Let's Talk Hemp

Author: Lets Talk Hemp

  • A Much Needed Paradigm Shift Toward a Whole Plant Approach

    A Much Needed Paradigm Shift Toward a Whole Plant Approach

    September 26, 2019

    A Much Needed Paradigm Shift Toward a Whole Plant Approach

    By Bob Hoban, President, and Founder, Hoban Law Group

    You’d never make it in the NHL if you were a defender who always followed the puck. It’s not about where the puck is now, but all about anticipating where the puck is going. The same is true for people thinking about the hemp industry as the cannabinoid industry. It’s time to shift toward a supply chain perspective.

    In no way do I mean to be the bearer of bad news, but the CBD market is saturated. How could there be an inundation of processing, brands, and supply, yet no one realizes it? Because right now, it’s not a traditional industry. It hasn’t been commoditized by mainstream players. Up until this point, the big companies that own mainstream global distribution, the Nestles and Krafts of the world, have only dabbled in the hemp industry. When they enter, they will structure it in such a way that buyers and sellers meet up and marry as they do in every other industry, with every other product.

    I’d rather be the backbone for the industry from a supply chain perspective. And the supply chain starts with genetics. Right now, when people talk about hemp seed, they think in terms of grain, fiber or CBD varieties. I don’t see it that way — and neither does the Farm Bill. It’s a hemp crop.

     


    News Briefs

    NIH Awards $3 Million to Study Cannabinoids and Terpenes
    by National Institutes of Health

    Headline News

    Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Pushes FDA to Expedite CBD Rules
    by U.S. Hemp Roundtable

    Inaugural Jack Herer Golf Tournament, October 4, Celebrates Hemp Pioneer
    by Jack Herer Foundation

    Hemp CFO’s Quest: Educate Banks, Auditors on the Benefits of CBD
    by the Wall Street Journal

    Colorado “Hempies” Are Celebrating Harvest Time
    by the Cannabist

    Hemp Becoming a Hot Commodity Among Sustainable Clothing Brands
    by REI Co-op

    South Carolina Hemp Farmer Arrest Sparks Questions
    by WSPA News

    Alabama Delays Hemp Crop Applications, Citing Delay in USDA Rules
    by Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries

    Hemp Sports Car Paves Way for Carbon-Negative Technology
    by Lancaster Farming

    American Hemp Documentary Now Streaming on Amazon Prime
    by Film Threat

    Federal Judge Rules Indiana’s Smokable Hemp Ban is Unconstitutional
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Lawmakers Raise Questions About Hemp Crop Insurance
    by Progressive Farmer

    Colorado City, CO, Hemp Processor Seeks to Fill 250 Positions
    by the Pueblo Chieftain

    New Mexico Luthier Introduces All Hemp Travel “Adventure” Guitar
    by Lancaster Farming

    Florida’s 2020 Hemp Program Is on Fast Track
    by WCTV News Tallahassee

    How Hemp Crops Handle Wet Weather
    by KTVL News10

    For First Time in 50 Years, It’s Hemp Harvest Time in Rhode Island
    by Providence Journal

    Virginia Hemp Farmer Protects Crop, Family from Armed Thieves
    by WTVR News Richmond

    Amish Farmers Foresee Profits in Hemp
    by the Philadelphia Inquirer

    California Hemp and Cannabis Testing Lab Raises $22.6 Million
    by MoneyWorks Magazine

    Ventura County Could Become One of California’s Largest Hemp Growing Regions
    by the Ventura County Star

    International News

    U.K. Farming Union Urges Growing Hemp for Building Materials
    by Hemp Today

    Upcoming Events

    An Interview with Lorena Beltran – Cannabis in Mexico

    Join Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan for a brand new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast, Featuring Lorena Beltran. In this episode, Lorena Beltran joins us to talk about everything cannabis-related happening south of the border. You’ll hear how the legalization of cannabis in the USA has changed the lives of cannabis farmers in Mexico, how the USA and Mexico differ in their approaches to hemp regulation, and why Mexico will be one of the leading producers of industrial hemp.

    About Let’s Talk Hemp

    Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives) focused specifically on the subject of industrial hemp and cannabis. We present features and curate news from across the globe to share the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing and planet (H.E.M.P.). Colorado Hemp Company also is the Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, the nation’s leading hemp conferences and expositions.

    Publisher: Morris Beegle, Elizabeth Knight
    Editor: Steven Hoffman
    Web Developer: Debby West
    Design: Allen Haeger
    Circulation: Evan Tompros
    Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast: Rick Trojan, Morris Beegle

    Send Us Your Hemp News!
    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

  • Colorado Hemp Company Honors Legendary Hemp & Cannabis Pioneer Jack Herer

    Colorado Hemp Company Honors Legendary Hemp & Cannabis Pioneer Jack Herer

    Colorado Hemp Company Honors Legendary Hemp & Cannabis Pioneer Jack Herer at Foundation’s Inaugural Dinner & Golf Tournament, Friday, October 4, Santa Clarita, CA

    Industry Leaders, Family, Friends and the Community Gather to Remember the Innovative Icon, Author and Hemp Trailblazer with Fundraiser for Global Hemp Education and Awareness

    “Revered as the founding father of the modern-day hemp movement, Jack Herer’s spirit and legacy must continue. That’s why the Colorado Hemp Company and the NoCo Hemp Expo are proud to honor the Foundation and gather with the community at this event,” says Morris Beegle, Founder, Colorado Hemp Company and Producer of the NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo. “Jack Herer’s longstanding commitment to ending the prohibition of cannabis has given us the tools and the resources to build new industries and help educate the world about the possibilities of this powerful plant.”

    Santa Clarita, CA (September 25, 2019) – Hemp supporters from across the country are taking to the links and gathering together to honor cannabis trailblazer Jack Herer’s illustrious legacy at the Foundation’s Inaugural Dinner and Golf Tournament on Friday, October 4, at the Sand Canyon Country Club in Santa Clarita, CA. The Jack Herer Foundation unites the medicinal marijuana and hemp industries to educate the public further and raise awareness about the powerful benefits and uses of cannabis.

    The primary goal of the Jack Herer Foundation is to re-introduce the history of hemp by creating a Mobile Education Center and by building the Jack Herer National Hemp Museum. The museum will focus on educating communities nationwide about the renewable agricultural resource and its power to be made into paper, textiles, fuel, nutrition, medicines, building materials, and plastic alternatives.

    Sponsorship Opportunities and Registration

    Proceeds from the Inaugural Dinner and Golf Tournament will go toward the official launch of the Foundation. The tournament will be in the “4-person scramble” format with dinner, dancing, and a live auction beginning at 5:30 pm. For Sponsorship interest, contact Elf Investment Group at elfinvestmentgroup@gmail.com. To register for the golf tournament, visit https://jackherergolf.com/.

    About Colorado Hemp Company

    The Colorado Hemp Company, the organizer of the 2020 NoCo Hemp Expo, is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive, prosper, and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe.

    Contact

    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@southernhempexpo.com

  • USDA Draft Hemp Rules Await White House Approval

    USDA Draft Hemp Rules Await White House Approval

    While USDA has up to a year to finalize regulations governing hemp cultivation in the U.S., the agency submitted draft federal rules to the White House in mid-September to assure states and farmers they can participate in the 2020 growing season.

    By Steven Hoffman

    The hemp industry is anxiously awaiting federal rules for the cultivation of hemp in the United States, and it may soon get its wish. In mid-September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) completed a draft of proposed rules for growing hemp and submitted the document to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

    The new USDA regulations are expected to clarify changes that were included in the U.S. Farm Bill, which was passed into law in December 2018. Currently, most state hemp growing programs are operating under older rules included in the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill. The new USDA rules are expected to provide clarity on the legal definition of hemp and reinforce that hemp has been removed from the controlled substances list by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). According to UPI, the new rules also are expected to designate hemp as a commodity crop, simplify rules for interstate hemp commerce, and allow for tribal nations and U.S. territories to participate in hemp growing programs.

