeological or geological layers: this analysis shows the constant and diffused presence ofCannabis sativain the pools and traces of the poles fixed vertically in the ground to keep hemp under water for maceration.
By Shannon Jones and Todd Campbell
Source: fool.com
Marijuana is one of the most exciting emerging industries for investors right now, but a lot of that excitement could be misplaced. The potential to profit from marijuana stocks will depend significantly upon cooperative governments and willing consumers, and not everyone is convinced that marijuana stocks are going to get much bigger than they are now.
In this clip from The Motley Fool'sIndustry Focus: Healthcare, analyst Shannon Jones is joined by Todd Campbell, Sean Williams, and Keith Speights to discuss if the excitement surrounding marijuana stocks likeTilray(NASDAQ:TLRY)is warranted or overblown.
A little-known Canadian company just unlocked what some experts think could be the key to profiting off the coming marijuana boom.
And make no mistake – it is coming.
Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America – 10 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization comes to Canada in October 2018.
And one under-the-radar Canadian company is poised to explode from this coming marijuana revolution.
Because a game-changing deal just went down between the Ontario government and this powerhouse company...and you need to hear this story today if you have even considered investing in pot stocks.
Shannon Jones:Let's dive right in. I want to lay the groundwork here. Oftentimes here at The Fool, one of the most frequently asked questions that we get when it comes to the marijuana industry is, "Is this really legit? Is this a legit industry? Is this just the sketchy corner dispensary down the street? Are there really some legs to this industry?" What can you guys tell us about what the marijuana industry is all about, what it's made up of? What can you give the listeners?
Todd Campbell:Anyone want to jump in? Keith?
Keith Speights:I can jump in, and you guys can jump in after me. Yeah, it is legitimate. Obviously, there are some sketchy players out there. You have to be aware. But it's very legitimate. I think that thing everyone needs to realize, we're really talking about two different markets here. You've got the medical marijuana market, and you've got the recreational marijuana market. They're quite different. Obviously, medical marijuana has been legal in several countries already. It's been legal in Canada for a while, it's been legal in quite a few states. I think we're up to 30 states now, plus D.C. Then, on the recreational side, in the U.S., you've got nine states now that have legalized it. I think Michigan is voting in November.
Sean Williams:Two states voting.
Speights:Two states voting. Michigan is one of the big ones. The latest I saw, the polls look like it's probably going to pass. So, we're going to have more states. Of course, the other thing to remember is that it's still illegal at the federal level in the U.S.
The other aspect I think you have to look at is that there are different geographies involved. All the hype right now is Canada. Canada is a big market. You just mentioned, Shannon, the market for recreational marijuana opens up in just a few days. Everybody's anxious to see how that's going to turn out. But they've had medical marijuana legal for several years now. You've got Germany that legalized medical marijuana last year. That's a very big market. They're the largest population in the European Union, so that's an important market.
We can't leave out the good ol' U.S.A. The U.S. currently, from the latest information I saw, accounts for 85% of total marijuana sales in the world.
Right? Everybody's talking about Canada. The U.S. is where it's at, even though it's still illegal at the federal level. Obviously, Germany's going to grow, Europe's going to grow, Canada's going to grow, but even in a few years from now, the U.S. is still going to account for probably three-quarters of all marijuana sales. You have to look at all of this. When you see all the Canadian stocks getting all the hype, the bigger market is right here at home.
Campbell:And really, the Canadian market is pretty small fish in the big sea. Even with medical marijuana having been around in Canada available, you're still not talking about a ton in sales. Maybe a billion is what they're predicting for 2019. Totally combined, including recreational, maybe you get $5 billion to $7 billion or something like that. The global marijuana market is $150 billion if you include, of course, the black market. So, yeah, there's a major chance to disrupt. I agree with you, Keith. I think this is a real industry. There's a lot of disruption going on here.
