Let's Talk Hemp

Tag: genetics

  • Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    The non-profit organization Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF) and The Fat Pig Society (FPS) want to invite you to participate in a third party neutral project that will protect  hemp farmers by accelerating the identification, validation and listing of clonally maintained CBD hemp plants. We intend to help identify hemp plants with the highest production and the lowest risk, while ensuring that your  Intellectual property rights and royalties are protected.

    Intellectual property (IP)  protection for hemp varieties is rapidly becoming the new hot spot in the hemp green rush. At the same time, hemp regulators are cracking down on the sales of seeds and clones that put farmers at risk. Regulations that mandate hemp to be a certified variety as defined by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (“AOSCA”) has already passed in many States.

    The Hemp industry needs a third party neutral Certification organization, like Underwriters Laboratory Certification for electrical appliances. An unsafe appliance can kill a consumer, and high THC hemp can kill a farm.

    We established a simple two-step process in order to participate:

    1. Sign the attached  “Material transfer agreement” and pay the $175 fee per plant ($165 for >100; $150 for >1000). Please make checks payable to Fat Pig Society with Genomic Selection on the Memo line.
    2. Assure seed delivery by May 15th, 2020 or clone delivery by June 1st, 2020 to the following address: Fat Pig Society  317 North Hollywood Street Fort Collins, CO 80521. All clones must be pest free.

    Our team will cultivate your plants in the Certified Organic container test field, and with the Organic Integrated Pest Management developed by the Colorado State University (CSU).  Thus, all of the plants in our program will be USDA certified organic.

    You will receive two (2) copies of each plant that will be propagated and clonally maintained in vegetative state that will serve as your future foundation plant stock. You will also receive a copy of the chemotype testing results, and a copy of all of the phenotypic (physical) traits we measured. This data contains all the necessary information to enter the Colorado Certified Hemp trials,  file for a listing with the  Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) and to file for Intellectual Property at USDA/PVP or USPTO.

    Besides being part of the first-of its kind program in the entire country, other benefits of participating in this project include:

    -We can identify  if you were cross pollinated with marijuana, kill them, and return the low risk plants for breeders to restart your seed line (or clones).

    – Our project will help you shorten the path to seed stabilization by growing a seed line and allow you to pick out those closest to the  breeding target for the next breeding cycle.

    – You can decide if you want to proceed to file IP or AOSCA, and we will provide the application materials, and all of the necessary information about filing fees estimates, and legal costs. Please Note that we can not fill out applications for plants that test >0.3% THC.

    – the data collected about your plants will be part of scientific studies conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder in collaboration with AGF.

    – If we identify a patentable clone variety, you can proceed to full commercialization, Phase 2, of this program. All participants will receive the estimated costs (including the estimated legal fees) and all forms for this next step. Phase 2 includes: Filing for Intellectual property protection- IP; filing for variety listing with AOSCA; entry in the Colorado Certified Hemp  program; plant genome sequencing with posterior analysis by scientists from CU Boulder; patent defense through gene sequencing to identify unauthorized use; and field trials to identify secondary factors like cannabinoid yield per acre, insect and disease resistance, terpenes, etc.

    Meet the Team:

    Terry Moran– Project Director- Created and regulated the Nation’s first Certified Hemp Seed Program at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and has an extensive background in plant breeding, IP, and listing with AOSCA.

    Dr. Daniela Vergara, PhD- President and founder of the Agricultural Genomics Foundation, a 501(C)3 non profit. Daniela is one of the world leaders in Cannabis genomics.

    Barbara Campbell–  One of the top plant patent attorneys in the USA, that will guide breeders and growers to the  best path to IP, including options such as ‘Plant Variety Protection’ through the USDA and ‘Utility or Plant patents’ at the US Patent Office

    Bill Althouse– Founder at Fat Pig Society and a  Certified organic hemp Farmer.  Bill has been selecting for the highest quality hemp CBD clones for over 13 years, has screened over 10,000 individual plants, and has built the test platform and protocols to screen CBD plants at scale.

