Let's Talk Hemp

Author: Lets Talk Hemp

  • The Opportunity for Hemp Brands

    The Opportunity for Hemp Brands

    Doing it the Right Way, from the Ground Floor Up

    By Will Carr

    Where is the hemp industry headed? What are we doing and why are we doing it? How does CBD fit into the marketplace? How does branding contribute to the evolution of hemp-derived consumer product goods? We have an incredible opportunity to do things the right way from the ground floor up. From the very beginning, we can make an impact in niche markets. We can steer the course of mass-retail products, forever changing the landscape of the marketplace. We can piece by piece, little by little, create a future with a better world and improve the lives of people everywhere.

    There’s a lot of fluff in CBD and hemp right now. Hundreds of new brands and businesses are started every month with the idea that they’re going to sell CBD and make lots of money. Many of these same companies put little thought into the actual quality of their products, where the market is headed, and how their products will impact the environment. Where is the social responsibility? Where is the effort to market something truly better to the consumer?

    Brands are the answer to this problem. Brands that actually care. Brands that don’t just talk the talk, but truly walk the walk. Branding and marketing are often demonized as evil with the intention to trick the consumer into purchasing. This doesn’t have to be the case, though.

    What if brands provided more value than the cost of their products? When a brand markets itself as sustainable, as making an effort to provide healthy, nutritional products that genuinely supply a consumer good to the market that changes the game and makes a positive impact for Earth and all of us living here, then marketing becomes a beautiful thing.

    It becomes a connection between the brand, product, and consumer that is real. This type of synergy lasts because it’s all based in truth. The brand is creating positive change for the world and the customer gets a product they can feel happy about supporting. When done with honest and genuine intentions, branding and marketing become a catalyst for the hope of a brighter tomorrow and the opportunity for that change to become reality.

    As CBD exits the “fad” stage it’s currently in and the snake oil approach of “CBD cures all” gradually disappears, we are going to see many more dietary supplement and functional food CBD products come to market. As we recognize the true benefit of CBD for overall general health and wellness, to be treated like a dietary supplement and essential nutrient rather than a magical cure for everything, CBD will be in products sitting on the shelves of every aisle in the grocery store.

    The benefits of CBD are best noticed when paired with other nutritional ingredients, not as a stand-alone product. Will there still be a place for tinctures, oil drops, and gummies? Absolutely. They will just no longer be the “norm.” Instead, the products you’re already consuming will have CBD infused into them. That’s the approach we’ve taken at Genesee with our protein bars, plant-based protein powder, and wellness shots. We’re ahead of the curve and I think that’s a really fun and promising place to be.

    Where will the hemp industry be in 2, 5, 30+ years? I have my thoughts, but I can’t say for sure. The one thing I can tell you though, is that the people within this industry have inspired me, motivated me, and given me a new perspective on what it means to be a business owner and member of a community. As I’ve submersed myself in this space, the people I have met and the personal connections I have made have truly changed my life.

    As business leaders, it is our responsibility to take action, holding ourselves accountable to sustainable and ethical practices. It is also upon the consumers to research and support brands that are doing things the right way, following up their claims with actions to support them. To name one person or brand would do so many people a disservice, but you know who you are. I see you at shows and conferences tackling your ambitions. We are friends on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn… I see your daily life, personally and professionally, and I’m able to get a sense of who you are as a person. We look each other in the eye, shake hands (maybe hug), and I see your pure intention to do your part in making the world a better place.

    The slogan for the infamous hemp trade show, NoCo Hemp Expo, is “One Louder.” I like this because it’s true. If every one of us, one at a time, can make the mental shift and practice what we preach, we can start a movement with enough momentum to be unstoppable. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. In the hemp space, we’re making true change in the world. One action, one day, one year at a time, we are all making a difference. We are making an impact.

    So, if I have one last thing to say, it’s Thank You! All of you making this space and industry so incredible, meaningful, and fun to be a part of. Thank you for bringing your best selves to your work, to your businesses, and to the brands you support. One person at a time. One louder at a time. Let’s keep the momentum rollin’!

    See you out there.

    Will Carr

    Founder – Genesee

    Will Carr is the Founder of Genesee, a CBD Health & Wellness Brand based in Evergreen, CO. After graduating with a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, Will traveled to South America where he played basketball professionally. In the summer of 2017, Will had his first encounter with the amazing benefits of hemp and CBD. Recognizing the potential use within athletics and sport, Will founded Genesee and made it his goal to develop a line of dietary supplements geared for the fitness focused, active lifestyle individual.

  • 26 The 420 Bedlam Episode

    26 The 420 Bedlam Episode

    Welcome to Let’s Talk Hemp Special Episode with Honeysuckle Magazine, some great guests from NY, and an important upcoming #The422 episode announcement. This episode was recorded in collaboration with Honeysuckle Magazine on 4-20, 2019 at the Let’s Talk Hemp / Honeysuckle Cannabis meetup in New York City at Bedlam in the Lower East Side.

    We interview live on stage, attorney David Feldman from Duane Morris, Matthew Evertsen, founder and creative director of Ronin, and real estate attorney Harlan Greenman of Greenspoon Marder LLP.

    It was a pleasure hanging out and catching some conversation with these folks in the NY area who are working in the cannabis space, have plenty to say, and shared their time and knowledge. We talk about the state of the cannabis industry, the outlook for full federal legalization of cannabis, and about the power and impact of cannabis events.

    In other news, this is what has just happened to me and my company. Our newswire that we’ve been sending press releases out on since February of 2015 has notified us that we can no longer send out press releases through their service and they are going through one by one and removing all of my press releases over the last 4 years. Because their credit card processing company has threatened to cancel their processing if they release content pertaining to marijuana, cannabis, hemp, cbd or related products. Here is their statement attached to the 40+ rejected press releases that I’ve got back in the last 3-4 days. They are going through my entire list over the last 4 years one by one and sending me rejection notices that state:

    “Due to restrictions placed on ReleaseWire by our credit card processing provider, we are not able to allow press releases, company profiles or related content that discusses marijuana, cannabis, CBD, hemp and Related Products. If at such time we are able to solve this issue with our credit card processor, we will try to reactivate your press release. To learn more about this policy please visit our blog post.”

    So, we have credit card processors threatening newswire agencies who are putting out press releases related to hemp and CBD which are federally legal. This is what we’re coming to folks. 1984 is here and we need to change this bullshit. We’ll be diving into this more in the coming month but in the meantime please go check out Hemp is Legal and join the movement to put an end to organizations, government agencies and banking institutions discriminating against a federally legal industry. We need everyone. We need an army. So please, come join us and free the plant and the industry from this continuous obstruction.

    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

    Show Notes:

    • Where New York State stands on industrial, medical, and recreational cannabis
    • When cannabis will become federally legalized
    • Why cannabis events are so impactful
    • How the cannabis industry is dealing with a lack of banking resources

    “It’s happening– it’s going to happen. The question is: what can you do now? That’s the question we’re struggling with, with a number of our clients.” – David Feldman on the complete federal legalization of cannabis

    Also, be sure to check out Hemp Events to see all the cool events happening this summer and fall, and with that, we have Hemp On The Slope coming up on July 20th at Salt Creek Ranch. This is the 4th annual event and we look forward to another great day on the farm. Tickets on sale now at Hemp on the Slope.

    A couple weeks after that on the weekend of Aug 2-4 we host the NoCo Hemp Village at Arise Festival which is a fantastic no-trace socially conscious event that has about 100 live bands, great food and vendors, and 10,000+ attendees.