    Originally scheduled for release on August 1 in advance of the 2020 growing season, William Richmond, USDA’S Director of the Specialty Crops Program in the Agriculture Marketing Service, informed attendees of the American Herbal Products Association’s Hemp and CBD Congress held in Denver in mid-August that the regulations were delayed in part because USDA is struggling with a requirement in the 2018 Farm Bill for a national THC testing protocol. “Our goal is to provide a consistent, easy-to-follow regulatory framework around hemp production,” Richmond said at the AHPA Congress.

    Other issues impacting the rapidly emerging hemp industry include the availability of crop insurance and banking services for farmers, approval pesticides for use on hemp crops, and the import of hemp seeds, Geoff Whaling, Chair of the Washington, DC-based National Hemp Association, told UPI. Whaling predicted the USDA rules would be released “in a matter of weeks.”

    According to Hemp Industry Daily, the USDA regulations will be temporary for the first year, allowing states and farmers around the country to participate in the 2020 growing season and identify and iron out any small fixes. While the 2018 Farm Bill calls for federal authorities to allow states to set their own rules for hemp production, as long as certain criteria are met, states will need to get USDA approval first, a step, Hemp Industry Daily says, that won’t happen until after the national guidelines are released.

    According to UPI, the OMB has scheduled meetings to receive initial public comments regarding the USDA hemp regulations. Once released, members of the hemp industry will be invited to submit feedback before final rules are issued.

    The OMB, the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, is responsible for producing the President’s Budget, but also measures the quality of agency programs, policies and procedures to make sure they comply with the president’s policies. OMB also coordinates inter-agency policy initiatives, according to Wikipedia. Current OMB Director Mick Mulvaney also currently serves as Acting White House Chief of Staff for the Trump administration.

    Photo: Unsplash.com

    # # #

    Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and  Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

  • Is Hemp the Solution to Plastic Microfiber Pollution?

    Is Hemp the Solution to Plastic Microfiber Pollution?

    September 12, 2019

    Is Hemp the Solution to Plastic Microfiber Pollution?

    By Jessica Lesesky, President of Operations, eHemp[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Search for microplastics and you’ll find that clothing made from synthetic and petroleum-based fibers release hundred of thousands of microfibers into the environment in a few ways. More and more research is finding that our clothing is actually a major cause of pollution. The good news is that clothing made from natural fibers like hemp can help! Hemp fiber can be used to make clothing that is sustainable, easy on the environment, and does not release hundreds of thousands of microfibers when doing laundry. Not to mention the growing and manufacturing of natural fibers are also much more environmentally friendly!

    Each time we do a load of laundry, our clothes are literally shedding approximately 700,000 microfiber plastics. Microplastic fibers are so small, they aren’t caught in our filters or by waste management and eventually, they end up in our oceans and other bodies of water.

    A few of things microplastics have been found in include, fish, honey, and beer. Publications like the Wall Street Journal, Vox, CNN, and Vogue are helping bring awareness to this issue and the fashion industry’s responsibility to reduce this form of pollution.

    Clothing made from natural fibers like hemp, don’t shed polluting synthetic fibers. The environmental impact of hemp is also better for when a hemp t-shirt ends up in a landfill. The amount of time it takes for the shirt to degrade is exponentially shorter than a shirt made from synthetics. Not to mention, what it degrades into is far more environmentally friendly than clothes made from synthetics.

     


    [

    News Briefs

     

    Headline News

    Alabama’s Hemp is Passing the Low-THC Test
    by AL.comColorado Hemp Farmers on Short List of States Eligible for Federal Crop Insurance
    by WestwordSouth Dakota State Congressman Shares Op-Ed in Support of Industrial Hemp
    by Capital Journal SDAmerica is Growing 8x the Amount of Hemp it Can Consume
    by Yahoo FinanceMyth Busters: Can Hemp Biodiesel Replace Standard Diesel?
    by MediumDrones Being Used in Hemp Farming
    by WBNG Channel 12 News NY2019 a Banner Season for U.S. Hemp Growers
    by HempGazetteLargest Hemp Processing Plant in U.S. Seeks to Hire 250 Employees By Year’s End
    by KOAA NBC News Southern ColoradoCitrus County, FL, Agricultural Alliance Establishes Industrial Hemp Committee
    by Citrus County ChronicleKentucky Hemp Farmers Getting Burned by Thieves
    by Wave3 News KYCalifornia Ag Biotech Company Plans $10 Million Stock Offering to Expand Hemp Subsidiary
    by Hemp Industry DailyFederal Appeals Court Rules Against Colorado Company Seeking Return of 7,000 Pounds of Hemp BioMass Seized in Idaho
    by Hemp Industry DailyCanada’s Hemp Industry Shrinks Amidst Slow-moving CBD Regulation
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Upcoming EventsAn Interview with Dr. Jan Roberts:
    From the China International Hemp Industry Forum in Harbin, China2019 Year in Review on Let's Talk Hemp with Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan

    Join Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan for a brand new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast, featuring Dr. Jan Roberts to discuss the endocannabinoid system in the human body, cannabis dosing issues, and the pros and cons of regulating the cannabis industry. Dr. Jan Roberts is a host on the New Hemp Times podcast, CEO and co-founder of the International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health (IRCCMH), and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

    About Let’s Talk Hemp

    Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives) focused specifically on the subject of industrial hemp and cannabis. We present features and curate news from across the globe to share the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing and planet (H.E.M.P.). Colorado Hemp Company also is the Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, the nation’s leading hemp conferences and expositions.

    Publisher: Morris Beegle, Elizabeth Knight
    Editor: Steven Hoffman
    Web Developer: Debby West
    Design: Allen Haeger
    Circulation: Evan Tompros
    Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast: Rick Trojan, Morris Beegle

    Send Us Your Hemp News!
    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Hemp Business and Farm Conference Draws Thousands to Southern Hemp Expo

    Hemp Business and Farm Conference Draws Thousands to Southern Hemp Expo

    Hemp Business and Farm Conference Draws Thousands to Southern Hemp Expo, Williamson County Ag Expo Park, Franklin, TN, Sept. 6-7

    Industry Leaders Call for Hemp Innovation and Infrastructure: Experts Convene with Athletes, Farmers and Government Officials to Chart Course for Commodity’s Future

    FRANKLIN, TN (September 9, 2019) – Organizers of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo (SHE) are pleased with the success and attendance numbers of this past weekend’s business and agriculture-focused event. Thousands of attendees participated in the two-day conference, which featured notable national speakers, including Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard; and World Champion Funny Race Car driver Matt Hagan: plus, nationally acclaimed authors, business leaders, and farmers.

    Democratic Presidential Candidate and U.S. Representative, (D-HI) Tulsi Gabbard made a special campaign stop and gave the keynote address on Friday, Sept. 6 via Skype teleconferencing, outlining her support in modernizing hemp through a green economy. National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), two-time Funny Car World Champion, Matt Hagan kicked off Saturday’s Farm Symposium by sharing his journey from Funny Car World Champion to celebrated hemp farmer.

    The Buzz of Hemp

    Industry leaders encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to think beyond growing hemp solely for CBD as the commodity is a sustainable crop ideal for fiber, building materials, food, fuel and other industrial purposes.

    “We’re charting the course for the next evolution of hemp,” explains Morris Beegle, Southern Hemp Expo show Producer.

    “Thanks to the Farm Bill legislation, it is now legal for farmers to grow hemp, which has opened the eyes of the entire agriculture community. They are taking an interest to learn more about the plant from soil to stalk. The time is now and the Southern Hemp Expo and the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo provide valuable insight for anyone who has an interest in all things hemp.”

     

    Presenting Sponsor: Blühen Botanicals
    Expo attendees received up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, market research, compliance, and lab testing; breeding, genetics, seeds and clones and more.This year’s SHE event featured a sold-out business conference and an industry day with a business-to-business expo hall on Friday, September 6. The popular and sold-out Farm Symposium was open to the general public, which was held on Saturday, September 7, all coinciding with over 150 exhibitors, educational seminars, workshops, and demonstrations.

