Colorado Industrial Hemp Farming Symposium

Loveland, CO—On March 21, 2013 starting at 6:30 pm and going until  9:00 pm is the Colorado Industrial Hemp Symposium sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

Now that Hemp is legal in Colorado the symposium is set the task of educating the people about the legislation, final product commerce, farming, and other useful information people might need to know about Industrial Hemp.  Many of the speakers are Canadian experts in the field of Industrial Hemp.

It will have a great lineup of speakers that includes:

Senator Gail Schwartz—Chair of Senate Agriculture Committee

Anndrea Hermann—President of HIA

Shaun Crew—President of Hemp Oil Canada

Summer Star—Chief Operating Officer of Enviro Textiles

Eric Steenstra—President of Vote Hemp

David Bronner—President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap

Jason Lauve—Hemp Cleans

The tickets cost $15 dollars and the event will be held at The Ranch events complex, First National bank building, in the Beard, Brown rooms at 5280 Arena Circle in Loveland, Colorado.

For more information please contact Eric Steenstra at erics@thehia.org

www.hempindustries.org

Missouri follows Kentucky into Industrial Hemp Debate

Jefferson City, MO—State Senator Jason Holsman, Democrat from Kansas City, has introduced another Industrial Hemp Bill, officially, Senate Bill 358 (http://www.senate.mo.gov/13info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=18713094).  A similar bill had been attempted last year but it never materialized. 
 The success in Kentucky has made Hemp no longer taboo.  The Bill would allow people to grow Hemp  which had no prior record of drug related offense.  The bill also defines Hemp in the parameters of the THC level, one of many psychoactive ingredients in the cannabis sativa L family that offer the smoker the euphoria or the “high”.  The bill sets the level at 1% THC for all Hemp growers.
 Steven Wilson of the Central Missouri Hemp Network had to this to say about Bill 358.  “Although it seems like a victory, the main issue with American farmers, politicians, and Industrial Hemp has always been the same thing; logistics and supply chain.  It won’t matter who grows the Hemp, if you don’t have the supply chain in place pre-existing to aid the grower from raw material into final product America will wind up looking like Canada did for the first few years they grew Hemp.  From the farm to the cashier, if the logistical supply chain is not ready, the vote won’t matter at all.”
 Wilson has been the strongest proponent for the Missouri Prison Farm method for the early phasing in of Industrial Hemp.  His video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGqg8ZpV4ro&feature=plcp
illustrates the method through the use of local 4H programs and re-entry of the prison population in the market device through farming hemp, job training, and hemp production into final products like clothing and construction materials.  The current bill offers none of these solutions.
 Right now, no one knows the future of Bill 358, but one thing is certain, Industrial Hemp is getting more than its fifteen minutes.  The real question is can the farmer and the Missouri voters get on board.
 To find out more please contact Senator Jason Holsman at http://www.senate.mo.gov/13info/members/mem07.htm
 To find out more please contact Steven Wilson at 573-416-0075 or through his blog at http://missourihempnetwork.blogspot.com. 

Anndrea Hermann and Oregon State University Industrial Hemp

Oregon State University Offers World's First Course on Industrial Hemp
Course Includes Contributions from 26 of the World's Top Hemp Researchers

CORVALLIS, OR — Oregon State University's (OSU) College of Forestry and Department of Wood Science and Engineering have announced a new Ecampus course covering all aspects of industrial hemp, the non-psychoactive oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis, which may be imported into the U.S. but may not be grown and processed here despite major American industries seeking permission to do so. The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) estimates that U.S. annual retail sales of hemp products exceeded $500 million in 2012.

Beginning on April 1, 2013, OSU will become the first university to offer a college-level course for credit on industrial hemp. The course will include contributions from twenty-six of the world's top hemp researchers covering a wide range of hemp-related topics.

The 3-credit Ecampus course (WSE 266 Industrial Hemp) can be taken from anywhere in the world that has Internet access. "The 10-week course will give students the most up-to-date and thorough introduction available to all the key aspects of industrial hemp," says course coordinator and leading hemp agronomist Anndrea Hermann, who is also President of the HIA.