    Last but not least, for this show anyway, sponsor and exhibitor registration is now open for the 2nd annual Southern Hemp Expo taking place 25 minutes outside of Nashville in the city of Franklin on Sept 6-7. Tickets go on sale on July 1st and we are expecting a huge turnout for this event so please get tickets early. And make sure to buy them before you book your plane tickets and hotel reservations. Word to the wise… Always get your event tickets before plane tickets.

    “When you get the right people into these rooms, the energy just magnifies and the movement is truly happening at this point.” – Morris Beegle on the impact of cannabis events

    Links Mentioned:

  • Hemp Harassment: Leading Online Retailer Thrive Market Forced to Cease Sales of All Hemp and CBD Products in Banking Backlash

    Hemp Harassment: Leading Online Retailer Thrive Market Forced to Cease Sales of All Hemp and CBD Products in Banking Backlash

    By Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural

    June 26, 2019

    In a seeming backlash to the burgeoning hemp economy, hemp and CBD retailers, industry associations and other hemp-centric businesses are being denied or threatened with denial of banking, credit card processing and other key business services, including a national newswire service that announced this past month it will no longer accept press releases from hemp companies, and is, in fact, deleting all existing and previously issued press releases related to hemp and CBD from its online archives. It is a disturbing trend in an industry that was made legal across the U.S. as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill and is projected to grow to $26.6 billion by 2025.

    It has forced such retailers as leading online natural products grocer Thrive Market to cease sales of all hemp and CBD products, a best-selling category over the past 18 months on its nationally recognized ecommerce site. The member-based online retailer boasts more than 500,000 members. “In early June, we received a notice from our merchant processor demanding that we cease the sale of all hemp and CBD products on Thrive Market. We unfortunately have no choice but to comply, and we’ll begin removing our assortment as early as Thursday, June 20,” wrote Thrive Market’s cofounder and CEO Nick Green in his blog on June 17. As of this writing, clicking on that assortment link takes you to a blank product page on Thrive Market’s website.

    Meanwhile, the U.S. Hemp Authority, a not-for-profit trade group developing certification standards for the industry, lost payment processing services in June after being dropped by its vendor, Stripe, based in San Francisco, reported Hemp Today on June 20. According a report in CNN Business, Stripe said it dropped the U.S. Hemp Authority’s account because of liability concerns, despite the fact that the trade organization is not a seller of any hemp products. “We’re being told we’re high risk. We’re actually trying to minimize human risk,” Hemp Authority president Marielle Weintraub told CNN.

     

    Abrupt Notice

    Since a leading credit card processor, Elavon, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, abruptly notified its hemp and CBD clients in March 2019 that it had recategorized hemp and CBD merchants as a “prohibited business type” and was backing out within 45 days of handling payment processing for such companies, a number of hemp businesses have been scrambling to establish secure and durable payment processing relationships. According to one estimate by Philippa Burgess, cofounder of MMJ FinSol, a Denver-based financial services solutions company for hemp, cannabis and other “high-risk” businesses, Elavon’s policy changes affected up to 40,000 CBD companies.

    Another merchant processor, Fortress Payment Technologies, in May 2019 notified all its ecommerce customers selling CBD products that they would no longer be able to process Visa credit card payments through the bank. Some sellers received less than eight hours’ notice of these changes, reported Folium Biosciences, a vertically integrated hemp-derived phytocannabinoid producer based in Colorado Springs. The company recently launched a CBD/hemp friendly financial services platform for its customers to help remove the financial hurdles faced by the CBD industry, it said.

    Kyle Rapoza, cofounder of Vermont-based Mansfield Provisions, which distributes CBD products online and through brick and mortar retail partnerships, lost credit card processing services for his company in late May 2019, when Elavon stopped doing business with the hemp industry. He explained to Ganjapreneur Magazine that, in the wake of Elavon’s action, many of the industry operators he knows and does business with are moving back to high risk (and high fee) accounts. Rapoza has since been able to access more traditional business accounts through a state credit union, Ganjapreneur reported.

     

    Biggest Challenge Facing the Hemp Industry

    It’s a “difficult time” for the industry as it related to financial services, which he called “the biggest challenge in the industry right now,” Jonathan Miller, general counsel for Kentucky-based industry association Hemp Roundtable, told Ganjapreneur. “The law, we believe, is clear that since the [2018 Farm Bill], hemp and CBD are no longer controlled substances. There should be no concern whatsoever that there would be violations of federal law to engage in commerce. …Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation – it’s banks, it’s credit card companies, it’s merchant services that have been refusing to do business with these hemp and CBD companies.”

    Because banks have been so hesitant to serve hemp and CBD businesses despite the legalization of hemp in the Farm Bill, U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (R-OR) – chief proponents of legalizing hemp – in April 2019 sent individualized letters to four federal banking and financial regulatory institutions, imploring them to prevent banking discrimination of the hemp industry, reported Cannalaw Blog.

    In addition, when pressed by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) at a hearing in June 2019, Marijuana Moment reported that Federal Reserve board member Michelle Bowman pledged to inform banks that they can service hemp businesses. When Tester asked specifically how the Fed is advising institutions when it comes to hemp, Bowman responded, “We have not told them that they cannot bank them.” Tester countered that while he and Bowman might be on the same page, it is possible that banks were hearing a different message—hence why hemp businesses have said that they’re still experiencing difficulties accessing credit. Tester said clarification is especially important at this stage because of fallout from trade wars with China and Mexico, as hemp represents a potentially lucrative crop for American farmers. “I would agree with you. We would not discourage banks from banking these types of customers,” Bowman said. “We’ll try to clarify that. Hemp is not an illegal crop.”

     

    What, No Press Releases?

    While certain merchant banks seek to stifle hemp industry growth through the denial of critical financial services, another service provider in the media newswire business seeks to silence its voice.

    One leading hemp industry media and event production company, Colorado Hemp Company, based in Loveland, CO – producer of the NoCo Hemp Expo, Southern Hemp Expo, and the Let’s Talk Hemp weekly newsletter and podcast – was recently informed by its newswire service, ReleaseWire, that it will not post or distribute any new press releases that mention hemp, and in addition, it was deleting all existing and previous press releases mentioning hemp that Colorado Hemp Company had posted in the past. In a policy update issued on May 8, 2019, ReleaseWire, one of the nation’s leading online national newswire services, issued the following statement, after which it began informing hemp-centric businesses that not only were they not accepting new press releases for distribution, they were deleting all existing press releases and archives related to cannabis, hemp or CBD:

    “ReleaseWire was recently contacted by our credit card processor and informed that they have a policy in place that restricts merchants, including ReleaseWire, from linking to, or providing information about, marijuana, cannabis, CBD, hemp and related products. As such, we have been instructed by our credit card processor that we must not only stop taking press release submissions on these topics, but we must remove any existing press releases and related content from our site. They have provided us with a small window of time to complete this process or risk losing the ability to process credit cards.”

    Meanwhile, other newswire services including Cision, owner of PR Newswire and PRWeb, continue to accept and publish hemp, CBD and cannabis related press releases on behalf of clients.

     

    Hemp Friendly Payment Processors

    So which payment processors are willing to serve hemp and CBD companies? One such processor, Adept Payments, says on its website that it helps high risk businesses, including vape, CBD, adult, casinos and more.