    Tennessee’s Blühen Botanicals is the Presenting Sponsor of Southern Hemp Expo. Founded by a dedicated team of Knoxville, TN-based entrepreneurs, soil scientists, farmers and hemp advocates, Blühen Botanicals is a hemp biomass processing and extraction company with farming and distribution partners across the United States. With a dedicated, pharmaceutical-grade hemp research facility, Blühen works with manufacturers to produce custom formulations for its own blend of boutique wellness products such as full-spectrum hemp extract oils, soft gels, creams, and pet treats and oils. The company employs expert entomologists, plant pathologists, agronomists, chemists, and engineers. Learn more at www.bluhenbotanicals.com.

    Save the Date for NoCo Hemp Expo: March 26 – 28, 2020

    Get ready for the NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest hemp expo taking place at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado March 26 – 28, 2020. With more than 20,000 attendees and 400+ exhibits to be featured, NoCo7 will continue to bring the industry together from across the globe.

    About The Colorado Hemp Company

    The Colorado Hemp Company, the organizer of this year’s Southern Hemp Expo, is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive, prosper, and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe.

    About the Southern Hemp Expo

    The Southern Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO, and producer ofNoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest and most comprehensive trade show and conference for industrial hemp. WAFBA is the founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services and the Colorado Hemp Company. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting, and advocacy. Learn more atSouthernHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

    Contact

    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@southernhempexpo.com

  • 29 Lorena Beltran – Cannabis in Mexico

    29 Lorena Beltran – Cannabis in Mexico

    In this episode, Lorena Beltran joins us to talk about everything cannabis-related happening south of the border.

    You’ll hear how the legalization of cannabis in the USA has changed the lives of cannabis farmers in Mexico, how the USA and Mexico differ in their approaches to hemp regulation, and why Mexico will be one of the leading producers of industrial hemp.

    You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave us a Rating and Review!

    Let's Talk Hemp on Apple Podcsts

    “Mexico is going to position itself as one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to industrial hemp.” – Lorena Beltran

    Show Notes:

    • The legal state of cannabis in Mexico
    • How legalization in the USA has changed the lives of cannabis farmers in Mexico
    • How the USA’s approach to cannabis regulation differs from Mexico
    • Why Mexico will be one of the leading industrial hemp producers
    • The Mexican Cannabis Industry Association’s first priorities
    • Lorena’s upcoming projects

    “The good thing about our new government is that they are going to legalize [cannabis] with the priority and the objective of ending violence, ending the black market, and of course ending the drug war.” – Lorena Beltran

    Links Mentioned:

  • Presidential Candidate, Hemp Supporter, Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) to Present Keynote – video

    Presidential Candidate, Hemp Supporter, Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) to Present Keynote – video

    Special Announcement: Presidential Candidate, Hemp Supporter, Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) to Present Keynote, Friday, Sept. 6, 1:30 – 2:00pm, Southern Hemp Expo, Williamson County AG Expo Park, Franklin, TN

    Rep. Gabbard Introduces Hemp For Victory Act: Legislation Vital to the Success and Modernization of Hemp through Research and Innovation to Protect our Environment

    FRANKLIN, TN (September 6, 2019) – The Southern Hemp Expo (SHE) is excited to announce that Democratic Presidential Candidate, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard(D-HI) will present the conference’s keynote address via Skype teleconferencing on Friday, Sept. 6, 1:30 – 2:00 pm at the Williamson County AG Expo Park, Franklin, TN. Bestselling author of Hemp Bound, Doug Fine, who is also presenting during the conference, will introduce Rep. Gabbard. Attendees at SHE will be able to watch and listen to the congresswoman’s perspective on hemp as a commodity and her goal to modernize and maximize the potential for domestic hemp crops in the coming years.

    Rep. Gabbard introduced Bill #H.R. 3652,The Hemp For Victory Act, this past July to the Department of Agriculture. This legislation would provide a much-needed framework for the emerging hemp industry that protects family farmers and small businesses from the threat of a potential corporate takeover. Also, Bill #H.R. 3652 focuses on researching the benefits of hemp, while ensuring safe agricultural practices.

    “We’re very excited to have Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard deliver the keynote address and be this year’s special guest at the Southern Hemp Expo,” explains Morris Beegle, Southern Hemp Expo Producer. “We applaud the congresswoman’s support for hemp and respect her commitment for implementing effective hemp legislation to protect this growing industry.”

    Friday, September 6, 2019

    Tulsi Gabbard, (D-HI), U.S. Representative, Presidential Candidate

    Keynote address via Skype teleconference

    1:30 – 2:00 pm (EDT)

    Williamson County AG Expo Park, Franklin, TN

    About Tulsi Gabbard

    Tulsi Gabbard is a Democrat who was first elected to Congress in 2012 to serve the people of Hawaii. She is currently a member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services. She was deployed twice to the Middle East and was one of the first female combat veterans ever elected to Congress. She continues to serve as a Major in the Army National Guard. Tulsi Gabbard was Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 until she resigned in 2016 to support Bernie Sanders for his bid for President. Tulsi Gabbard announced her intention to run for President of the United States on January 11th, 2019. She does not accept campaign contributions from corporations, lobbyists or political action committees.

    EXPO Highlights 

    The second annual conference and exposition is expected to attract 5,000 attendees and is open to entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, manufacturers, producers, agriculturalists and consumers interested in products made from hemp, CBD and full spectrum hemp extract.

    This year’s SHE event features a business conference; farm symposium; and industry day with a business-to-business expo hall on Friday, September 6. The general public is then invited to attend on Saturday, September 7, with nearly 150 exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations.

    Expo attendees will receive up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, market research, compliance, and lab testing; breeding, genetics, seeds and clones, and more.

    Presenting Sponsor: Blühen Botanicals

    Tennessee’s Blühen Botanicals is the Presenting Sponsor of Southern Hemp Expo. Founded by a dedicated team of Knoxville, TN-based entrepreneurs, soil scientists, farmers and hemp advocates, Blühen Botanicals is a hemp biomass processing and extraction company with farming and distribution partners across the United States. With a dedicated, pharmaceutical-grade hemp research facility, Blühen works with manufacturers to produce custom formulations for its own blend of boutique wellness products such as full-spectrum hemp extract oils, soft gels, creams, and pet treats and oils. The company employs expert entomologists, plant pathologists, agronomists, chemists, and engineers. Learn more at www.bluhenbotanicals.com.

    About the Southern Hemp Expo

    The Southern Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO, and producer ofNoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest and most comprehensive trade show and conference for industrial hemp. WAFBA is the founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services and the Colorado Hemp Company. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting, and advocacy. Learn more atSouthernHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

    Contact

    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@southernhempexpo.com

  • Licensed Hemp Acreage Increases 455% in 2019

    Licensed Hemp Acreage Increases 455% in 2019

    by Eric Steenstra

    Licensed hemp acreage increased 455% in 2019 vs hemp acreage under license in the U.S. in 2018, based on new research by VoteHemp.com.
    (View larger graph image)

    Everyone seems to be talking about and using hemp products these days. Hemp extracts are suddenly available almost everywhere including your local supermarket, coffee shop and gas station.  Hemp derived CBD and the benefits of the “entourage effect” from whole plant hemp extracts is driving a revolution in consumer health and it couldn’t come at a better time.  Consumers are seeking natural alternatives to help them live healthier and happier lives.  It also comes at a perfect time for the emerging hemp industry.

    The legalization of hemp farming in the Farm Bill last December was a watershed moment for the hemp industry and for American farmers.  The return of hemp to agriculture while farmers are seeking alternative crops created an intense level of interest in farming hemp and inspired literally thousands to enter the industry as evidenced by a massive increase in licensed hemp growers for the 2019 growing season.  The Farm Bill also inspired thousands of new hemp processors and brands to enter the market.

    Vote Hemp has been conducting an annual survey of state departments of agriculture since 2016 to track the growth of hemp cultivation in the United States.  This year we are releasing a hemp licensing report first to document intent and will follow up with hemp planting and harvesting data once it has been reported.  The results on licensing show more than 500,000 acres of hemp were licensed across 34 states, an increase of more than 455% over 2018 licensed acreage.  Intent is a good indicator but we know from previous years that significantly less hemp is planted than what is licensed due to a variety of factors including access to seed and/or clones as well as inexperience.  This will be the case again for 2019 and we estimate that 230,000 acres of hemp will actually be planted and significantly less harvested due crop failure.