If you are a listener that's new to the whole marijuana thing -- what the heck is this whole marijuana thing about? Just a little bit of background. We're talking about cannabis, cannabis sativa is the plant. You may be familiar with hemp, which is a type of cannabis sativa. Hemp has been used industrially for about 7,000 years. As a matter of fact, it was a major ingredient for things like rope and paper and everything back in the colonial times. As a matter of fact, you used to be able to pay your tax bill, Sean, you used to be able to pay it in cannabis seeds, which is cool. You could go into your local government and pay your taxes --
Speights:Didn't George Washington grow hemp?
Campbell:And Thomas Jefferson set aside some of the best land he had to grow hemp!
Williams:I'm going to see what my state says about that.
Campbell:[laughs] Yeah, today, probably not so much. Not so much. But, what we're talking about with marijuana is the female plant. We're talking about the bud of the female plant. That's the dried flower that people think of when they're talking about the commodity part of the marijuana business. I'm sure that we'll chat a little bit about the differences between commodities and not. You are going to have two very distinct markets. That's going to be the commodity -- I'm growing, say, tobacco, or I'm growing wheat, or I'm growing whatever it is I'm growing. And then, you're going to have the finished good market, or the value-add market, however you want to refer to it. Those are going to be the things like cannabis oils, CBD, and those kinds of things. Then, to your point, Keith, you have this whole separate market, which could be, theoretically, very large, in the medical marijuana space. Most likely, we're talking about prescription medical marijuana.
Keith Speightshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Shannon Joneshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Todd Campbellhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Sean Williamshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
John Strohfus and his son, Martin, 5, look over 2,000-pound containers of Katani hemp seed in a storage building at their Afton farm on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Strohfus, the president of Minnesota Hemp Farms and one of the state’s leading advocates promoting hemp farming, has harvested his hemp crop for the year. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)
John Strohfus is rehabilitating the outlaw of Minnesota agriculture.
“People think this is new,” said Strohfus, as he sifted hemp seed through his fingers at his Afton farm. “But the only thing new is that farmers can grow it now.”
Farmers like Strohfus are tip-toeing into the hemp market, planting fields in Woodbury, Afton, Dakota County and across the state. State officials are encouraging them, saying that hemp would stimulate the state’s economy.
Yet the growers are shackled by the fact that hemp — unlike any other crop — has a lingering reputation as a source of dangerous drugs. The plant is related to marijuana, which is listed in the same category as heroin and LSD by federal officials.
Farmers have been able to grow hemp in Minnesota only for three years, and only with restrictions. As the rules change, farmers and consumers are in a kind of limbo, waiting for lawmakers to decide what is legal and what is not.
“Hemp has potential, but it’s in a very weird area,” said Andrea Vaubel, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture.
But the liberation of hemp might be coming soon.
Hemp would be removed from the federal list of illegal drugs by one version of the upcoming 2018 federal Farm Bill. If that language is passed, consumers would see hemp in products from clothing to cookies to cosmetics.
Because Minnesota’s climate is perfectly suited for growing hemp, said Vaubel, the once-illegal plant would join corn and soybeans as leading crops in Minnesota.
“It would be a game-changer for Minnesota farmers,” said Paul Frank, who grows hemp in Dakota County. “It would be huge.”
IT’S NOT MARIJUANA
Hemp wasn’t always the black sheep of agriculture.
Hemp and marijuana both contain the intoxicating chemical THC — which is why they have been linked together since the 1930s as dangerous drugs.
John Strohfus shows hemp stalks on his Afton farm on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Hemp is grown for the long, silky strands used in clothing, such as the original Levi’s jeans. The seeds are nutritious, and the oil is believed to have health benefits. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)
“We have spent the last 90 years unlinking them,” said hemp grower Frank.
Marijuana naturally has large amounts of THC, and is usually cultivated for the purpose of making users high. Hemp is the opposite — naturally growing with tiny amounts of THC, and cultivated to reduce it even further.
Hemp is grown for the long, silky strands used in clothing — such as the original Levi’s jeans. The seeds are nutritious, and the oil is believed to have health benefits.
The U.S. government has flip-flopped on hemp before. During World War II, when hemp was illegal, the government nevertheless produced the movie “Hemp for Victory” to encourage farmers to grow hemp for the war effort.