    While financial services group, Edward Jones, has no official policy about outreach to the hemp industry, a broker in Bend, OR, contacted Hemp Industry Daily to say he was offering a “full spectrum of banking, investment, insurance and financial planning services to hemp farmers.” Officially, Edward Jones is “looking at the provision in the Farm Bill that addresses hemp growing,” John Boul, manager of global media relations for the St. Louis-based Edward Jones told Hemp Industry Daily in April 2019.

    Square, a leading online payment processor, recently soft-launched credit card processing for CBD companies, but the program is still in beta testing phase and is by invitation only. Former credit card processing professional and current blogger Phillip Parker, who describes his site, CardPaymentOptions.com, as a credit card processing watchdog group, posted a guide to the Best Merchant Accounts for Hemp Products in June 2019. Also, Merchant Maverick, a self-described comparison website that reviews and rates credit card processors, mobile payment services and other small business software, published a guide to the Best CBD Oil Merchant Account Providers in April 2019.

    For CBD sellers on Shopify and other major ecommerce platforms, a recently launched processor, Organic Payment Gateways, advertises that its mission is to help people in the CBD business process payments online, and that its payment gateways work smoothly with Shopify, WooCommerce and others. Leap Payments, Instabill and other services promote that they are dedicated to ensuring CBD businesses “can accept debit and credit card payments just like any other business can.”

    So, for now, you won’t find any hemp or CBD products at Thrive Market, however, the ecommerce retailer says it won’t give up without a fight. “We believe that ethical and sustainable hemp is another cause worth fighting for, so rest assured that we will be working behind the scenes in the coming weeks to get hemp products back on Thrive Market,” Nick Green wrote in his blog. “In fact, we’re already in conversations with a new processing partner to try to make that happen.”

    # # #

    Steven Hoffman, is Managing Director of Compass Natural, dedicated to providing brand marketing, public relations, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and hemp-centric businesses. Hoffman also serves as editor of the Let’s Talk Hemp Weekly Newsletter. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

  • Sage Advice: Tips for Starting up in Hemp and CBD

    Sage Advice: Tips for Starting up in Hemp and CBD

    By CanopyBoulder

    Thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill more, the hemp and CBD industry is increasingly normalized. You don’t have to look far beyond the shelves of CBD everywhere from gas stations to bookstores to know something big is coming. In fact, the industry is expected to grow to about $1.8 Billion by 2022. With this in mind, the benefits of making the leap into this space seem pretty clear.

    But isn’t everyone doing that? In an increasingly competitive space, here are some tips for making your entry into the space successful

    It’s not too late to launch your hemp business

    Now is the time to make the jump into the space. The winners have not yet been decided and the race has not yet been run. As Jonathan Shultz from Backyard Soda, a natural, CBD-infused soda, puts it: “It’s hard to win a race that hasn’t really started.” However, you should expect anyone and everyone to get in and try to make some money…especially the dietary supplement brands!

    Speaking of dietary supplement brands….

    Do your homework on how the FDA regulates supplements. The most recent FDA hearing on CBD seemed to only generate more questions but seemed to hint generally that hemp derived CBD products may soon be lumped together and regulated in line with dietary supplements. It may take as much as 18 months before the FDA finalizes regulations for hemp-derived CBD consumer products, so stay ahead of the curve and study up on some relevant case studies. Some great ones to start are Lovaza/fish oil and Lipitor/Red Yeast Rice – either will give you a better idea of how CBD regulations might playout.

    Trust but verify everything you hear!

    Hemp rules and regulations get spread like the game of telephone. Stay up to date on changes in regulations through reputable news sites, and verify, verify, verify before taking action!

    Get great legal counsel from experienced business and hemp lawyers

    This may mean you need to engage with more than one law firm. The startup space is a tricky space to navigate in general, let alone adding CBD/hemp into the mix. The space is rapidly changing, seeking legal counsel from lawyers who are experts in their particular field will save you big in the long run.

     Do something unique!

    Just throwing CBD into a capsule is not going to build value. Think outside the box – what is the gap that you can fill with your unique background and your company’s culture and ideals?

    If you are launching a finished consumer product, don’t skimp on brand investment. Your brand can make or break your success. Taking time to thoroughly think through the image you want your company to project to the world will provide you generous return on investment in the long run if done right. This is especially important in this space, as consumer understanding of CBD and hemp and its benefits is still minimal – making it hard to differentiate based on quality. Your brand is the impression people will take away from your company and differentiates you from the competition – take the time to do it right.

     Be open and honest with your customers. Most potential consumers are newbies when it comes to CBD/hemp products, which makes the space feel pretty intimidating. Consumers, especially in the health and wellness space, desire vast amounts of education and transparency from the products and brands they purchase. Helena Yardley of 6 Degrees Wellness comments that this is the time to educate consumers on the purpose and the most effective therapeutic dose of CBD, but take care not to make health claims you cannot back up. While we do have some strong anecdotal evidence, without actual science to back it up, we have to be careful not to over promise and risk undercutting the potential of CBD. Without taking the time to educate your consumers and properly labeling your product, Helena adds that the result could be both a waste of your consumers’ time without relief, and a waste of resources on a sub-therapeutic product. Even worse, people may give up trying to use CBD all together because they don’t feel an effect.

    CanopyBoulder is a seed-stage business accelerator and venture fund for the legal cannabis industry. Visit www.CanopyBoulder.com.

    Photo: Compass Natural

  • Kroger, Nation’s Largest Supermarket, to Carry CBD in Nearly 1,000 Stores

    Kroger, Nation’s Largest Supermarket, to Carry CBD in Nearly 1,000 Stores

    By Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural

    June 12, 2019

    As the hemp and CBD market continues to evolve at hyper-speed, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, Kroger, announced it is joining Walgreens, CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Nieman Marcus and other major retailers that have all started carrying CBD products in their stores.

    Kroger, which made a “meaningful investment” in Boulder, CO-based natural foods chain Lucky’s Market, which itself is a leading seller of CBD products, announced on June 11 that it will now sell hemp-derived CBD topical products, including creams, balms and oils, in 945 Kroger-owned stores across 17 states, reported CNBC News, which referred to CBD as “one of the hottest consumer trends.”

    “Like many retailers, we are starting to offer our customers a highly-curated selection of topical products like lotions, balms, oils and creams that are infused with hemp-derived CBD,” said Kristal Howard, head of corporate communications and media relations at Kroger, in a statement. “CBD is a naturally occurring and non-intoxicating compound that has promising benefits and is permitted within federal and state regulations. Our limited selection of hemp-derived CBD topical products is from suppliers that have been reviewed for quality and safety,” she added.

    Consumer interest in and demand for products made with cannabinoid compounds or CBD derived from hemp extract is at a fever pitch. Hemp Industry Daily projects hemp-derived CBD retail sales will surge to as much as $7.5 billion by 2023, up from about $1 billion in sales in 2019.

    Yet, while CBD derived from hemp is now legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill passed by Congress late last year, the FDA maintains that companies still can’t add CBD to food or sell it as a dietary supplement. However, with so many CBD supplements and CBD-infused food and beverage products already on the market, the FDA on May 31 held a public hearing to learn more about the issue and hear from hemp industry representatives, manufacturers, advocates and others as it considers its position regarding sales of these products.

    For major retailers, selling CBD-infused, topical beauty and skin-care products brings less legal risk, which may explain why retailers such as Kroger, Nieman Marcus and others are starting to offer those types of products first. Given the explosive growth of the market, big box retailers Walmart and Target are also reported to be exploring the potential for hemp and CBD-related products in their stores.

    Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, is the world’s largest grocery retailer, with fiscal 2018 sales of $121.2 billion, and operating stores under names including Kroger, King Soopers, Ralph’s, Dillon’s, City Market, Fry’s, QFC, Mariano’s, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and others. Kroger also is a leading seller of healthy lifestyles products – it’s sales of natural and organic products alone exceeded $16 billion in 2017. Kroger’s private label organic brand, Simple Truth, with sales exceeding $2 billion, is one of the largest natural and organic brands in the U.S.

    Kroger says it will sell the CBD products in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

    # # #

    Steven Hoffman, is Managing Director of Compass Natural, dedicated to providing brand marketing, public relations, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and hemp-centric businesses. Hoffman also serves as editor of the Let’s Talk Hemp Weekly Newsletter. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

    Photo of Kroger Store:  Wikipedia

  • Five Questions With Morris Beegle, President Of WAFBA (We Are For Better Alternatives)

    Five Questions With Morris Beegle, President Of WAFBA (We Are For Better Alternatives)

    Morris Beegle and I share more than names, (Morris is my middle name) — we are both a part of a much larger world of cannabis. In Morris’ case, he is a leading cannabis/hemp advocate and entrepreneur. As co-founder and president of the WAFBA (We Are For Better Alternatives) family of brands, including the NoCo Hemp Expo, Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars, Tree Free Hemp, The Hawaii Hemp Conference, and more, he stays quite busy engaging audiences in N.A., Europe, UK, Nepal and beyond, presenting at a dozen or more hemp conferences each year.

     

    Read the full article here at Forbes

     

  • Register Now for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo

    Register Now for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo

    Applications are now being accepted for the
    2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo!

    Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities at Every Level
    Secure Your Spot Today!

    Click Here for the Package and Complete the Application

    Join CoHempCo this summer at these upcoming hemp events!
    Having a Hemp Event in your town?
    Post your event listing on HempEvents.org

    3rd Annual Hawaii Cannabis Awareness Conference
    Hilo, Hawaii
    June 15-16, 2019

    TreeFreeHemp
    is a Proud Sponsor


    UNPA



    Visit the NoCo Hemp Village at Arise Music Festival!
    Get Your Tickets Today Before Prices Increase This Sunday!

  • Bringing Balance Back to Mother Earth

    Bringing Balance Back to Mother Earth

    2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo Returns to Tennessee, Bringing Together the Biggest Names, Brands, Farmers, Investors and Experts in the Rapidly Growing Hemp Market

    Second Annual Southern Hemp Expo to Offer Business and Investment Conference, Hemp Farm Symposium, Exhibit Halls, Workshops and Demonstrations, Networking and Entertainment at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN, Sept. 6-7, 2019

    FRANKLIN, TN (June 5, 2019) – Following a wildly successful inaugural event that drew more than 4,000 people last year in Nashville, the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo (SHE)—a robust and program-rich trade show structured specifically for the rapidly growing industrial, nutritional, and therapeutic hemp industries—will be held at Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN, on September 6-7, 2019.

    More than 5,000 farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, retailers, consumers and others will gather at this year’s Southern Hemp Expo, produced by the Colorado Hemp Company—which has been producing the NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest hemp industry gathering in Colorado, since 2014. This year’s SHE is sponsored by Presenting Sponsor Blühen Botanicals, a leading producer of premium hemp extracts based in Knoxville, TN.

    Participants at the 2019 Southern Hemp Expo will learn about the exploding hemp market—expected to surge to more than$7.5 billion in sales by 2023, up from $1 billion in sales this year—from over 140 sponsors and exhibitors, and more than 60 experts and leaders in the hemp industry speaking on the “Let’s Talk Hemp” stage.

    Participants at the 2019 Southern Hemp Expo will learn about the exploding hemp market—expected to surge to more than $7.5 billion in sales by 2023, up from $1 billion in sales this year—from over 140 sponsors and exhibitors, and more than 60 experts and leaders in the hemp industry speaking on the “Let’s Talk Hemp” stage.

    “The runaway success of the first-ever Southern Hemp Expo blew us away last year, and that was even before the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products across the country,” said Colorado Hemp Company co-founder Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and SHE. “Today, demand for hemp is creating tremendous business opportunities for farmers, producers, retailers and others in the South and throughout the U.S. The Southern Hemp Expo serves as a key national gathering of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and others who are creating the market for all things made from hemp – from building materials and bioplastics to fiber, fashion, CBD supplements, cosmetics and much, much more.”

    Experts believe Tennessee, which allowed farmers to grow hemp in 2015, could become a top hemp producer. In 2018, 226 farmers grew hemp on a total of 4,700 acres in Tennessee. This year, more than 2,600 farmers and businesses are licensed to grow hemp or CBD in the state, an increase of 1,100% in just one year. Nationwide, nearly 80,000 acres of hemp were planted in 2018, with Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Kentucky and Tennessee listed as the five top producing states.

    This year’s Southern Hemp Expo will include a business and investment conference; hemp farm symposium; industry day with a business-to-business expo hall; general public day with an expo hall; workshops and demonstrations; and networking and entertainment. 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.

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

    Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference

    Reasons to Attend the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo

    • Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium
    • Investment Strategies for Entrepreneurs
    • Industry Day with B2B Expo Hall
    • General Public Day with Expo Hall
    • Workshops and Demonstrations & the Pono Art Zone
    • Farm Equipment, Tools & Machinery
    • Networking, Parties & Entertainment
    • Up-to-Date Information on Federal & State Legislation & Regulations
    • Current Trends in CBD & Hemp Supplements
    • The Future of Smokable Hemp Flower
    • Latest Developments in Processing Technology & Innovation
    • Certification, Compliance & Lab Testing
    • Breeding, Genetics, Seeds & Clones
    • Biomass, Bulk Flower, Isolate, Distillate, Full & Broad Spectrum
    • Retail and Wholesale Sales Strategies & More

    Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities for the Southern Hemp Expo are now available online at www.southernhempexpo.com.Exhibit Space and Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

    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

  • FDA Hearing on CBD Raises More Questions than Answers

    FDA Hearing on CBD Raises More Questions than Answers

    By Ben Droz

    Last Friday, May 31, the FDA held its first ever, full day public meeting on Cannabis.  7am-6pm, the meeting is part of a Public Comment Period  for “Scientific Data and Information about Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds”

    (Docket ID FDA-2019-N-1482)  https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FDA-2019-N-1482&fbclid=IwAR05aRmzKEcjdjqrDU80qZDgtNWe6ew9-QmFeOCkv-7oBg5p2skbESnrX6Y  This docket is accepting comments until July 2nd, and is a very important part of the FDA regulation process.

    A panel of 13 Senior FDA officials heard from some 140 people, live from the FDA building in Silver Spring.  The day kicked off with great testimony from hemp lobbyists Jason Amatucci and the Hemp Roundtable’s Jonathan Miller, articulating the position of the hemp industry, that CBD should be viewed as a food ingredient or dietary supplement.  This is already how CBD is being being used.

    The conflict comes from the fact that the Pharma drug Epidiolex seems to the FDA to be to similar to plant derived hemp extract, and therefore, does not qualify as a dietary supplement.  While hemp has been a food ingredient since before the enactment of DSHEA in 1994, the FDA seems to think that modern hemp extracts are somehow different because of their processing.  But in fact, it is not different, it is simply a plant derived extract, like any other legal plant derived dietary supplement that you can get at any health food store.  Hemp attorney Rob Kight articulated this point.

    But there was also testimony against our causes.  There was testimony that confused and conflated hemp and marijuana.  There was testimony that looked at the complexities of the issue rather than seeing it as simply, let people have CBD.