    Another important statistic is the growth in the number of farms that were licensed to grow hemp in 2019.  Almost 17,000 licenses were issued for hemp cultivation in 2019, an increase of 477% over 2018 licensure.  A significant amount of this activity is coming from new farmers which is good news for agriculture.  In Tennessee alone, licensees increased by more than 1000% and many of them are small family farms.  The number of family farms in the United States has been in steep decline for decades.  Today, there are only about 2 million American farms in operation, down from nearly 7 million farms in 1935 and farmers are finding it ever more difficult to make a profit with traditional crops like corn, soy and wheat.  Hemp is helping farmers to find new and more profitable markets and is encouraging new people to consider farming as a way of life.

    However, hemp is not yet a commodity and while demand for biomass has been high, it is not yet clear what the total market demand will be for 2019 and 2020.  Due to this uncertainty, I strongly recommend that farmers only grow hemp with a contract to sell it in hand and carefully vet their partners.  It is also advisable to start with a small crop the first year as there is a significant learning curve.  Bottom line, don’t grow more than you can afford to lose.

    While farming alone contributed $132.8 billion to the US economy, the industry’s reach extends far beyond the soil. From the ethanol gas you recently pumped into your car to the IPA calling your name at the bar, countless products and industries rely on agricultural inputs to contribute value to the economy.  Projections from the Hemp Business Journal show that hemp is likely to add at least $2.5 billion to agricultural output by 2022 and likely will continue growing at a fast pace for at least the next 5-10 years as demand grows for fiber and grain.  The future is bright but there will be speed bumps along the road so drive carefully!

    To learn more about the growing hemp industry, download our hemp licensing report.  If you are looking for more in depth background on the best states for hemp cultivation, you may also be interested in the upcoming Hemp States Report I helped write for the Hemp Business Journal which should be released very soon.

    ERIC STEENSTRA
    PRESIDENT, VOTE HEMP

    Eric Steenstra is a hemp industry pioneer, co-founding hemp clothing and lifestyle brand Ecolution with Steve DeAngelo in 1992.  Eric was a founding member of the Hemp Industries Association and served as HIA Executive Director from 2008 to 2016.  Eric now serves as the president of Vote Hemp, the political advocacy organization that he co-founded and as Vice President of the California Hemp Council. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and trusted source to the media, including CBS, the New York Times, Forbes, CNN, Rolling Stone, Reuters and the Washington Post.

    Vote Hemp lead the effort to pass hemp farming legislation nationwide.  In 2005, Steenstra worked with Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) to draft the first modern U.S. hemp legislation introduced in Congress (H.R. 3037). In 2012 he worked with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to get companion hemp legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate. Steenstra worked with Congressman Polis (D-CO) and Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) to have hemp legislation included in the 2014 Farm Bill.  The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the first legal hemp farming in over 50 years and resulted in 78,176 acres of hemp being planted across 24 states in 2018. Vote Hemp also played an integral role in the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill including fully removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act.

  • Southern Hemp Expo Tickets Selling Fast

    Southern Hemp Expo Tickets Selling Fast

     

    Jack Herer Golf Tournament – Hemp Harvest Party and More!

    Let’s Talk Hemp at the Southern Hemp Expo! Hemp Products – Education – Farm & Ag Equipment – Business – Entertainment and More! Avoid a Sell Out & Purchase Tickets Today!

    Friday, Oct 4th, 2019
    Tee off 9:00 AM

    8:00 PM – Cocktails & Silent Auction

    Recently we lost a dear friend of the hemp family and we are deeply saddened for the loss of Green Spring Technologies founder Mark Linday who passed away August 15, 2019. Mark was the first ever winner of the HIA Innovation Award in 2016 for his 3D hemp printing innovations, including the coveted hemp pen which was used by Senate Majority Leader to finalize the 2018 Farm Bill. He made numerous Silver Mountain Hemp Guitar picks, NoCo Hemp Expo commemorative treasure boxes, coasters and so much more. Rock on Mark, you will be missed.

  • Athletic Appeal – Former Professional Athletes Passionate About the Hemp/CBD Business

    Athletic Appeal – Former Professional Athletes Passionate About the Hemp/CBD Business

    Hear two-time Funny Car World Champion turned hemp farmer Matt Hagan, NFL veteran and CBD advocate Kyle Turley, and former NHL player Riley Cote, CBD entrepreneur and co-founder of Athletes for Care, speak at the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo, September 6-7, 2019, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN.

    By Steven Hoffman

    Professional athletes know how to take a lickin’ and keep on tickin.’ However, after years in the sports world, athletes are increasingly turning to full spectrum hemp extract and CBD to help provide relief for stress and for injuries accumulated over a career or a lifetime of impact athletics.

    Three such former professional athletes were so impressed with results garnered from full spectrum hemp extract that they got into the business – one, two-time Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan, as a hemp farmer; another, Kyle Turley, is a former NFL player who says CBD saved is life; and the third, former NHL player Riley Cote, is a hemp advocate and educator and also a marketer of CBD products to athletes, weekend warriors and the general public. Matt, Kyle and Riley will be featured speakers at the upcoming Southern Hemp Expo September 6-7, 2019, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN.

    From Left: Two-Time Funny Car World Champion turned hemp farmer Matt Hagan; NFL Veteran and CBD advocate Kyle Turley; and former NHL player turned hemp educator and CBD entrepreneur Riley Cote. Photos: Matt Hagan: Matt Hagan/Twitter; Kyle Turley: NeuroXPF.com; Riley Cote: Athletes for Care.

     

    Matt Hagan – Funny CarWorld Champion Turned Organic Hemp Farmer

    Recognized as a top competitor in the world of Funny Car drag racing, Matt Hagan is also a beef cattle farmer. When the 2018 Farm Bill passed, he immediately started planning to plant 140,000 plants on 90 acres, making his TruHarvest Farms one of the largest hemp farms in Virginia. “Every day I feel better about it,” Hagan told his local TV station, WFXR, at the beginning of the planting season. “The first couple of days starting this up I was ready to puke, ‘cause it’s just the unknown, the fear of the unknown.” However, Hagan added, “We’ve picked up over 20 people to work this farm for this year and that alone is driving revenue back into our country and into our state.” Hagan plans to sell his organically produced hemp plants to create CBD and strives to break the stigma around hemp. In the future, he hopes to open his farm to educate people on the uses of hemp and its differences from marijuana.

    Riley Cote – From NHL Enforcer to CBD Educator and Entrepreneur

    Riley Cote is a former professional left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent four seasons (2006-2010) with the Philadelphia Flyers where he was renowned for his role as an enforcer. Upon retiring from the NHL, Cote founded the Hemp Heals Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting hemp as a viable renewable resource that can help increase the quality lives of all people. Cote also sits on the Pennsylvania Hemp Industries Council (PAHIC) board.  As a co-founder of Athletes For Care and one of its NHL League Ambassadors, Cote continues to pursue his passion to help athletes discover safe, non-toxic ways to find relief, manage pain and achieve a better understanding of self-healing. Riley recently launched BodyChek Wellness, a line of full spectrum hemp extract-based products with a mission to optimize everyday performance and challenge individuals to rethink the healing process. The BodyChek Wellness line reinforces Cote’s passion to help individuals discover safe nontoxic methods for pain management and self-healing.

    Kyle Turley – After 100+ Concussions in the NFL, CBD Saved His Life

    Diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to the 100-plus concussions he received during the 10 years he played as an NFL offensive lineman, Kyle Turley struggled with pharmaceutical addiction, violent thoughts, and suicidal tendencies — until he started taking medical marijuana. “It saved my life,” he says. “I wouldn’t be where I am today, I would not have my family, my kids, my house, everything I have right now, if not for cannabis.” To help save other lives, Turley founded the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition to use his story and those of other players to advance the idea of marijuana as a valid medicine for neurological conditions and other athletic injuries. “This plant has to be set free,” he says. “We have people committing suicide in football and other sports. How far do we have to go?” Knowing the value of the plant and the hurdles that the government and big pharma has placed on marijuana, Kyle has created Neuro XPF, a lab tested, federal guideline compliant, THC-Free, CBD (Hemp derived) cannabis supplement focused on bioavailability. CBD (cannabidiol) has shown in studies to have neuro-protective and antioxidative properties that could address a myriad of maladies facing our military and NFL veterans while supporting the general health and wellbeing of all aged athletes, says Turley.