    Iginia Boccalandro– Co-founder of Fat Pig Society and hemp farmer for 8 years. With her extremely approachable personality and knowledge of farming in both the US and South America, Iginia will be in charge of the public relations and administrative work.

    Contact- Iginia – 970-325-6556  Email fatpigsociety@gmail.com

    NEWS BREIFS

    The Hemp Manifesto

    Seminal Hemp Book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Available in Digital Format
    By The Jack Herer Foundation

    EU Hemp Association Publishes Manifesto for Post-Pandemic World
    By The European Industrial Hemp Association

    Myco students

    Student Builds “Myco-noe” Out of Reishi Mushrooms
    By NBC News

    NoCo Hemp Expo EARTH WEEK Conference Content Available Online through April 24
    By Let’s Talk Hemp

     

    HEADLINE NEWS

    Colorado Names April 7 Charlotte Figi Day to Honor Girl Who Inspired the CBD Movement
    By Westword

    Hemp Extractor Who Received Stimulus Assistance Shares Tips for Others
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Bob Hoban: Heightened Need for Collaboration with Stimulus Dollars Out of Reach
    By The Hoban Law Group

    Last Prisoner Project to Supply Liquid Disinfectant to Prisons
    By Benzinga

    During COVID-19 Crisis, Hemp Could See Resurgence as America’s Best Wartime Crop
    By Miami New Times

    Dr. Jane Goodall Partners on Hemp Brand to Benefit the Jane Goodall Institute
    By Green Entrepreneur

    FOOD, BEVERAGE & SUPPLEMENTS

    Functional Remedies Names “America’s Heart Healthy Doc” Dr. Joel Kahn as Brand Ambassador
    By BusinessWire

    Pennsylvania CBD Wholesaler Expands Team with Former Zappos Executive
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Nature’s Path Donates Organic, Hemp Foods to Frontline Healthcare Workers
    By Global News Canada

    Ojai Energetics Earns USDA Certified Organic Seal for Water Soluble CBD Tincture
    By Ojai Energetics

    FASHION, FIBER AND CONSTRUCTION

    Mohawk Launches “Renewal Hemp” Paper Made with 30% Hemp Fiber
    By Mohawk Fine Papers

    Hemp Fiber Processing Is No Longer Just an Idea – It’s Here
    By Textile World

    Texas-based Company Contracts for the Construction of the Largest Hemp Decorticator in the U.S.
    By Associated Press

    FARMING AND AGRICULTURE

    USDA Approves Hemp Plans for Florida, Kansas and Three Native American Tribes
    By Marijuana Moment

    Illinois Reports that Farmers Harvested 73% of Hemp Acres Planted in 2019
    By Illinois.gov

    CW Hemp Develops Lindorea Seed Named for American Farmers
    By CW Hemp

    U.S. Group Seeks Approval of Hemp Seed Meal for Chicken Feed
    By Feed Navigator

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Nicaragua Farming Cooperative to Grow Hemp for California Company
    By Textile World

    UK CBD Manufacturer Hit with Warning Letter from FDA Over Coronavirus Claims
    By FDA

    Icelandic Farmers Now Allowed to Import Industrial Hemp Seeds
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Profile: Australia’s Growing Industrial Hemp Industry
    By Health Europa

    EVENTS

    NoCo Hemp Expo EARTH WEEK Virtual Conference & Trade Show, April 22-24, 2020

    NoCo Hemp Expo Expands 2020 Show at National Western Complex in Denver, August 6-8, 2020

    Diversify Hemp Meetup at NoCo Hemp Expo, August 6-8, 2020

    Pre-Order Your Copy of Doug Fine’s New Book, American Hemp Farmer

    American Hemp Farmer, the sixth book from author Doug Fine, follows the rigors and pleasures of an entire hemp season from soil preparation and genetics acquisition through harvest and regenerative marketing. It’s immersive. It’s wildly funny. The follow up to Doug Fine’s bestselling Hemp Bound, American Hemp Farmer pulls no punches, and because it is written by an actual hemp farmer and entrepreneur, it tells you what you need to know if you want to join the hemp renaissance.