    I personally like to just ignore the haters, and have valid reasons to do so.  Firstly, all of the confusion stems from the mis-interpretation from the FDA of the language in the Farm Bill that specifically protects hemp extracts and cannabinoids.  The FDA is in charge of keeping the public safe, not to restrict natural plant extracts.  All CBD products should meet a baseline of requirements to be in the market, such as C-GMP manufacturing standards, and trackability of supply chain.  Anything more than that should only apply to pharmaceutical grade dosage, which could be in the hundreds and hundreds of milligrams per day.

    Importantly, and possibly to reflect the idea that the FDA knows that hemp derived CBD is in fact legal, the FDA is not actually holding the meetings and comment period on hemp CBD.  Instead, it is “products containing cannabis or cannabis derived compounds”.  By using the word “cannabis” rather than  the 2019 definition of “hemp”, the FDA is taking comment on all cannabis products.  This would show that any testimony or criticism against CBD, would be relating to any “cannabis derived CBD”, not necessarily including legal, hemp derived CBD.

    There is certainly lots of other insights to gain from comments and the meeting.  Because of hemp’s popularity, there is a lot more commentary coming out about this, and FDA is open to comments for another three weeks.  Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb previously said it could take 3-5 years, so stay tuned for more!!

    Ben Droz is contributing editor of Hemp Magazine,  (hemp.co) available at newsstands and Whole Foods nationwide.  You can also see updates from @TheHempGuy (instagram.com/thehempguy) or read his blog at www.theHempGuy.com . @theHempGuy (Instagram)

  • ACTIVISM Home » Activism Hemp History Week Kicks Off Today

    ACTIVISM Home » Activism Hemp History Week Kicks Off Today

    Happy Hemp History Week! Time to celebrate one of the most important plants the earth offers.

    Hemp farmers, activists, manufacturers, and retailers are coming together beginning today for Hemp History Week, an opportunity to celebrate the past and future of the crop poised to return to American farmlands thanks to legalization provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill. More than 1,500 events are planned nationwide, ranging from samples and sales of hemp productsat small town markets, educational programs at universities, and even celebratory concerts at big city music venues.

    [button open_new_tab=”true” color=”accent-color” hover_text_color_override=”#fff” size=”large” url=”https://hightimes.com/activism/hemp-history-week-kicks-off-today/” text=”Read the full article from Hight Times” color_override=””]

     

  • One Organic Farmer Treats Hemp Grown for CBD Like a “Specialty Vegetable Crop”

    One Organic Farmer Treats Hemp Grown for CBD Like a “Specialty Vegetable Crop”

    By Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural

    The importance of certified organic in hemp agriculture cannot be overstated. Currently, nearly 80,000 acres are in hemp production in the U.S., and very few of them are certified organic. That means that the majority of hemp produced in the U.S. is being grown conventionally, using potentially toxic, synthetic pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer derived from the fracking of natural gas.

    Frankly, that’s not very good for the environment or for the oncoming climate crisis, as conventional agriculture is one of the largest non-point sources of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to global warming, and fracking releases massive quantities of methane – another potent GHG – into the atmosphere. On the other hand, organically grown hemp can actually sequester carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back in the soil where it belongs, helping to keep CO2 and other noxious GHGs out of the atmosphere.

     

    News Briefs

    USDA Issues Legal Opinion Letter on Hemp
    by Kight on Cannabis

    CA to Allow Retail Sales of CBD in Food, Supplements, Beverages
    by Natural Products Insider

    Hemp Micro-Decorticator Debuts at Hemp Today Technology Summit
    by Hemp Today

    HIA Partners with Industry Leaders to Launch Nationwide “Hemp is Legal” Campaign
    by Hemp Industries Association

    Upcoming Events

     

    PCQI and FSMA compliance: why your hemp company needs PCQI training

    Don’t Miss Season 2 of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast

    The brand new Episode 25 of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast is now available. Recorded live in Knoxville, TN, to celebrate the grand opening of Blühen Botanicals’ new hemp-centric retail store, in this podcast episode “hempreneurs” and hosts Rick Trojan and Morris Beegle share their experiences at the Earthx2019 Expo in Dallas, TX; the Hemp On The Bayou symposium in New Orleans during JazzFest; the grand opening of Blühen Botanicals retail store in Knoxville, TN; and other hemp events around the U.S.A.

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

  • Organic Hemp Production Emphasized to Lawmakers, Farmers During “Organic Week” Policy Conference in Washington, DC

    Organic Hemp Production Emphasized to Lawmakers, Farmers During “Organic Week” Policy Conference in Washington, DC

    One Organic Farmer Treats Hemp Grown for CBD Like a “Specialty Vegetable Crop”

    By Steven Hoffman
    Compass Natural

    The importance of certified organic in hemp agriculture cannot be overstated. Currently, nearly 80,000 acres are in hemp production in the U.S., and very few of them are certified organic. That means that the majority of hemp produced in the U.S. is being grown conventionally, using potentially toxic, synthetic pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer derived from the fracking of natural gas.

    Frankly, that’s not very good for the environment or for the oncoming climate crisis, as conventional agriculture is one of the largest non-point sources of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to global warming, and fracking releases massive quantities of methane – another potent GHG – into the atmosphere. On the other hand, organically grown hemp can actually sequester carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back in the soil where it belongs, helping to keep CO2 and other noxious GHGs out of the atmosphere.

    Additionally, when given a choice, I’ll choose CBD and hemp extract products that are produced and processed organically, thus minimizing my dietary exposure to toxic pesticide residues and other chemical solvents, because who wants pesticide residues included with their concentrated botanical medicine?

    Seeing the explosive growth of the hemp market in the wake of the 2018 Farm Bill, the organic industry’s leading trade association, the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com) invited my communications agency, Compass Natural, to help plan and present an educational track focused on farmers’ perspectives and market opportunities for certified organic hemp, CBD and related products as part of OTA’s annual Organic Week policy conference, held May 20-23, 2019, in Washington, D.C. OTA’s Organic Week draws organic industry leaders from across the U.S. to interact with policymakers and Congressional leaders to help forward the interests of organic food and agriculture.

    At the Organic Week conference, OTA announced that sales of organic products in the U.S. surpassed $50 billion, growing 6.3% to reach a record $52.5 billion in 2018. Almost 6% (5.7%) of all food sold in the U.S. is now organic, driven in large part by demand for organic produce, dairy, plant-based products, dietary supplements, textiles and fiber. “Organic is now considered mainstream. But the attitudes surrounding organic are anything but status quo,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the OTA. “In 2018, there was a notable shift in the mindset of those working in organic toward collaboration and activism to move the needle on the role organic can play in sustainability and tackling environmental initiatives.”

    Lobbying for Hemp

    As part of OTA’s Organic Week, I was scheduled to visit several congressional offices on Capitol Hill, lobbying on behalf of organic food and farming and industrial hemp, CBD and related products. The staff at the offices of Colorado Senators Michael Bennett and Cory Gardner were supportive of industrial hemp in our meetings, and in alignment with Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ goal of furthering Colorado’s leadership in industrial hemp, as were staff leaders in the offices of Colorado Representatives Joe Neguse and Diana DeGette. However, staff at the offices of Idaho Congressmen Russell Fulcher and Mike Simpson deferred to their state’s legislature when it came to my questions regarding Idaho’s seizure in January of a container shipment of industrial hemp from a licensed grower in Oregon bound for processing in Colorado, despite the 2018 federal Farm Bill declaring that interstate transport and commerce of hemp-derived products is now legal throughout the U.S.