    # # #

    Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and  Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

  • USDA: National THC Testing Standard for Hemp Remains a Challenge

    USDA: National THC Testing Standard for Hemp Remains a Challenge

    August 22, 2019

    USDA: National THC Testing Standard for Hemp Remains a Challenge

    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Federal agriculture authorities are struggling to craft a nationwide THC testing standard so that state and local regulators can tell hemp from marijuana, complicating the release of standardized production rules, according to an official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    William Richmond, head of the Specialty Crops Program in the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, told a group of dietary-supplement and CBD business owners (at the American Herbal Products Association’s Hemp-CBD Congress in Denver) last week the agency hoped to have hemp rules prepared by now.

    But he said that the USDA is grappling with the Farm Bill‘s requirement for a national THC testing protocol “using post-decarboxylation or other similarly reliable methods.”

    “We need to have testing procedures in place,” he said. Coming up with reliable testing methods, he added, is “as complicated as you think it is.”

    Speaking at the American Herbal Products Association’s Hemp-CBD Congress in Denver on August 16, USDA crops specialist William Richmond shared that the agency is working hard on hemp policy, but that testing protocol for THC is “as complicated as you think it is.”

     

    News Briefs

    Gov. Polis Outlines Colorado’s Hemp Strategy
    by Westword

    Credit Unions Can Provide Banking to Hemp Businesses
    by Marijuana Moment

    Hemp: The Fabric of Fashion’s Future
    by Hypebeast

    Hemp Plastics Innovator Mark Linday Passes Away
    by Hemp Today

    Headline News

    2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo to Feature Business Conference, Farm Symposium
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    Southern Hemp Expo Producer Morris Beegle Featured on Thinking Outside the Bud Podcast
    by Thinking Outside the Bud

    Organic CBD Makers RE: Botanicals and Palmetto Harmony to Merge
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Hemp Company Featured as Presenting Sponsor at 2019 Kentucky State Fair
    by WFPL News Louisville

    Doane University Offers Online Course to Train Hemp Industry Workforce
    by Lincoln Journal Star

    How CBD Can Help with Menopause
    by The Chicago Tribune

    National Black Farmers Association Founder Grows Hemp to Combat Trade War
    by The Columbian

    Michigan Creates Standards for Hemp Testing
    by The Washington Times

    Hemp Legalization Leads to Hundreds of Derailed Marijuana Cases
    by NBC News

    Hemp Extractor Thar Processing Expands Operation in Pueblo, CO
    by The Pueblo Chieftan

    Florida A&M University to Conduct Hemp Research
    by The Tallahassee Democrat

    Hemp Plants Proposed to Clean Excess Nitrogen, Phosphorous from Water
    by Lake Okeechobee News

    Oregon Hail Damage Drives Need for Hemp Crop Insurance
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    FDA Official Slams Government for Blocking CBD Research
    by Marijuana Moment

    Upcoming Events

     

     

    An Interview with Dr. Jan Roberts:
    From the China International Hemp Industry Forum in Harbin, China

    Join Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan for a brand new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast, featuring Dr. Jan Roberts to discuss the endocannabinoid system in the human body, cannabis dosing issues, and the pros and cons of regulating the cannabis industry. Dr. Jan Roberts is a host on the New Hemp Times podcast, CEO and co-founder of the International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health (IRCCMH), and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

    About Let’s Talk Hemp

    Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives) focused specifically on the subject of industrial hemp and cannabis. We present features and curate news from across the globe to share the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing and planet (H.E.M.P.). Colorado Hemp Company also is the Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, the nation’s leading hemp conferences and expositions.

    Publisher: Morris Beegle, Elizabeth Knight
    Editor: Steven Hoffman
    Web Developer: Debby West
    Design: Allen Haeger
    Circulation: Evan Tompros
    Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast: Rick Trojan, Morris Beegle

    Send Us Your Hemp News!
    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

  • Tennessee Hemp Innovator Blühen Botanicals Leads All-star Sponsor Line-up for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo

    Tennessee Hemp Innovator Blühen Botanicals Leads All-star Sponsor Line-up for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo

    Tickets on Sale Now for Largest Hemp Industry Gathering in the Eastern U.S.,

    Sept. 6 – 7, 2019, 10 am – 6 pm, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN

     

    FRANKLIN, TN (August 21, 2019) – Organizers for the Southern Hemp Expo (SHE) are gearing up in welcoming more than 5,000 hemp industry experts and enthusiasts to Tennessee, an epicenter for the exploding hemp market, this September 6 – 7 at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN. As the hemp industry continues to grow exponentially, SHE is looking forward to returning to the great state of Tennessee for the second year in a row focusing on the economic impact and innovation in the marketplace for all things hemp.

    The two-day conference and exposition is open to entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, manufacturers, producers, agriculturalists and consumers interested in products made from hemp, CBD and full spectrum hemp extract. This year’s SHE event features a business conference; farm symposium; and industry day with a business-to-business expo hall on Friday, September 6. The general public is then invited to attend on Saturday, September 7, with nearly 150 exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations.

    Among the speaker line-up, SHE is pleased to announce that two-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion turned hemp farmer, Matt Hagan, will take the stage for a keynote address on Saturday during the conference. Expo attendees will receive up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, market research, compliance and lab testing; breeding, genetics, seeds and clones, and more.

    Presenting Sponsor Blühen Botanicals

    Tennessee’s Blühen Botanicals will be featured as the Presenting Sponsor of Southern Hemp Expo. Founded by a dedicated team of Knoxville, TN-based entrepreneurs, soil scientists, farmers and hemp advocates, Blühen Botanicals is a hemp biomass processing and extraction company with farming and distribution partners across the United States. With a dedicated, pharmaceutical grade hemp research facility, Blühen works with manufacturers to produce custom formulations for its own blend of boutique wellness products such as full spectrum hemp extract oils, softgels, creams, and pet treats and oils. The company employs expert entomologists, plant pathologists, agronomists, chemists, and engineers. Learn more at www.bluhenbotanicals.com.

    Hemp’s Economic Impact

    “The excitement and momentum around hemp has amplified eleven-fold since the end of 2018, and the volume is only getting louder. People from all industries and all walks of life are showing interest and curiosity about the opportunities and benefits of this plant,” explains Morris Beegle, Producer of Southern Hemp Expo.

    Hemp-derived CBD sales alone increased 57% in 2018 over the previous year, according to Nutrition Business Journal, with sales reaching $238 million. Additionally, according to data gathered by advocacy group votehemp.com, hemp acreage under license across the U.S. increased nearly five-fold in the past year from 112,000 acres reported in 2018 to 480,000 acres reported in 2019. Eric Steenstra, President of votehemp.com, notes that the states of Kentucky and Tennessee are among the top five hemp-producing states in the U.S., and the state of Tennessee also has the highest number of applicants, indicating a strong level of interest in hemp production among small scale and family farms. Steenstra says that a full report on the growth of hemp acreage and other key agricultural data will be available at the Southern Hemp Expo.