But after the war, hemp reverted to its status as a criminalized cousin of marijuana.
The first step toward rehabilitation was with the 2014 Farm Bill, which authorized states to approve the cultivation of hemp. One year later, Minnesota did.
Afton hemp grower Strohfus was an early supporter. He was among the first seven farmers to apply in Minnesota, and one of 41 farmers today who cultivate hemp on 710 acres around the state.
But like an ex-con released from prison, hemp is still treated suspiciously.
Hemp farmers must submit to background checks. By law, they must agree not to raise hemp to make money.
“Hemp must be raised for research purposes as part of a pilot program,” said Cody Wiberg, executive director of the state Board of Pharmacy, which monitors controlled substances.
Most confusing of all, a key product from hemp is probably illegal to sell.
“This is where things get messy,” said George Weiblen, a University of Minnesota professor who is an expert in the genetics of hemp.
ILLEGAL? YES AND NO
Co-owners Abbie Schneider, right, and Doug Herkenhoff talk to a customer who was interested in a pain cream for her and her mother’s arthritis at Minnesota Hempdropz in Maplewood, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The store in a Maplewood strip mall is the first in the metro area that is entirely devoted to hemp products for consumption. They sell products containing CBD, an ingredient in hemp and marijuana that does not make users high but, proponents say, relieves pain, anxiety, insomnia, acne, seizures and even cancer. The product is legal in Minnesota. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating compound found in marijuana and hemp. It is sold online and in retail stores,including one in Maplewood.
CBD is usually marketed with a list of health claims — related to anxiety, chronic pain, depression, indigestion, psoriasis and cancer.
None of those claims has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. And selling CBD is still — probably — illegal.
“The Drug Enforcement Agency’s position is very clear. CBD is illegal,” said professor Weiblen. “But hemp advocates do not accept that. It’s a very gray area at this point.”
A customer tries a free sample of pain cream for her arthritis, and after bought a large sample at Minnesota Hempdropz in Maplewood, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The store in a Maplewood strip mall is the first in the metro area that is entirely devoted to hemp products for consumption. They sell products containing CBD, an ingredient in hemp and marijuana that does not make users high but, proponents say, relieves pain, anxiety, insomnia, acne, seizures and even cancer. The product is legal in Minnesota. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)
CBD products put police in an awkward position.
Suppose a person was busted for possession of CBD oil. If it came from marijuana, police could make an arrest for felony drug possession. Yet if that same chemical — CBD — came from hemp, it probably would be considered legal, said the Pharmacy Board’s Wiberg.
Most law enforcement officers are taking a wait-and-see approach. “This is a confusing, fluid situation,” said Wiberg.
He doesn’t want to deprive anyone of a beneficial product. But without regulation, there is no way to know if a product contains the right amount of CBD, or any at all.
Customers sometimes take unproven health products, and ignore medicines proven to be effective. When CBD is packaged to resemble medicine or gummy bears, Wiberg starts to worry.
“Then they say to take one of these a day to help anxiety. That is where the problem comes in,” he said.
FROM FARM TO CONSUMERS
Strohfus, the president of Minnesota Hemp Farms, has harvested his hemp crop for the year.
John Strohfus, president of Minnesota Hemp Farms on his farm in Afton on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)
In his shed, he runs his fingers through the seeds that are just beginning to take root in American consumer products.
He points to the hemp seeds now sold as food in Walmarts and Targets. Outdoor-gear maker Patagonia is selling jackets made of hemp, and Mercedes-Benz uses hemp fiber in car interiors.
And if hemp becomes completely legit, Strohfus said, watch out — the gold rush of hemp will begin. Hemp will roll into cookies, cosmetics, bathrobes and beer.
Even a hemp cola could be on the horizon. Coca-Cola is examining the market potential of soft drinks with CBD, according to a September report in Bloomberg News.
Demand for hemp will soar, he said, benefiting Minnesota farmers. “I could see where General Mills would say they want 40,000 pounds a week,” Strohfus said.
As he leaned on a bale of hemp stalks in his shed, he gazed at it warmly.