    In addition to our Capitol Hill visits, I moderated a lively seminar attended by a number of organic farmers interested in or already growing hemp for food, supplements and fiber as part of an educational track focused on hemp during OTA’s Organic Week. At the seminar, longtime organic farmer Chris Jagger, owner of Blue Fox Farm in Oregon, shared how he began growing hemp three years ago. Instead of planting hemp densely, like they do for fiber production where tall stalks and little foliage are desired, Chris farms his hemp like a specialty crop, or “like vegetables,’ he says, to cultivate the delicate hemp flowers for CBD extraction. Currently, a small number of organic certifiers, including OneCert, CCOF and MOSA are certifying farms for organic hemp production, and rumor has it some other major certifiers will soon follow.

    At the same time across town, hemp advocate Ben Droz participated in the inaugural Congressional Cannabis Forum hosted on May 21 by Washington, D.C.-based KCSA Strategic Communications. “While covering all aspects of the cannabis market, the KCSA forum presented a hemp panel that examined capital markets and the global economic implications of the legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Droz. “If hemp extracts become a global commodity, it might not necessarily benefit small scale farmers and producers,” he cautioned. “However, until the FDA comes up with more clear guidelines concerning hemp products, the big corporate players will continue to sit on the sidelines, allowing time for smaller brands to establish and build market share, but that could change at any time,” he said. Droz noted that the FDA scheduled its first public hearing on hemp and CBD in food and beverage for Friday, May 31, 2019. Information on the hearing is published in the Federal Register.

    Organic agriculture is a bright spot in the U.S. farm economy, continuing to grow at a rate more than double the growth rate of the overall U.S. food market. According to new OTA data, the number of organic farms grew by 39% while the total number of farms in the U.S. shrank by 3% between 2012 and 2017. Organic products can now be found in more than 82% of U.S. homes, and in some states, including California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and my home state of Colorado, organic products are in over 90% of U.S. households. Here’s hoping that organically produced hemp follows suit.

    # #

    Steven Hoffman, is Managing Director of Compass Natural, dedicated to providing brand marketing, public relations, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and hemp-centric businesses. Hoffman also serves as editor of the Let’s Talk Hemp Weekly Newsletter. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

    Photos:  Compass Natural

  • 25 On The Road Again

    25 On The Road Again

    This weeks episode is live from Knoxville, Tennessee.

    We’re traveling all around the country attending hemp events, visiting hemp farmers, retail centers, and manufacturers, and generally having an awesome time.

    We’re excited about the future of hemp, the growing awareness of the earth and ocean, and the support for the environment.

    In this episode, you’ll hear about our experiences at the Earthx2019 Expo, the Hemp On The Bayou symposium, the grand opening of Blühen Botanicals, and other hemp events around the U.S.A.

    You’ll also learn about what’s coming up for us in the next few months.

    Exciting stuff ahead.

    We hope you enjoy this episode!

    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

    “Hemp is going to be one of many industries that has to band together to change the way we do things here on planet earth.” – Rick Trojan

    Show Notes:

    • Our meeting with U.N. ambassadors at the Earthx2019 Expo in Dallas, TX
    • Hemp On The Bayou in New Orleans, LA
    • The grand opening of Blühen Botanicals in Knoxville, TN
    • Our visit with hemp retail centers in North and South Carolina
    • Hemp History Week and other upcoming events

    Links Mentioned:

  • Coca Cola Bottling Heir and Business Partner Arrested in St. Kitts with 5,000 Cannabis Plants

    Coca Cola Bottling Heir and Business Partner Arrested in St. Kitts with 5,000 Cannabis Plants

    By Daily Mail

    Greek Coca Cola heir Alki David has been arrested along with his fellow billionaire business partner after landing in St Kitts on a private jet with actor pal Jonathan Rhys Meyers accused of carrying $1.3 million worth of cannabis on board.

    David, 50, and Chase Ergen, heir to satellite fortune, are said to have transported an estimated 5,000 cannabis plants as part of their new business to ‘develop legal cannabis businesses in the region’.

    But they were pulled asid

    Alki David, four time St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, and Chase Ergen on the tarmac in St. Kittse by customs officials after landing and said to have been held for eight hours before being let go and then arrested as they tried to leave the island days later.

    News Briefs

    Hemp HVAC Air Filter Cleans Indoor Air Naturally
    by Hempington Post

    Pittsburg, CA Enacts 45-Day Moratorium on Hemp Businesses
    by Ganjapreneur

    CBD Purchasing Behavior: Brand Matters
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Long Row to Hoe: Hemp on the Slope Helps Growers
    by The Daily Sentinel

    ]Upcoming EventsDon’t Miss Season 2 of the Let’s Talk Hemp PodcastIn this new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp 422 Podcast, you’ll hear Patrick Flaherty from P F Design Lab, who is studying the entire supply chain of hemp in the U.S. to better understand where hemp can replace traditional materials. While the hemp market in the United States continues to grow, there is still a disconnect between the farmers growing the hemp and the manufacturers who can make use out of it. This is an amazing story of the versatility and opportunity that remains largely untapped in the emerging hemp market

    Send Us Your Hemp News

  • Applications for Hemp Licenses Continue to Balloon Across US

    Applications for Hemp Licenses Continue to Balloon Across US

    By Hemp Industry Daily

    ]The number of applications to grow hemp received by states has continued to increase rapidly in the wake of the 2018 passage of the Farm Bill.

    The West Virginia Agriculture Department reported that the number of licenses issued so far this year has more than tripled to 158, compared with 46 in 2018.

    The agency said the amount of acreage farmers plan to use for cultivation also saw a steep increase, from 155 acres (63 hectares) last year to 1,532 acres (620 hectares) this year.



    News Briefs

    Keys to Finding CBD’s Legal Path to Market
    by Nutra Ingredients USA

    CBD Oreos Sound Great but Honestly Extremely Unnecessary
    by Vice

    Hemp Farmers Are Making a Killing on the CBD Industry
    by CNN Business

    CBD: On A Real Market High
    by CBS News

    Don’t Miss Season 2 of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast

    In this new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp 422 Podcast, you’ll hear Patrick Flaherty from P F Design Lab, who is studying the entire supply chain of hemp in the U.S. to better understand where hemp can replace traditional materials. While the hemp market in the United States continues to grow, there is still a disconnect between the farmers growing the hemp and the manufacturers who can make use out of it. This is an amazing story of the versatility and opportunity that remains largely untapped in the emerging hemp market.

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

  • Preparing for Increased M&A Activity in the US Hemp Industry

    Preparing for Increased M&A Activity in the US Hemp Industry

    Preparing for Increased M&A Activity in the US Hemp Industry

    By Emily Gordon, Hoban Law Group

    With a stroke of President Trump’s pen on December 20, 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act (“2018 Farm Bill”) became law in the United States, clarifying and affirming the lawfulness of hemp and permanently precluding hemp from treatment as a controlled substance. The USDA still has a long way to go toward finalizing the regulations that will implement the 2018 Farm Bill, and there are still many areas of uncertainty, but one thing is all but certain: the industry will continue to grow, consolidate, and move further into the mainstream.

    Looking at the North American marijuana industry, which has had more time to move toward consolidation, as well as deals that are already taking place in the hemp industry, provides a glimpse into hemp’s future. As more clarity gradually emerges for US hemp businesses, it is never too early to be thinking ahead to potentially being part of the kinds of deals happening right now – consolidation via multi-million- and billion-dollar transactions – and doing what businesses can now to prepare.