    Other Lead Sponsors

    • GenCanna: Founded by industry pioneers who champion the world’s leading hemp genetics, cannabidiol (CBD) formulations, and groundbreaking legislation, GenCanna™ on scaling premium agricultural hemp production for food products to promote easy availability locally, nationally, and globally. GenCanna’s mission is to deliver wellness and quality of life to the world by helping farmers farm.
    • Hoban Law Firm: Hoban Law Group is one of the nation’s premier cannabis business law firms, serving clients with medical and adult use marijuana businesses as well as those operating in the industrial hemp sector. Hoban’s attorneys are actively engaged in legal and professional organizations around the world and are regularly featured speakers at all major cannabis industry conferences in the U.S. and abroad.
    • LabCanna: LabCanna is proud to call Franklin, TN home where they officially started in January of 2016 after Co-Founders, Joshua Camp and Ian Leadon decided to take part in Tennessee’s Industrial Hemp Research Program. In April of 2016, LabCanna was awarded the first ever Hemp Processing License by the State of Tennessee. LabCanna was also among the first to receive a hemp growers’ license in Tennessee, which was immediately put to use on their farm in Franklin, TN.
    • Restorative Botanicals: Boulder County, CO-based Restorative Botanicals, founded in 2015, offers a wide portfolio of full-spectrum hemp oil blends, foods, softgels and topical products made in a CDPHE-licensed, FDA-registered food manufacturing facility from certified organic and registered Colorado hemp. Restorative Botanicals oils are extracted using a solvent-free, low-temperature CO2 process that preserves the plant’s broad spectrum of beneficial compounds and optimizes its naturally occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
    • Extract Labs: Combat veteran, Craig Henderson, started Extract Lab company out of his garage in 2016 after serving in the U.S. Army. He earned a Master’s of Engineering from the University of Louisville, in Kentucky and gained industry experience while working as a salesperson and expert instructor in supercritical CO2 extraction. In just two years, Extract Labs has grown exponentially in its Colorado headquarters and has recently added a second lab in Louisville, KY.
    • HGH Seed: Longmont, CO-based HGH Seed, a hemp genetics company, will be sponsoring the After Party to benefit the Jack Herer Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8 pm – midnight. Committed to farming superior quality and consistent strains of hemp flower, HGH Seed Inc. aims to reinvigorate agriculture, foster new economic opportunity, and promote environmental sustainability.

    For a complete list of sponsors, please visit: https://southernhempexpo.com/sponsors/

    Tickets and Press Passes Available Now

    Avoid the lines and preregister before SHE sells out! Tickets are on sale and available now for purchase: www.southernhempexpo.com. For press passes, please contact Evan Tompros at Compass Natural Marketing at evan@compassnatural.com.

    About the Southern Hemp Expo

    The Southern Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO, and producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest and most comprehensive trade show and conference for industrial hemp. WAFBA is founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services and the Colorado Hemp Company. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. Learn more at SouthernHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

    Contact

    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@southernhempexpo.com

  • We are the CHAMPions

    We are the CHAMPions

    We are the CHAMPions

    A New Public Private Partnership, the Colorado Hemp Advancement & Management Plan (CHAMP), Is Set to Strengthen the State’s Leadership Position in Hemp

    By Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural

    With the passage in 2012 of marijuana legalization in Colorado, the hemp industry also got an early start in the state, and Colorado is now considered one of the country’s epicenters of hemp agriculture, manufacturing and production. To further that leadership position, Governor Jared Polis has created a unique new public-private initiative, the Colorado Hemp Advancement & Management Plan (CHAMP). His priority in establishing the CHAMP initiative is for “Colorado to remain an innovating force in the promotion of this high-value agricultural commodity,” says the CHAMP website.

    Led by Betsy Markey, former Representative to U.S. Congress and current cabinet member of the Polis administration and Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, along with Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, CHAMP is a year-long statewide initiative that brings together state, local and tribal agencies, as well as industry experts in cultivation, testing, research, processing, finance, economics and marketing.

    Read the full article here.

    News Briefs

    NHRA’s Funny Car World Champion to Present Keynote Address at 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    CBD is More Popular Online than Kim Kardashian and Beyonce
    by Maxim

    USDA: Hemp Acreage Quadrupled in
    the Past Year
    by Quartz

    CBD-infused Snack & Beverage Maker Weller Closes on $3 Million Investment Round
    by BevNet

    Headline News

    Former FDA Head Says CBD in Food, Supplements is Illegal
    by CNBC

    2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo to Feature Business Conference, Ag Symposium
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    Gallup Poll: 1 in 7 Americans Use CBD Products
    by USA Today

    New York Times: CBD Ads Are Everywhere; Oversight is Not
    by the New York Times

    Food and Beverage Execs Cross Over to Cannabis
    by Food Dive

    Chinese Tariffs Have Minimal Effect on Hemp Industry
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Cornell University Seed Bank Could Bring New Hemp Cultivars within Five Years
    by Hemp Today

    Webinar Charts Path Ahead for CBD Dietary Supplements, August 22
    by Nutra-Ingredients USA

    Hemp Farmers Struggle with Rejection from Banks, Social Media Ads
    by WRVO Public Media

    New Jersey, the Garden State, Greenlights Hemp Farming
    by NJ.com

    CBD Oil Popular for Helping Calm Anxiety
    by BBC News

  • NHRA’s Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan to Present Keynote Address at Second Annual Southern Hemp Expo in Franklin, Tennessee

    NHRA’s Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan to Present Keynote Address at Second Annual Southern Hemp Expo in Franklin, Tennessee

    Photo: Matt Hagan, 2-Time Funny Car World Champion. Photo Credit: Twitter/Matt Hagan

    Tickets On Sale Now to Hear Industry Experts, Farmers, Exhibitors, Innovative Brands & Investors Discuss the Economic Power of Hemp

     FRANKLIN, TN (August 14, 2019) – Two-time Funny Car World Champion turned hemp farmer, Matt Hagan, will take the stage for a keynote address at the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo (SHE) at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin, TN, on Sept. 6-7, 2019. Hagan, who is scheduled to speak on Saturday, September 7th during the Expo, will share a personal account on how he combines his two passions – from the race track to the field.

    Hagan will join more than 60 experts and leaders in the hemp industry and will speak on the “Let’s Talk Hemp” stage during the Expo – a gathering that unites more than 5,000 industry experts, innovative brands, farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. The SHE event is a robust and program-rich show specifically designed for the rapidly growing industrial, nutritional and therapeutic hemp industry.

    Speaker Highlights

    • Bob Hoban, Hoban Law Group: Bob Hoban is the President and Founder of Hoban Law Group, the nation’s premier full service ‘cannabusiness’ law firm, with offices in 13 states across the country. Through Bob’s legal counsel and policy efforts, he has won landmark cases that have ultimately shaped the creation and growth of the CBD industry.
    • Janel Ralph, Palmetto Harmony: Janel has been a parent advocate for CBD and hemp-based products after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that was untreatable by modern medicine. Janel is the founder and CEO of Palmetto Synergistic Research, the CEO of Palmetto Harmony and the Executive Director of Compassionate South Carolina, plus a founder of American Hemp Seed.
    • Matt Hagan, Two-Time World Champion Funny Car Driver & Hemp Farmer: Race car driver, outdoorsman entrepreneur, and now hemp-farmer, Matt Hagan operates a 100-acre plot of cannabis near his 2,000 acre cattle farm in rural Virginia. Hagan who has been racing cars for almost half his life is trying his green thumb in raising hemp.
    • Colleen Keahey Lanier, Hemp Industries Association: Colleen was instrumental in coordinating the first state chapter of the Hemp Industries Association in Tennessee in 2013. In 2017, she relocated to Arizona and now serves as the Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association.
    • Dani Billings, Nature’s Root & Colorado Hemp Project: Dani has been sharing her business expertise and farming experiences since 2014, the year she started Nature’s Root, an all organic, hemp-based body care company that specializes in therapeutics and nutritional food. In addition, Nature’s Root is the first hemp-based spa in the world.
    • Doug Fine, Author & Hemp Farmer: Doug is a nationally known cannabis activist and advocate, regenerative hemp farmer, researcher and bestselling author of HempBound. In addition, Doug is an award-winning culture and climate correspondent and regular on National Public Radio.
    • Franny Tacy, Franny’s Farm: As the first female hemp farmer in North Carolina, Franny Tacy has created a “Hempire” and has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and more! Franny tells her story from seed to shelf and is a sought after national speaker and panelist.
    • Sean Murphy, Hemp Business Journal & New Frontier Data: Sean is the Founder and Publisher of the Hemp Business Journal, the hemp industry’s premier publication of big data and market intelligence.