Industrial hemp's historical and political context in the U.S. and worldwide will be examined. The course will cover current topics on industrial hemp, including: the applied science of growing and using industrial hemp, botany, fabric and fashion, paints and sealers, building products, composites, foods, body care, livestock feeds, bioenergy, nanotechnology, grain and fiber processes, agronomy, breeding and others.

Hemp has played an important role in America's rich agricultural heritage, and every day more Americans are discovering its nutritional, ecological and industrial uses. Hemp is a nutrient-dense and renewable food source that is rich in dietary fiber, highly digestible protein and essential fatty acids (EFAs). It can also be used to make paper, clothing, biofuels, biodegradable plastics, automobile parts, building materials and much more.

This month, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 (H.R. 525) was introduced in the House with twenty-eight original co-sponsors, and it was quickly joined by a companion bill in the Senate (S. 359) which was introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), underscoring the bipartisan support around the hemp issue. If passed, the bills would remove federal restrictions on the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp. The full text of the bills, as well as status and co-sponsors, can be found at: http://www.votehemp.com/legislation.

Enrollment details and more information about the new Ecampus industrial hemp course can be found on the Oregon State University Web site at: http://bit.ly/OSE266.

# # #

The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) represents the interests of the hemp industry and encourages the research and development of new hemp products. More information about hemp's many uses and hemp advocacy may be found at www.TheHIA.org and www.VoteHemp.com. Video footage of hemp farming in other countries is available upon request by contacting Ryan Fletcher at 202-641-0277 or ryan@votehemp.com.

CONTACT: Tom Murphy 207-542-4998
tom@thehia.org
Anndrea Hermann 204-377-4417
hermanna@onid.orst.edu

Kentucky and Industrial Hemp are Free

Another Huge announcement and just one giant step closer to reality, the Kentucky Senate set the path for a clear victory for all Americans by passing Hemp Bill.  Follow the link to the full story and vote totals.  Spread the word and contact your own representative.  Freedom looks like...Peace!



http://news.yahoo.com/industrial-hemp-bill-passes-kentucky-150744491.html

Rehemption is at Hand in Kentucky

Rand Paul delivered on promises made by himself and his father.  A Kentucky committee moved one step closer to an American Hemp production cycle.  The full article is in the link.  Kentucky is the leader and hopefully Missouri will follow.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130211/NEWS0101/302040106/Hemp-bill-clears-committee-unanimously

Vote Hemp and your Congress Critter

 Just another note worthy of spreading throughout the world.  Contact you representation and tell them how you feel.  Small group local people through your own network and join together locally.  You can make news just by moving as one.  Vote Hemp fights for it every day.  Please do your part if you agree.

Vote Hemp keeps it going.  Check it out Please and share if you agree.  Peace.



  https://www.facebook.com/votehemp?sk=app_134449449947220&app_data

U.S. Congress and Massie

 US rep Massie of Kentucky has introduced this years Industrial Hemp bill.  It is known as H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) is a co-sponsor of the bill in the U.S. House. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) are supporting a similar bill in the U.S. Senate.

Please spread the word to those around you.  Kentucky is making a solid argument for hemp production.  If you need any help with promotions or presentations, please contact me.  Thank you.



http://massieforms.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=GVI57CLT3X4L6VIZWPXQ3PXVMA

Denver, Colorado and Legislative Hemp

And it was inevitable to come and this article sums it up nicely I think.  The hobgoblins of fear and anxiety about association and federal intervention creep ever so calmly these days.  In the halls of Colorado, the Hemp topic takes center as the marijuana laws have fallen.

But the voters knew of these arguments before.  Why now?

Hemp was not voted on directly, but it was a secondary response to the vote.  And as such, the people need to be informed.  The farmers and producers of goods need perfect information.  This cannot take place in fear and anxiety.

Read this article to understand the position of Hemp.  It might sound familiar to some.

http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_22368156