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people around her laughing for minutes on end. I found people who gave me back my optimism about hemp, and reminded me that there is plenty of potential in the industry to celebrate.

HEMP will always focus on the people behind the plants and profits.

The hemp industry has the capability to create not just a future where hemp is legal nationwide, but also a future where the new legal industry has business ethics and regulations that consider the local community, the people oppressed by the war on drugs and the environment currently roiling in anger. Of course, building an ethical industry is no easy feat.

This issue of HEMP captures the complexity of the hemp plant and the industry growing around it, as it currently stands. There is both an article focusing on a small farmer building a network of partner farms to find his competitive edge (“Small Farms Swing Big,” pg. 28) and a profile of the CEO behind a hemp-based CBD company that is rapidly expanding around the globe ( “Titan Titus,” pg. 57). There’s an investigation into the nuances behind hemp-based plastics and its feasibility to mitigate the damage of single-use plastics on the environment (“Is Hemp A Plastic Pollution Solution?” pg. 25), as well as a political forecast into 2018 from HEMP’s contributing editor and federal hemp lobbyist Ben Droz (“State of Hemp,” pg. 13). Finally, there’s a history lesson on hemp’s dark past, examining the role that slavery played in solidifying the crop in America (“Digging Up Hemp’s Dark Roots,” pg. 19). I hope in this magazine you will find the same dose of reasoned optimism I experienced at a lunch table in Las Vegas.

Julia Clark-Riddell, Managing Editor

PHOTO ADAM KURTZ

a day in the Las Vegas Convention Center to internalize the levels of alienation currently facing the hemp industry. I was attending the Hemp Symposium session of the annual juggernaut cannabis conference, MJBizCon, which meant that two hundred other hemp enthusiasts and I were sitting in a windowless room, nested inside a concrete oasis city and listening to presenters detail the myriad obstacles facing the development of this plant.

One presenter detailed how 90 percent of hemp is imported to America with little end in sight. Another described how 65 percent of all CBD sales are conducted online and how most CBD companies can barely sell enough to raise their heads above the soil (especially because the FDA won’t allow the companies to make health claims, particularly in light of GW Pharmaceutical’s current new drug application for a CBD medication). One panel focused on regulatory barriers to hemp’s growth and the reasons why state industries are isolated from each other. Finally, with tens of thousands of marijuana businesspeople also attending the conference, plenty of speakers also bemoaned the stigma surrounding hemp-derived CBD. A man next to me in the audience let out a steady stream of sardonic chuckles throughout the day, and a woman across the aisle removed her Birkenstocks in exasperation.

But at lunch, around plates of baked chicken and pasta salad, I met generous and enthusiastic individuals endeavoring to build a supportive industry in the face of all of this alienation. I met a hemp farmer and his wife working to build a small farmer guild in West Virginia, a California cannabis farmer looking to start growing hemp to benefit his soil and his family, an Israeli academic spreading awareness about the endocannabinoid system, and a due diligence expert from Virginia who had the IT TOOK SPENDING

ISSUE TWO

A butterfly perched on a CBD-rich plant at the Folium Biosciences headquarters.

features

ORO VERDE: GREEN GOLD 38

What the nascent American hemp community can learn from Italy’s thriving hemp industry.

By Matteo Bastianelli

06 thehempmag.com

COLORADO: THE NATION’S HEMP BASKET 51

How one state is setting the standard for industrial hemp production in the United States. By Joel Hathaway

TITAN TITUS 57

The man behind HempMeds discusses his company’s global expansion, his journey from the marijuana industry into the hemp industry and the truth behind the “hippies’ disappointment.” By A.J. Herrington

ISSUE TWO

Oregon Fusion’s research and development facility in Oregon, USA.

contents

STATE OF HEMP 13

A legislative liaison for Vote Hemp breaks down the federal progress that was made and missed in 2017 on the issue of hemp legalization. By Ben Droz HEMP’S DARK ROOTS 19

Slaves brought this labor-intensive crop to prominence in centuries past. As the hemp industry begins anew, it should remember the shoulders it stands on. By K. Astre HEMP PLASTIC’S POTENTIAL 25

Despite claims about hemp plastic’s ability to clean oceans and limit landfill growth, the truth is less universally positive. By Annie Rouse

08 thehempmag.com

SMALL FARMS SWING BIG 28

A family CBD farm in Oregon remains intent on pushing the hemp industry forward, all while keeping the small farmer in mind.