    This year’s Southern Hemp Expo features a business conference; farm symposium; and industry day with a business-to-business expo hall on Friday, September 6. The general public is then invited to attend on Saturday, September 7, with nearly 150 exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations. Attendees will receive up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, market research, compliance and lab testing; breeding, genetics, seeds and clones, and more.

    “The Southern Hemp Expo is a unique gathering on a national scale that unites business leaders, entrepreneurs and consumers with experts who share common ground for the burgeoning hemp industry,” explains Colorado Hemp Company co-founder Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp and SHE. “The addition of race car champion Matt Hagan adds additional diversity and proves the popularity of hemp-derived products will only continue to grow across the country. SHE provides an excellent access point for emerging businesses looking to break into the hemp world – from farming to manufacturing.”

    Sponsors at Southern Hemp Expo (SHE)

    SHE sponsors include Presenting Sponsor Blühen Botanicals, a leading producer of premium hemp extracts based in Knoxville, TN. Other Sponsors include GenCanna, LabCanna, Restorative Botanicals, Extract Labs, ProVerde Laboratories, Myco Sativa, Key to Life and more.

    Tickets and Press Passes Available Now

    Tickets are on sale and available now for purchase: www.southernhempexpo.com. For press passes, please contact Evan Tompros at Compass Natural Marketing at evan@compassnatural.com.

    About the Southern Hemp Expo

    The Southern Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO, and producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest and most comprehensive trade show and conference for industrial hemp. WAFBA is founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services and the Colorado Hemp Company. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. Learn more at SouthernHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

    Contact

    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@southernhempexpo.com

    # # #

  • We Are Growing Native American Farmers… and Hemp

    We Are Growing Native American Farmers… and Hemp

    August 8, 2019

     

    We Are Growing Native American Farmers…
    and Hemp

    By Winona LaDuke

    Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm is growing. The winter seemed endless for us here in Northern Minnesota, temperatures ranged far, and the storms were brutal. We are grateful for the warmth of this time.

    Spring has passed, it’s summer now, and the crops are in. More are coming. Cannabis, or hemp, is one of many crops we grow here, to produce cordage, and soon textiles.

    This year, we are growing fifty female CBD plants, all to offer food, textiles and health products. We also grow corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tobacco and a host of garden vegetables. We are interested in growing food for future generations – Indigenous foods, biodiverse foods, and foods in a time of climate change.

    We learn from our work. That’s to say, we’ve grown traditional crop varieties for almost twenty years. As a young woman, my father, Sun Bear, or Vincent LaDuke, told me that he did not want to hear my philosophy if I could not grow corn.


    Harvard-educated economist, tribal leader, water protector, and former U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Winona LaDuke, through her work with Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm and the nonprofits Honor the Earth and Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute, is dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture and a sustainable hemp economy among Native American communities in the U.S. WinonasHemp.com.


    News Briefs

    2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo to Feature Business Conference, Ag Symposium
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Introduces 2019 Hemp for Victory Act
    by Tulsi Gabbard

    Rodale Releases Preliminary Results of Four-year Hemp Research Trial
    by Rodale Institute

    CBD-infused Snack & Beverage Maker Weller Closes on $3 Million Investment Round
    by BevNet

     

    Headline News

    Cronos Group Buys Maker of CBD Brand Lord Jones for USD $300 Million
    by New Cannabis Ventures

    Hemp Textiles in the U.S. Will Take Time, Say Experts
    by UPI

    Hemp Becomes Booming Crop for New York Farmers
    by Wall Street Journal

    KOTA TV Features Native American Hemp Farmer Alex White Plume
    by KOTA TV

    CBD Products Available for Sale Again at Thrive Market
    by Thrive Market

    Ex-Kellogg President: CBD Will Be “Widely Available” in Consumer Products
    by Yahoo Finance

    Monoculture Hemp a Recipe for Ecological Disaster
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Hemp Processing in Kentucky Sees Flurry of Investment
    by Hemp Today

    British Farmers Prohibited from Growing Hemp for CBD Flowers
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Credit Card Processor Canna Group Named One of 50 Best Companies to Watch
    by Access Wire

    Hemp Farmer Opts for Straw Over Plastic Mulch for His Plants
    by Oregon Mail Tribune

    First Look Inside One of 10 Farms Licensed to Grow Hemp in Nebraska
    by ABC KETV Omaha

    An Interview with Dr. Jan Roberts:
    From the China International Hemp Industry Forum in Harbin, China    Join Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan for a brand new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast, featuring Dr. Jan Roberts to discuss the endocannabinoid system in the human body, cannabis dosing issues, and the pros and cons of regulating the cannabis industry. Dr. Jan Roberts is a host on the New Hemp Times podcast, CEO and co-founder of the International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health (IRCCMH), and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

    Send Us Your Hemp News!
    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

  • 28 Dr. Jan Roberts – Pha-China

    28 Dr. Jan Roberts – Pha-China

    In this joint podcast with the New Hemp Times, Rick is joined by Dr. Jan Roberts to discuss the endocannabinoid system in the human body, cannabis dosing issues, and the pros and cons of regulating the cannabis industry.

    Dr. Jan Roberts is a host on the New Hemp Times podcast, CEO and co-founder of the International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health (IRCCMH), and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

    This episode was recorded at the China International Hemp Industry Forum in Harbin, China.

    You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave us a Rating and Review!

     

    Let's Talk Hemp on Apple Podcsts

    “Do epic shit. Don’t half-ass it. And if you fail, there’s no failure because you learn. If you learn, you’re winning.” – Rick Trojan

    Show Notes:

    • Why dosing is important for medical cannabis users
    • How Rick got into the cannabis space
    • Why more doctors need to know about the endocannabinoid system
    • Why natural cannabinoids are better than synthetic cannabinoids
    • How cannabis has transformed Rick’s life
    • Whether or not cannabis products should be regulated by the FDA

    “Everything that shines isn’t silver and everything that stinks isn’t shit.” – Jan’s grandmother

    Links Mentioned:

    Facebook | Jan Roberts, LCSW

  • Patchwork Legislation

    Patchwork Legislation

    Until FDA Issues Guidelines, Hemp-derived CBD Industry Forced to Navigate Shifting Federal, State and Local Regulatory Environments

    By Jane Wilson, Director of Program Development, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

    As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sifts through the almost 4,500 comments it received during the recent public comment period requesting input on “Scientific Data and Information on Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds,” the hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) supplement industry remains focused on demonstrating that hemp CBD supplements can be used by consumers with the same confidence with which they purchase and use other supplement products to support their health and fitness. If the May 31, 2019, FDA public hearing on this same topic was any indication, many of the hemp industry’s leading companies, as well as the several national trade associations and advocacy groups that represent the hemp industry, submitted comments urging FDA to take prompt action to provide a critically needed regulatory pathway for these products.

    While FDA contemplates the possibility of such action, numerous states and local jurisdictions are enacting legislation related to the manufacturing and marketing of dietary supplements and foods containing hemp-derived CBD. Some of these laws allow for the manufacture, marketing, and consumer use of hemp-derived CBD products, while others appear to restrict or prevent further sales to consumers. Regardless of the intent, this type of legislation is creating a confusing patchwork of conflicting or inconsistent regulations across states and localities.

    States and local jurisdictions appear to be creating their own laws for hemp- or CBD-containing products due either to a perceived absence of federal regulations that pertain to these products or unfamiliarity with the existing federal regulatory frameworks for supplements and foods and how they can be applied to these products.

    What makes this situation so challenging? Currently, FDA’s position is that CBD is not a legal ingredient that can be used in dietary supplements and foods because it was first approved for investigation as a drug product. The current law for dietary supplements does not allow a compound to be a dietary ingredient or to be added to food, if it was first investigated or approved for use as a drug, unless the FDA issues a regulation that allows for that to happen. While the FDA does have the ability to take this acti

    n for CBD under the dietary supplement and food laws, the Agency has never used this part of the law before in the 25 years the dietary supplement rule has been in place.