    Pre-Order American Hemp Farmer Here
    https://www.tatteredcover.com/book/9781603589192

    About Colorado Hemp Company
    The Colorado Hemp Company, the producer of the 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo (NoCo7), 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 and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe. The 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo will take place August 6-8, 2020, at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO.

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

  • Genetics, Not Field Conditions, Makes Hemp “Go Hot”

    Genetics, Not Field Conditions, Makes Hemp “Go Hot”

    By Krisy Gashler, Courtesy of The Cornell Chronicle

    As the hemp industry grows, producers face the challenge of cultivating a crop that has received comparatively little scientific study, and that can become unusable – and illegal – if it develops too much of the psychoactive chemical THC.

    In a new study, Cornell researchers have determined that a hemp plant’s propensity to “go hot” – become too high in THC – is determined by genetics, not as a stress response to growing conditions, contrary to popular belief.

    “Often that issue of going hot has been blamed on environment,” said Larry Smart, Ph.D., senior author of the study and professor in the horticulture section of the School of Integrative Plant Science.

    “[People thought] there was something about how the farmer grew the plant, something about the soil, the weather got too hot, his field was droughted, something went wrong with the growing conditions,” Smart said. “But evidence from this paper is that fields go hot because of genetics, not because of environmental conditions.”

    The study, “Development and Validation of Genetic Markers for Sex and Cannabinoid Chemotype in Cannabis Sativa L” was published Jan. 10, 2020, in Global Change Biology-Bioenergy.

    Read the full article here.\

    Horticulture professor Larry Smart, Ph.D., who leads Cornell University’s hemp research program, examines industrial hemp plants growing in a greenhouse laboratory at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY.

    Tree Free Hemp Paper

    silver mountain hemp

    News Briefs

    Grocery Giant Kroger Is Lobbying Feds on Hemp
    By Cannabis Wire

    Museum Highlights Black History in Hemp, Feb. 16
    By Kentucky Hempsters

    Growing Nutrition-packed Hemp for Grain
    By Successful Farming

    Increase in Hemp Farms Helping Bees Across the U.S.
    By RFD TV

    Headline News

    Hemp Takes Center Stage at World Ag Expo, Tulare, CA
    By KFSN TV ABC 30 Fresno, CA

    Researchers Discover Two New Cannabinoids: THCP and CBDP
    By Cannabis Life Network

    Portable Laser Hemp Scanner Could Give Instant Testing Answers
    By Phys.org

    Degree in Marijuana to Be Offered at Colorado University
    By Newsweek

    New Frontier Data Provides USDA Interim Final Rule Process Update
    By New Frontier Data

    Renowned Michigan Hemp, Cannabis Legalization Advocate Steven Sharpe Passes Away
    By Michigan Live

    Food, Beverage & Supplements

    EcoGen Leads Hemp Growth in Grand Junction
    By The Grand Junction Sentinel

    Oregon Liquor Control Commission Raises THC Limits for Some Hemp Products
    By The Register Guard, Eugene, OR

    Kentucky CBD Producer GenCanna Files for Bankruptcy
    By New Cannabis Ventures

    Will Hemp CBD Help the Elderly?
    By Hemp Supports Life

    Colorado Company Partners with Swiss Firm to Develop CBG Strains
    By Longmont Times-Call

    Fashion, Fiber, and Construction

    Levi’s Found a Way to Make Hemp Feel Like Cotton
    By Intelligent Living

    Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Students to Host Hemp Fashion Show, March 6
    By Industrial Hemp Alliance

    Majority of Adults Consider Sustainability Practices When Buying Clothing, Survey Says
    By The Hill

    Montana State Undergrad Tests Hemp Crop Byproducts for Building Materials
    By The Fairfield Sun Times

    Farming and Agriculture

    Despite Governor Noem’s Misgivings, South Dakota House Votes to Legalize Hemp
    By KOTA ABC TV

    USDA Announces Details of Risk Management Programs for Hemp Producers
    By USDA

    Vermont Regulators to Track 2020 Hemp Production with Blockchain Technology
    By Vermont Department of Agriculture

    Missouri’s Lincoln University Committed to Hemp Crop Research at “Ivy League” Levels
    By The News Tribune, Jefferson City, MO