By Oscar Pascal CBD FOR PETS 35

Despite the lack of clinical research, many pet owners are turning to hemp-based CBD to help their furry friends. By Ellie Herring RISE OF TRADEMARKED HEMP 48

How the Stanley Brothers’ Charlotte’s Web became CW Simply™ — and why the FDA is knocking on their door. By Mitchell Colbert

PRODUCT REVIEWS 63

Everyday Hempwear. By HEMP Staff HAVE A HEART HEMP MILK 67

A four-ingredient recipe for a hemp staple.

By Laurie and Maryjane WORD ON THE STREET 68

Hemp industry leaders currently have wallets, fields and storage bins that are either half-empty or half-full — depending on who you ask.

By Julia Clark-Riddell THE FORECAST 70

The stories on the horizon.

HEMP HINDSIGHT 72

An insight from one of history’s heroes.

PHOTO ADAM KURTZ

EDITOR’S NOTE 04

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A hemp stalk gleams after a routine Pacific Northwest rain on Oregon Fusion Farms.

Publisher

Eugenio Garcia Art Director

Todd Heath Managing Editor

Julia Clark-Riddell Contributing Editor

Ben Droz Copy Editor

Joel Hathaway Advertising

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facebook.com/hempmagazine instagram.com/hempmag twitter.com/hempmag CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Armstrong K. Astre Matteo Bastianelli John Winston Coleman Jr. Mitchell Colbert Ellie Herring A.J. Herrington Rob Forsythe Adam Kurtz Laurie & MaryJane Matt Nager Oscar Pascual Annie Rouse Bruce Wolf On the Cover

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HEMP TODAY MEDIA, LLC

PHOTO ADAM KURTZ

A bicycle rests between some hemp straw bales at the first hemp processing center in Northern Italy, in Carmagnola.

Photo by Matteo Bastianelli

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STAT E O F H E MP A federal hemp lobbyist breaks down the national progress that was made and missed in 2017 on the issue of hemp legalization.

By Ben Droz

for industrial hemp indeed. In November, Vote Hemp released their annual hemp crop report, showing over 24,841 acres of hemp were grown in 19 states this year, more than doubling from 2016’s historic 9,770 acres in 15 states. An additional 17 states have passed hemp legislation, but are not yet growing the plant.

All of this hemp is growing legally under state laws and Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, titled “The Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research.” This landmark language allows universities and state agricultural departments to conduct a broad range of pilot programs, and has laid the foundation for a new American industry. 2018 may yet be hemp’s watershed year.

2017 WAS A BIG YEAR

LEGISLATIVE MOMENTUM

In 2005, then-Congressman Ron Paul introduced the first Industrial Hemp Farming Act (IHFA), and legislative momentum behind hemp has only been building since then. The amount of support for similar bills has grown almost exponentially every session, and during the 2016 legislative session, H.R. 525 (The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015) had 75 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, and another 16 in the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This legislation is uniquely bipartisan, bringing together champions from across the country and political spectrum.

In addition to the momentum behind the IHFA, we have passed numerous amendments through Congress, since the passage of the landmark Farm Bill amendment. Using the omnibus appropriations process, hemp lobbyists such as myself have secured into law numerous amendments that prohibit funds from being used by the

federal government to hinder hemp pilot programs. These amendments have put numerous roll call votes through the House and Senate appropriations committees, and like in the Farm Bill, the amendments were secured and even expanded in conference by the powerful Senate majority leader.

Moving into 2018, the 115th Congress is widely viewed as pivotal. Former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and hemp champion Rep. James Comer has taken the lead on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, now H.R. 3530. New changes have been made to the bill to help bring us towards a new paradigm of support. Some of the changes are good, like expanding the definition of research hemp to 0.6 percent THC and establishing sovereignty over hemp on tribal lands.

Some sections of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, however, could be used to try to allow unnecessary enforcement against CBD industry. I believe that Sections 4 and 5 of the new IHFA show too much overreach of the federal government. Section 4 of the IHFA would allow inspections of hemp at every level of processing under the Controlled Substances Act and Section 5 asserts that the bill does not change the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which has implications for whether or not a company can make health claims about CBD. However, these changes to the Industrial Hemp Farming Bill were necessary to garner important support from our former foe-turned-hemp leader, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Bob Goodlatte.

There are now at least three groups pushing hemp on Capitol Hill. Vote Hemp grew out of the Hemp Industries Association back in 2000 and continues to have a leading voice on the hill. New

#hempmag 13

ANTICIPATING A BOUNTIFUL 2018 We expect 2018 will be pivotal for a number of reasons. With support from the judiciary chairman, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act now has real likelihood for a hearing or vote in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, we are expecting a similar bill to be introduced any day, and with the majority leader’s support, the IHFA could move from the House through the Senate like a tractor goes from one field to another.

There are many moving parts and lots on the agenda for Congress, but we now have an actual path to passage.