    FDA has taken several encouraging actions since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in December 2018, which marked the legalization of hemp cultivation and its removal from the Controlled Substances Act. The Agency has created an internal task force of high-level leaders to assess regulatory options, issued public communications, and conducted the May 31, 2019, public hearing and comment period, which concluded July 16, 2019. With public testimony and almost 4,500 comments submitted to the docket, FDA recently signaled they intend to expedite development of regulations for CBD and will provide an update on their progress in late summer or early fall.

    In the interim, hemp-derived CBD manufacturers are taking advantage of the self-regulatory mechanisms available to them, including certification programs that provide independent verification of the authenticity and quality of their hemp products and inspection of production facilities for compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Some are seeking organic certification for their hemp crops. These activities help the operators who are already in compliance with dietary supplement regulations differentiate their products to consumers in the crowded marketplace for hemp-CBD supplements.

    If you want to learn more about what’s going on in the hemp-derived CBD supplements industry, make plans to attend the American Herbal Products Association’s inaugural Hemp and CBD Supplement Congress taking place in Denver, CO, on August 15-16, 2019. The event combines the opportunity for technical workshops on applying GMPs and new dietary ingredient notifications (NDINs) to the hemp-derived CBD industry with a full day plenary that will explore the financial, supply chain, legislative and regulatory topics pertinent to this fast-growing segment of the supplement industry. More information is available here.

    AHPA also provides several free resources for the growing hemp-derived CBD industry.

    Note: Colorado Hemp Company, publisher of Let’s Talk Hemp and producer of the NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, is a supporting sponsor of the upcoming AHPA Hemp-CBD Congress in Denver, CO.

    Jane Wilson is the Director of Program Development at the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the national trade association for the herbal products industry. She serves as the staff liaison to AHPA’s Cannabis Committee and supports other AHPA services and activities related to the hemp and cannabis industries. Visit www.AHPA.org.

     

     

  • 500 Farmers, Enthusiasts Attend 4th Annual Hemp on the Slope

    500 Farmers, Enthusiasts Attend 4th Annual Hemp on the Slope

    By Heather Collins

    PHOTO: Hemp on the Slope, held on July 20 in Collbran, CO, drew 500 farmers, producers, manufacturers, advocates and others to Colorado’s Western Slope for a day of education, networking and information exchange as Colorado and the Western U.S. position as leaders in industrial hemp production.

    The rural town of Collbran, Colorado, located at the base of the Grand Mesa on the Western Slope, was alive on Saturday, July 20, 2019, in part due to the Hemp on the Slope summit that took place at beautiful Salt Creek Ranch.

    The Colorado Hemp Company, Salt Creek Hemp Co,  and Colorado Hemp Project hosted this educational hemp-centric event, which attracted nearly 500 attendees including experienced hemp farmers and some growers that are new to the industry. Lively discussions were held, including informative question and answer sessions focused on farming industrial hemp for food, fuel, fiber, animal nutrition, building materials, and many other uses of non-psychoactive cannabis.

    This year’s Hemp on the Slope featured more than 25 exhibitors that ranged from farm equipment processing demonstrations, to skin care to soil. There were many community advocates on hand to discuss the benefits of hemp production and answer concerns regarding FDA and USDA regulations. In addition, industry leading speakers discussed the economic impact hemp production will have on local economies and its rapid growth as a top commodity for Colorado and beyond.

    Next year’s Hemp on the Slope is already underway with plans for it to expand to Grand Junction. If you’re interested in attending more seminars and events like Hemp on the Slope, be sure to check out the  2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo on Sept. 6 – 7, 2019 in Franklin, TN. Join in on the fun and visit with more than 5,000 farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers during this year’s Expo, which will be a program-rich conference, exhibition and trade show structured specifically for the rapidly growing industrial, nutritional, and therapeutic hemp industries. Attendees will receive up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, compliance and lab testing; and breeding, genetics, seeds and clones, and more.

    *Save the Date* for NOCO Hemp Expo, March 28 – 31, 2020 in Denver.

    Photos: Compass Natural

    Heather Collins is a longtime public relations professional serving the natural, organic and eco-friendly products market, and is a senior account manager with Compass Natural working with a number of hemp and CBD related companies.

     

     

  • Poll: Younger Americans More Confident in Benefits of CBD

    Poll: Younger Americans More Confident in Benefits of CBD

    July 18, 2019

    Poll: Younger Americans More Confident in Benefits of CBD

    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Data from a new Gallup poll shows that younger Americans are more confident in the health benefits of CBD – but the majority of people familiar with cannabinoids, regardless of age, believe it has at least some health benefits. A telephone poll conducted by Gallup in late May found that 78% of surveyed individuals across the United States who have an awareness of CBD believed that it has at least some health benefits. Of the more than 1,000 individuals surveyed, 64% had some awareness of CBD, while the balance were unfamiliar with the product. Among those with awareness of cannabinoids, the proportion who believed CBD has “a lot” of health benefits was highest among adults 18-29 – at 41% of the age group.

    According to a recent survey of 1,000 individuals from across the U.S., 74%-82% of individuals with an awareness of CBD within all age groups believed it has either “some” or “a lot” of health benefits.

     

    News Briefs

    State Ag Directors Want FDA to Move Quickly on Hemp Oversight

    by Progressive Farmer

    CBD on Fire, but Market Dogged by Consumer, Regulatory Confusion

    by Food Navigator

    Growers Seeking to Increase Security on Hemp Farms

    by KDRV ABC News

    Fashion Designers Rediscovering Hemp

    by The Spokesman-Review

    Headline News

    Women Leading the Way in South Carolina’s Hemp Revival
    by WSOC TV Charlotte

    Christian Book Distributor Changes Name Over CBD Confusion
    by New York Times

    Michigan Keeps Hemp Farmers’ Identities a Secret
    by Michigan Live

    New York Moves to Regulate Hemp Industry
    by WSHU Public Radio

    Hemp Farmers Searching for Harvest Storage Solutions
    by Marijuana Business Magazine

    Oregon Hemp Farmers Seek Stable Marketplace
    by the Register-Guard

    Texas Hemp Law Leads to Reductions in Marijuana-related Charges
    by The Texas Tribune

    Hemp and the Challenges of Farming’s Frontier
    by Harvest Public Media

    Tobacco Out, Hemp In for Tennessee Farmers
    by News Channel 3 Memphis

    4th Annual Farmer-Centric Hemp on the Slope Set for July 20
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    NoCo Hemp Village Featured at Arise Festival
    by Colorado Hemp Company

    Limited Sponsor & Exhibitor Packages Remain & Event Tickets Now on Sale for 2nd Southern Hemp Expo at www.southernhempexpo.com
    by Southern Hemp Expo

     

    An Interview with Andrew Bish: From Cornhuskers to Hemphuskers

    Join Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan for a brand new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast, featuring Andrew Bish of Bish Enterprises, one of the nation’s leading hemp extract producers, and Hemp Harvest Works, based in Nebraska. We discuss the politics of hemp in Nebraska, Bish Enterprises’s new hemp harvesting technologies, and how the government and private companies are resisting the progress of the hemp industry.

    Send Us Your Hemp News!
    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

  • 27 Andrew Bish – From Cornhuskers to Hemphuskers

    27 Andrew Bish – From Cornhuskers to Hemphuskers

    In this episode, we speak with Andrew Bish from Bish Enterprises and Hemp Harvest Works.

    We discuss the politics of hemp in Nebraska, Bish Enterprises’s new hemp harvesting technologies, and how the government and private companies are resisting the progress of the hemp industry.

    You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave us a Rating and Review!

     

    Let's Talk Hemp on Apple Podcsts

    “It’s time for the hemp industry to step up and say: enough of the bullshit!” – Morris Beegle on discrimination against the industry

    Show Notes:

    • What LB657 means for Nebraska hemp farmers
    • On the resistance to hemp farming in Nebraska
    • Whether or not feral hemp is harvestable in Nebraska
    • On Bish Enterprises’s new hemp harvesting tools
    • How drone technology is changing hemp agriculture
    • How Bish enterprises is supporting the Hemp Is Legal campaign
    • How the government and private companies are resisting the progress of the hemp industry

    Links Mentioned:

    Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Hemp Harvest Works