    International News

    Indian Clothing Brand Seeks to Make Hemp a Fashion Byword
    By Telangana Today

    Portugal’s Industrial Hemp Farmers Hurt by Medical Cannabis Regulations
    By CBD Testers

    European CBD: Checking the Currents in Continually Changing Markets
    By New Frontier Data

    Australian Company Develops Hemp Product for Horses
    By Business News Australia

    Events

    Black [Hemp] History, a Black History Month Program, Feb. 16, 2020, Paris, KY
    By Hopewell Museum

    Natural Products Expo West, March 3-7, 2020, Anaheim, CA
    By New Hope Network

    3rd Annual Indigenous Hemp Conference, March 4, 2020, Callaway, MN
    By Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm

    NoCo Hemp Expo Expands 2020 Show at National Western Complex in Denver, March 26-28, 2020
    By NoCo Hemp Expo

  • Fifth Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Brings Together Hemp Industry in World’s Largest Hemp Products Trade Show

    Fifth Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Brings Together Hemp Industry in World’s Largest Hemp Products Trade Show

    World’s largest gathering of industrial hemp producers takes place at the 5th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, April 6 – 7, 2018, at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO; Call for speakers, sponsor, exhibitors is now live. 

    Loveland, CO (December 13, 2017) – Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the largest two-day gathering of hemp thought leaders, speakers, producers, entrepreneurs, and exhibitors from around the globe. Taking place April 6-7, 2018, at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO, the event will showcase the latest products, innovations, research and advancements in the hemp industry world-wide.

    Recognized by the Hemp Industries Association as the “Hemp Event of the Year,” NoCo5 will offer two interactive expo halls featuring products from international brands, introduce a Farm and Agriculture Symposium to share the latest research, techniques and methodologies for industrial hemp production, and an expanded hemp investment summit for the 5,500 attendees projected this year – an increase from 4,700 in 2017. The trade show and conference is considered the most influential hemp-centric event in North America.

    The $2 billion hemp industry worldwide continues to gain increased attention. This year’s NoCo5 will draw professionals across industrial, nutritional and therapeutic hemp industries and feature attendance by state and federal government representatives spearheading current legislative changes around the future of hemp in the U.S. bringing increased media spotlights and attention on the future of the industry.

    Bipartisan Support Grows for Industrial Hemp
    With growing support across bipartisan lines, Congressman James Comer (R-KY)  Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Thomas Massie (R-KY)  joined forces to reintroduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in the summer of 2017 calling for the complete removal of hemp from its current oversight and regulations of the Controlled Substances Act.

    “Hemp has boundless potential as a sustainable alternative to plastics and other environmentally harmful products,” said Polis. “It’s past time that we eliminate absurd barriers and allow hemp farmers to get to work, create jobs, and grow this promising and historically important crop.”

    Industry B2B Day Focuses on Entrepreneurship, Investment and Consumer Markets
    On Friday, April 6, NoCo5 is hosting “Industry B2B Day,” open to trade visitors and those interested in the hemp products market. Programming will feature the 3rd annual Hemp Summit, an important gathering of hemp-focused investors, founders and professionals. In addition, Industry B2B Day attendees are invited to visit the exhibition halls, participate in interactive demonstrations, attend panels from over 75 industry experts and speakers, and learn the latest in new technologies, techniques, and applications.

    New to NoCo5: Agricultural and Farm Symposium
    For agricultural producers, a new, full-day NoCo5 Agricultural and Farm Symposium on Saturday, April 7, will highlight early learnings, recommended production practices and market opportunities from pilot programs in Colorado, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and other states and regions where commercial hemp crops are permitted and/or licensed to be grown. The symposium also will feature new equipment, recommended growing practices, and farming and agricultural exhibits.

    Consumer Day Features Global Hemp Village, Education and Two Expo halls
    NoCo5’s two exhibition halls and educational seminars are open to the general public on Saturday, April 7, where attendees will sample and experience the latest usage of natural industry hemp products, and attend panels and speaking events on the latest in environmental impacts, nutrition, and growing health and wellness applications. In addition, the NoCo5 Global Hemp Village will showcase innovative products and ideas from international exhibitors, from super foods, supplements, textiles, paper, accessories, hemp beauty products, and plastic and building alternatives.