    The largest deals in both the marijuana and hemp industries are still happening in Canada, in no small part due to greater access to capital, including the mammoth deal made earlier this month between Canopy Growth and Acreage Holdings, although the full approximately $3.4B US value of the deal only comes into play if and when the US Federal government legalizes marijuana production and sale.

    Recent Canadian-led hemp deals of note include the acquisition of Manitoba Harvest, the largest manufacturer of hemp foods in the world, by Canadian marijuana producer Tilray, and Canopy Growth’s increasing involvement in hemp, including through its acquisition of Colorado-based ebbu, Inc., a leader in hemp research. The passage and implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill should help facilitate the continued acceleration of greater access to capital by businesses in the hemp industry and a corresponding increase in mergers and acquisitions.

    Here are three things for US hemp businesses to consider, from a legal standpoint, who want to prepare now to be part of the accelerated industry consolidation of the future:

    • Businesses can consider ways to ensure the continued strength of their brand. One way to do this is to consider registration of the company’s trademarks, long a major component of brand protection in mainstream industries, but less commonly available in the marijuana and hemp industries, due to the requirement to show the mark is lawfully used in commerce. USPTO has flip-flopped over time with respect to hemp-related marks. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, it is anticipated to be easier to obtain federal trademark protection of hemp-related marks, such as a company’s logo, brand name, and other marks, and allow the company – and potential future business partners – to enjoy the benefits of trademark protection.
    • Businesses might not yet be overly concerned with activities like preparing monthly financial statements, much less preparing audited While undertaking these and other recordkeeping tasks sooner rather than later might cost money and time now, that could pale in comparison to the time and headache that can be avoided when a potential acquirer is asking for three years of audited financial statements.
    • Businesses can begin to think now about potential legal and compliance issues that may arise during the due diligence phase of a merger or acquisition – that is, when another company’s lawyers are scrutinizing every move the company has ever made. Have all of the company’s employees signed robust non-disclosure agreements? Are copies of all of the company’s signed contracts organized and safely stored? Does the company have a robust compliance regimen to maintain compliance with the various regulatory requirements, including a plan for managing and responding to regulatory changes?

    Being proactive now will not only contribute to the ongoing success of the business but will also show potential acquirers and partners that the business is high quality and positioned for success, and will save valuable time later when all of the focus is on getting a deal across the finish line.

    Emily Gordon is a senior associate attorney at Hoban Law Group in Denver, Colorado. Emily has worked on several legal issues in the cannabis space, specializing thus far in hemp, regulatory compliance (hemp and marijuana), corporate and securities. Visit www.hoban.law.

    This article has been prepared for informational and general guidance purposes only; it does not constitute legal or professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained herein without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is made to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication. Hoban Law Group, its members, employees, and agents accept no liability, and disclaim all responsibility, for the consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based thereupon.

  • Ready to Wear: Hemp, Fashion and Climate Change

    Ready to Wear: Hemp, Fashion and Climate Change

    By Hemp Magazine

    We’re killing our planet. That shouldn’t really be news to anyone now. Unless you choose to utterly reject science and bury your head up your… well… in the sand, that’s a current reality, not a future projection.

    Whether it’s climate change, environmental degradation, or simple resource exhaustion, we’ve been hearing for decades that our current models of production and consumption as humans have to be modified. If you’re brave enough to frequent the news these days and push past hyper-partisan debates, you’ve probably noticed that study after study from the U.N., the U.S. government, and nonprofits are ringing the town bells, begging the public to understand and care.

    Visualize the causes of this situation, and what do you see? Deforestation in the Amazon, billowing smoke clouds from coal-fired power plants, the Pacific’s plastic soup? What we wear doesn’t pop up in the mind so quickly. But, our clothes — and how they’re produced — play a significant role in adding to the planet’s problems.

    Is Hemp the Solution We’ve Been Waiting for?

    Photo: California-based Vital Hemp produces hemp fashion that looks and feels good, and is good for people and the planet.”https://thehempmag.com/2019/04/fast-fashion-hemp-textiles-and-the-climate-crisis/

    News Briefs

    Kentucky Farmers Launch Organic Hemp Co-op
    by Southerly

    Big Box Retailers CVS, Walgreens Roll Out CBD
    by New Hope Network

    USDA: Farmers Can Import Hemp Seeds from Other Countries
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Startup to IPO: 5 Lessons Learned While Growing a CBD Brand
    by Chris Husong, Elixinol

    Upcoming Events

    Don’t Miss Season 2 of the Let’s Talk Hemp PodcasIn this new episode of the Let’s Talk Hemp 422 Podcast, you’ll hear Patrick Flaherty from P F Design Lab, who is studying the entire supply chain of hemp in the U.S. to better understand where hemp can replace traditional materials. While the hemp market in the United States continues to grow, there is still a disconnect between the farmers growing the hemp and the manufacturers who can make use out of it. This is an amazing story of the versatility and opportunity that remains largely untapped in the emerging hemp market.

    24 Patrick Flaherty – Fiber and the Future

    About Let’s Talk Hemp
    Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of Colorado Hemp Company 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.).

    Send press releases and news announcements to news@letstalkhemp.com

     

  • 24 Patrick Flaherty – Fiber and the Future

    24 Patrick Flaherty – Fiber and the Future

    Today we talk with Patrick Flaherty from P F Design Lab, who is studying the entire supply chain of hemp in the United States to better understand where hemp can replace traditional materials.

    With the progress over the past five years, no one is denying that the hemp market is making strides. At each event we attend, we sell out every seat, every venue, every time.

    But while the hemp market in the United States continues to grow, there is still a disconnect between the farmers growing the hemp and the manufacturers who can make use out of it. Patrick Flaherty is interested in closing that gap.

    Where do these gaps in the hemp market exist? Which everyday products could benefit from a hemp upgrade? And how many acres does it take to justify a processing plant?

    This is an amazing story of the versatility and opportunity that remains largely untapped in the emerging hemp market.

    In this episode, you’ll hear how the future of hemp can impact our farmers throughout the country.

    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

    “Everybody talks about making stuff from hemp and natural materials but not a lot of people realize what it takes to get the materials off the farm and into something you can hold in your hand.” – Patrick Flaherty

    Show Notes:

    • What is the Sixth Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Denver, Colorado
    • What made 2019 the best NoCo ever
    • The effect and impact of the NoCo Hemp Expo
    • Plant-based binders as a viable alternative to petroleum
    • Which materials are competing with hemp
    • The four types of biowaste
    • Practical uses of hemp in existing markets

    “The holy grail of natural material is dropping a replacement into an existing manufacturing system.” – Patrick Flaherty

    Links Mentioned:

    “The issue is not the value of the material, it’s moving the hemp around.” – Patrick Flaherty

  • Laissez les Bon “Hemps” Rouler

    Laissez les Bon “Hemps” Rouler

    Hemp on the Bayou, a Town Hall-Style Symposium, Explores Opportunities in Hemp on May 1 During New Orleans JazzFest

    NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (April 17, 2019) – What could be better than attending the legendary JazzFest in New Orleans, especially for retailers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and others interested in the rapidly growing industrial hemp products market? With over 25,000 uses ranging from full-spectrum CBD hemp extract and hemp superfoods to textiles, building materials and bioplastics, now that hemp is legal in the United States as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, its impact has the potential to change the world.