    “The cultural shift in the perceptions, demand, and applications for hemp in the U.S. and around the world are priming the hemp industries for growth, and NoCo5 is at the epicenter of the industrial hemp revolution” says president and NoCo Hemp Expo co-founder Morris Beegle.

    Tickets and Registration; Call for Speakers, Sponsors and Exhibitors
    Tickets and registration are available for the General Public, Industry B2B Day (including the Hemp Business Summit), and the Agricultural and Farm Symposium at http://nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/. For speaker, sponsor, exhibitor and volunteer inquiries, visit http://nocohempexpo.com/registration-noco5/.

    About NoCo Hemp Expo
    Now in its fifth year, NoCo Hemp Expo – NoCo5 – is produced by WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. Established in 2012, WAFBA is also founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services, and Colorado Hemp Company, “supporting all things hemp.” Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

    Contact:
    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

  • 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    After 4 years the US hemp industry is finally starting to lose its baby-fat… Look how many more farmers and how many more acres of hemp were grown in Colorado and across the U.S. in just a single year!

    At the 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party, on Saturday, October 14th you can experience the living U.S. hemp movement in action, presented by Lilu’s Garden.

    Join industry leaders CoHempCo and Colorado Hemp Project as they host at the Oak Room at Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont, CO, from 8pm-midnight to celebrate “an industry of trail blazers and leaders who have worked hard to accelerate the progress made during this year’s planting, growing and harvesting season.”

    Growers, processors, distributors, and even users are all pioneers in the hemp movement. Enjoy live entertainment with big screen hemp movies, network with hemp enthusiasts, and satisfy in amazing Oskar Blues beer flavors, hemp mulled wines, whiskey and vodka. Grab a special hemp cappuccino or latte from SteepFuze, and savor tasty hemp baklava desserts from Satya Creative.

    Meet Chef Kent of Z-Catering who will be creating special hemp-harvested goodies for purchase, featuring “Hemp Rocks” a German-style krautburger made with farm-to-fork fresh veggies and meats, spiced with a hemp-infusion, and topped with Colorado Hemp Company’s Hemp Green Chili. (Vegan and GF Options)

    The hemp industry itself is gaining weight quickly with more consistent planting of stable genetics; its firming-up muscle from another season of harvesting and processing; and more and more knowledge and experiences are gained and shared each day.

    The Oak Room is a wonderfully-warm event space with lots of tall solid tables, leather cushion booths, and high brewery ceilings. Purchase tickets today as this event is always a lot of fun and generally sells out!

    Right now, we are all pioneers in the movement. We are all leaders in our own individual hemp projects. We all have something to offer.

    Come celebrate and encourage each other as equals in the larger hemp community. For right now, the success of the community depends not on just one person, but on the endurance of all its members.

    Thomas Ivory, Jr.

  • The Stage is Set! Industrial Hemp Expo Unites Global Participants 

    The Stage is Set! Industrial Hemp Expo Unites Global Participants 

    Sponsored By Game Changers: Seed CX

    The Time is Now to Sow the Seed

     

    Are you ready for the largest hemp event in North America?

     

    Opening Ceremonies begin Friday, April 1st at 10 AM at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO. The NoCo Hemp Expo, now in its third year,  is the place to be for all things hemp. Colorado Hemp Company is honored to bring together the most experienced thought leaders from around the globe. 

     

    On April 2, stop by the Colorado Hemp Company Booth from 2-3 PM for your very own hemp-printed Declaration of Independence or pocket Constitution and have it autographed by our special guest Ben Franklin, Christopher Lowell.  Visit the Let’s Talk Hemp Stage as he shares his knowledge of hemp in the U.S from the perspective of one of our nation’s brightest inventors and leaders.Inline image 1

     

    Did you know? Benjamin Franklin’s discovery of the electric current set in place the building blocks to modern electricity as well as many modern terms and applications still used today like the battery.

    You won’t want to miss the myriad of hemp activities happening at NoCo Hemp Expo this weekend! Speaking on Processing and Technology, Doug Fine joins Pure Hemp Technology’s Ed Lehrburger and other knowledgeable panelists for an in-depth look into the future of hemp. From bio-refineries to hemp super capacitors, the applications for the hemp plant are endless and will be discussed at NoCo3. 

     

    Learn how to juice using hemp with professional Chef and Certified Biofeedback Specialist Cece Stalter of CBDRx. Take a glance into health, wellness, and nutrition with panelists like Dr. Bob Melamede, Ph.D. Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry and sample some of Ari Sherman’s Evo Hemp bars. 

     

    Join the fun with paper-making and hemp building workshops and more at the Quicksilver Scientific Stage. Embrace the world of quality hemp products from over 130 exhibitors at the expo or attend  a panel on U.S. made products featuring Dani Billings, Founder of Nature’s Root and Summer Star-Haeske, Owner/Co-Founder of EnviroTextiles. 

     

    Stick around for Keynote Speech from Doug Fine on The State of The Hemp Industry in 2016 and a message from Ben Franklin on Patriotism, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness happening at 4:00 PM in the Let’s Talk Hemp Theater.  

     

    Closing out NoCo3, Rep. Jared Polis will be delivering the Call to Action and speaking on the state the hemp industry in terms of in-state and federal legislation as well as the economic opportunities available in hemp. Polis and his Staff have been championing for hemp since the inaugural NoCo Hemp Expo was first produced in 2014. Come learn more about the state of hemp and be a part of the movement happening throughout the U.S. 

     

    Click here for a live schedule of the event. Purchase your tickets today before prices go up on Friday at the door! Enjoy a weekend dedicated to  hemp with live entertainment, hands-on activities, art, networking, and more at #NoCoHempExpo and be sure to check out the live HempWall where you can connect your message with everyone at the expo. 

     

    About NoCo Hemp Expo, Colorado Hemp Company and TreeFreeHemp

    WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives) is home to the NoCo Hemp Expo, TreeFreeHemp and Colorado Hemp Company located in Loveland, Colorado and operating since 2012. Areas of focus include product and brand development, marketing, printing, production, events and advocacy.

     

    Press Contact: Abbie Marks 

    (985) 518-7493

    abbie@nocohempexpo.com 

  • Hemp Road Trip: Bringing Back the Local Farmer

    Hemp Road Trip: Bringing Back the Local Farmer

    Rick Trojan and his team at The Hemp Road Trip rally for change, supporting farmers and informing citizens about the importance of The Industrial Hemp Farming Act.

    By: Thomas Ivory, Jr.

    Traveling America in a B100 biodiesel short-bus decorated with “What can hemp do…” graphics and a fine looking man in a sport-coat behind the steering-wheel can be quite adventurous. Venturing from Denver, Colorado, towards Eastern America, this road trip has one purpose: to educate U.S. citizens about hemp

    “The initial course was 4 months, and we left January 28th,” said Rick Trojan, Hemp Road Trip founder, speaker, and driver. “We wanted to go around to talk with people and start educating, on a grassroots level, about this (hemp) plant and this crop… We have met people from farmers, to students, to teachers, to just regular citizens.”

    The intent, also, is to get Industrial Hemp recognized on a political level. “The original plan was to follow the presidential primaries,” said Trojan. “We went to Iowa, and then we ended up in New Hampshire during their primaries. We went to Washington D.C., and then down to the Carolinas during their primaries. That was the initial flow, to follow the primaries. But then, as we got on the road, we let serendipity take its course, and we started meeting people here and there. So we adapted our schedule, to keep it fluid.”

    Trojan added, “Convincing politicians to come on board (being pro-hemp) is critical to the passing of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, which is what we’re focusing on this year, for 2016.”

    Legislation concerning Industrial Hemp has been around for a while. The Hemp Road Trip strives toward creating awareness and support for these proposals.