    Join hosts Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, at the Central City BBQ, 1201 South Rampart Street, in historic downtown New Orleans for Hemp on the Bayou, held this year during the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Presented as a town-hall style symposium, Hemp on the Bayou will feature a recap of the sold out NoCo Hemp Expo, educational tracks on hemp market opportunities, USDA and FDA rules and regulations, the 2019/2020 hemp forecast, growing hemp in Louisiana and throughout the U.S, policy predictions and more.

    Hemp Experts Gather in New Orleans During JazzFest

    Speakers for Hemp on the Bayou feature such industry luminaries as Tim Gordon, President of the Colorado Hemp Industries Association, and Chief Science Officer of leading CBD producer Functional Remedies; Jeffrey Cole, Senior Director of Business Development for Restorative Botanicals, maker of foods and supplements made from full-spectrum hemp extract; Dani Billings, President and Co-founder of the hemp-centric spa Nature’s Root, and founder of the Colorado Hemp Project; biological and agricultural engineer Kristy Hebert, founder of Louisiana-based Cypress Hemp; Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp and Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association; and other experts and specialists in hemp agriculture, production, sales, marketing, and business development.

    “We are beyond thrilled to combine the excitement of the hemp industry with the energy and excitement of JazzFest as we present Hemp on the Bayou to the Louisiana agriculture, entrepreneurial, music and entertainment communities,” said Morris Beegle, Co-founder of Colorado Hemp Company, producer of Hemp on the Bayou and the annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals. Beegle is also producer of the upcoming Southern Hemp Expo, Sept. 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN.

    In addition to educational panels, Hemp on the Bayou will feature networking, community, collaboration, a New Orleans live music “After Party” and “Crawfish Fest,” and more. Presenting Sponsors for the 2019 Hemp on the Bayou include Restorative Botanicals and Seed2System. For tickets and information to participate in Hemp on the Bayou, visit www.hemponthebayou.com

    EarthX: Hemp Can Save the Planet

     

    In addition to hosting the upcoming Hemp on the Bayou in New Orleans on May 1st, Morris Beegle will be a featured speaker at the 2019 EarthX, April 25-28, 2019, in Dallas, TX. A leading nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and energize the global community in ways that help create a sustainable world for all living things, and a better, cleaner, healthier world for future generations, this year’s international EarthX conference will feature a special educational track on industrial hemp. In addition to Morris Beegle speaking at the event, Southern Hemp Expo is a Sponsor of EarthX. Visit www.EarthX.org.

    Save the Date: Southern Hemp Expo

    Save the date for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo (SHE), September 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN. NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals in the Eastern U.S. Visit www.SouthernHempExpo.com to learn more.

    About Hemp on the Bayou

    Hemp on the Bayou is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest conference and exposition for hemp industry professionals and advocates, and the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo , Sept. 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN. Colorado Hemp Company also is the founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, and advocacy. Hemp on the Bayou provides support to nonprofit organizations including the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at www.hemponthebayou.com, or visit us on Facebook. 

    # # #

    Contact
    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@nocohempexpo.com

  • Hemp at the Crossroads

    Hemp at the Crossroads

    Will We Regenerate with Hemp, or Choose Corn 2.0?

    By John Roulac

    America’s hemp movement has come a long way in the past 25 years. Today, hemp CBD is experiencing its own day in the sun moment. Everywhere you turn, there’s a news story—from CVS rolling out hemp to 800 stores to Martha Stewart getting into CBD-infused pet products. In the coming decade, sales of hemp CBD are expected to rival those of vitamins.

    Yet there’s a growing concern among conscious consumers about the fact that the hemp plant is a major bioaccumulator that concentrates pesticides and other contaminates. Shall we choose hemp CBD flowers grown in RoundUp-soaked non-organic soils, or select those grown on organically farmed land? Shall we support organic farmers or farmers that spray Monsanto chemicals ?

    Corn 2.0

    Many of the current leaders in CBD, and new entrants including Canopy Growth and the recent Manitoba Harvest purchaser, Tilray, hail from the pot industry.

    The pot barons bring with them a cowboy culture born from years of operating in the shadows of the black markets. The pot industry is infamous for its environmental destruction, copious use of chemicals, and lack of transparency. In a rush for corporate profits, the pot mavens seem to want to steer the hemp industry into a remade version that we could call Corn 2.0. We are not only talking chemicals but GMO breeding to create “THC-Free” hemp varieties, un-labeled of course ; )

    Hemp, like corn, draws nitrogen out of the soil as it grows. The vast majority of hemp grown in the USA for fiber or flowers utilizes great amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, causing major eco damage to local streams, lakes, and oceans. Indoor pot growers use the same type of harsh nitrogen fertilizer made from fracked natural gas.

    Unfortunately, the U.S. Hemp Authority(a trade group formed to create standards and to certify products), is not requiring brands to label the fact that they’re using GMOs or even list whether a brand’s hemp is from Europe or China. Many longtime hemp allies are not happy with this rushed , ‘pay to play’ standard, created by the pot barons themselves with help from the industrial ag sector. (See this letter that I co-signed: https://cannabusiness.law/open-letter-regarding-the-us-hemp-authority-certification-program/.)

    Beyond soil health itself, fertilizers are a main contributor to climate change, and runoff following storms is the leading cause of ocean dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico. We all need to heed the following wake-up call: At our current rate of excess carbon and heat, every fish, dolphin, and whale in our seas is projected to vanish by 2040 because of plankton die-off.

    Regeneration with Hemp 

    A major difference in how certified-organic hemp is grown is the use of renewable cover crops like clover or alfalfa to provide the nitrogen. Want to get the Cliff’s Notes on how agriculture, the leading cause of global climate change, can also be the leading solution through better practices such as composting, cover crops, and biodiversity? Ready for a paradigm shift? Watch the two-minute trailer for Kiss the Ground  (https://vimeo.com/242796310), a major motion picture (co-produced by this writer).

    The booming hemp industry can pivot to more eco-friendly and climate-beneficial farming practices. It can focus on soil health versus the vague corporate doublespeak of “responsible farming” and “sustainable methods.” Hundreds of hemp brands have claimed that their hemp is organic, yet have failed to deliver proof of organic certification for their growing methods or even their brand.

    The Choice Is Ours

    With ocean die-off and the increasing intensity of climate change bearing down on us, it’s crucial for us to choose to regenerate with hemp. Cleaner farming practices make cleaner botanicals. Doesn’t the choice seem rather easy?

    As consumers and retailers favor brands that are working to regenerate with hemp, organic farmers will increase their acres—while the acreage of non-organic, eco-destructive “Corn 2.0” hemp farmers will inevitably shrink.

    Look for the USDA organic symbol on hemp products from CBD to hemp seed oil. RE Botanicals is excited to be on this leading edge—along with new fresh hemp juice brand Lumen; organic hemp CBD brand Nature’s Love; Nutiva the largest organic hempseed brand, Mad Agriculture, a Colorado NGO working to help farmers be more regenerative; the venerable Rodale Institute; Mark Lewis, a Colorado soil farmer growing hemp in 2019; and soils health guru Ray Archuleta, who was a key note speaker at the world’s biggest hemp exposition and conference, NoCo Hemp Expo 2019.

    It’s time to regenerate with hemp!

    John Roulac is the founder of RE: Botanicals, offering USDA Certified Organic full spectrum hemp extract products. He also is the founder of the superfoods company Nutiva, and five ecological nonprofit groups, including GMO Inside. He’s written four books, including Backyard Composting and Hemp Horizons. Visit www.johnroulac.com, Facebook.com/John.Roulac.