    “There are a couple of bills in front of the House and the Senate, at the moment, having to do with hemp – whether its CBD specific bills or whether its the Industrial Hemp Farming Act – which are the House Bill H.R. 525 and Senate Bill 134,” said Trojan. “And these bills have been proposed for the past 10 years. Essentially, what they would do is take hemp off the controlled substance act – de-schedule hemp –meaning hemp would no longer be considered a drug… Another bill, presented by Bernie Sanders, Senate Bill 2237, would actually declassify cannabis in general.”

    This political movement would help American farmers have more agricultural options. “We’re finding: farmers want something different to plant,” said Trojan.

    “Having this as an option, I mean, not all farmers are going to plant hemp. Just like not all farmers plant corn, or soy, or cotton. Farmers are going to find what works for them. But they need to have this arrow in their quiver, if you will.”

    For Industrial Hemp to be a concern for politicians, they need to know it is a concern for the people who elected them. “The politicians are for their constituents,” said Trojan. “They have 100 things on their plate. They deal with things they hear from their constituents. So, that has really been our focus: to get people to call their elected officials, on a State and Federal level, to let them know about hemp… Hearing from the people themselves, if we truly want to treat this as a democracy and exercise our right as citizens, we should take the time to call or e-mail our representatives to let them know that this (illegalization of hemp) law needs to be changed.”

    Trojan added. “We’re focusing on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act because at the moment it has the most momentum, from my view.”

    Momentum on a political level begins with proper knowledge and education from the citizens. “80 years of misinformation has been intentionally presented,” said Trojan. “It is time to get the misinformation out and the correct information in, and then people can choose what they want… With the Internet, it is such a valuable resource. People can educate themselves and be an activist. If only on this one issue, they would have done a good deed – a good deed for themselves, their families, their country, and the economy. I think it just makes sense to educate themselves, and to talk to friends and family, and to talk to their legislatures (about legalizing Industrial Hemp).”

    By the 1st of April, the B100 short-bus and Hemp Road Trip will return to Colorado for NoCo3 Hemp Expo, completing the first phase of the trip. The second phase, which will begin sometime in April, includes western America: Nebraska, California, and Washington state.

    To view Hemp Road Trip photos (of two brought along hemp-based US flags unraveled in front of State Houses, and with several presidential candidates), informative Industrial Hemp links and resources, and to donate to the road trip cause, visit: www.hemproadtrip.com.

    And visit your State website for information on how to contact your local representative and congressperson.

    “We should allow our farmers to get hemp in the ground and bring back the local farmer and the family farmer,” said Trojan. “We (Hemp Road Trip) will continue on our quest to educate the people.”

  • 3rd Annual NoCo Hemp Expo to Host Hemp Investment Summit

    3rd Annual NoCo Hemp Expo to Host Hemp Investment Summit

    Presented by: The Hemp Business Journal

    Tickets are on sale now​​ for the largest hemp‐centric Trade Show and Conference in North America. With over 100 exhibitors, 50+ speakers and industry experts, 2016 is gearing up to be one of the most important years in history for the industrial hemp movement.

    April 1‐2 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO will feature an assortment of fun‐filled workshops and program add‐ons including “Let’s Talk Hemp” and “The Hemp Investment Summit” presented by the ​The Hemp Business Journal.​

    “We are excited to have the first‐ever nationally hemp‐focused Investment Summit as part of our conference. Our partners at The Hemp Business Journal and ​Business Catapult​ are bringing together the investment sector and investment ready companies throughout the hemp industry with the potential for funding right off the expo floor.”

    —Morris Beegle, ​Founder @ NoCo Hemp Expo

    The investment summit marks a significant shift toward entrepreneurship and professional development in the hemp industry. Access is strictly limited to 65 attendees, so click ​here​ to reserve your VIP ticket today or to register as a founder or accredited investor.

    “All the World’s a Stage,” says Morris, “ and in the Hemp world today, there is no bigger stage than The NoCo Hemp Expo. “

    Hemp advocates, business leaders, state officials, and educators will assemble together for a weekend of education, entertainment, innovation, commerce, and All Things Hemp!

    Invest in progress this spring by attending the third annual NoCo Hemp Expo and join in the excitement of this emerging industry.

    Abbie Marks
    On The Mark PR
    (985) 518-7493
    abbiemarkswriting@gmail.com