In addition to our stand-alone legislation, there are more balls in the air for the hemp industry. Almost 20 years ago, the DEA tried to ban all hemp products using a “zero tolerance” policy. The Hemp Industries Association sued the DEA and, in 2014, won the right to build an industry that is now estimated to be worth $688 million.

The DEA has tried to derail our efforts ever since, so in 2017, the Hoban Law Group — together with a coalition of companies and supporters — has sued the DEA again. Oral arguments will be heard early in the year, to show that hemp extracts, like extracts from any other legal plant, are health and nutraceutical products available for anyone. In addition, the

14 thehempmag.com

2018 Farm Bill is on the legislative agenda, which offers another opportunity for hemp to be included.

Over half of all hemp grown in the U.S. is for CBD, representing huge growth and opportunity. However, the FDA has already raised flags, and has sent warning letters to CBD companies in 2015, 2016 and 2017. This past Halloween, the FDA sent new letters to four companies, foreshadowing the New Drug Application for the pharmaceutical Epidiolex, which is currently under review.

Despite all of the potential for healing from CBD products, there is still uncertainty in the industry. That is why it is as important as ever to stay active, and call your state representatives and members of Congress to urge them to support the strongest hemp legislation possible.

TOP PHOTO ADAM KURTZ

organizations are now working together to help us cross the finish line: the National Hemp Association, under new leadership, and the Hemp Roundtable, a coalition of over 30 companies, with close connections to Kentucky politics.

Together, we are excited about the real potential of finally moving this legislation forward.

8

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22 Hemptodaymagazine.com

A former slave uses a hand brake in a Lexington, Kentucky hemp field in the late 1800s. Many former slaves transitioned after abolition to sharecropping, which continued the exploitation of black Americans.

digging up

HEMP’S DARK ROOTS Slaves brought this labor-intensive crop to prominence in centuries past. As the hemp industry begins anew, it should remember its exploitative American origin story.

B y K . A s t r e | P h o t o s J o h n W i n s t o n C o l e m a n J r. #hempmag 19

accepted today as a harmless yet highly useful source of food, fiber, fuel and building materials, it’s still a crop that has carried a lot of economic, social and political significance throughout American history. Those who are currently working to build a healing hemp industry across the 50 states should remember: Without hemp farmers exploiting slaves for their labor, hemp might never have flourished in early America.

In 1619, it was illegal not to grow hemp in Virginia and soon, due to hemp’s resourcefulness, Massachusetts and Connecticut adopted similar laws. Meanwhile, citizens in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and the New England states were heavily encouraged to cultivate hemp through subsidies and bounties. However, the efforts to establish a hemp industry in new markets in Northern states weren’t that successful, as the cultivation power largely remained in the South where enslaved African Americans were forced to plant, grow, harvest and process hemp.

Even Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, forced slaves to cultivate hemp on his plantation called Monticello in Virginia, where tobacco, cotton, flax and other mixed crops also grew.

Though he is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was also adamant about upholding the violence and indignity of slavery. He enslaved men, women and children on his 5,000-acre farm, where they reportedly grew massive amounts of hemp as early as 1774.

His plantation has since turned into a tourist destination. It was during the late 1700s when Jefferson declared that “hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country.”

Hemp was also a big commodity in Kentucky, supported again by slave labor. In his book “A History of the Hemp Industry in Kentucky,” historian James F. Hopkins asserts that hemp is the reason that slavery was able to flourish in the Bluegrass State. During the mid-19th century, THOUGH HEMP IS GENERALLY

Kentucky was the nation’s leading hemp-producing state, with peak production of 40,000 tons in 1850. The climate and soil in the region were considered ideal for producing the crop, which required less attention than growing cotton. Enslaved workers were tasked with both the dirty and labor-intensive job of breaking the stalks and hackling hemp fiber in preparation for sale, as well as working in manufacturing establishments where they made hemp bales and rope by hand in long, narrow buildings called rope walks.

Though other states were not as profitable as Kentucky, the United States census had counted 8,327 hemp plantations of at least 2,000 acres by 1850 — yet the widespread success wouldn’t last much longer. Hemp production began to see a decline during the Civil War and the abolition of slavery continued to slowly reduce the number of hemp farms in the country. Ultimately, hemp farming was drastically reduced with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, when the federal government outlawed the production of cannabis, including hemp. Production picked back up during World War II as part of the USDA’s Hemp for Victory program, but the crop was not grown as widely as it had once been.

Many parts of America’s dark, tragic history have been washed over with a revisionist glaze that glosses over some of the ugliest, most embarrassing facts of our country’s past. Whether the nostalgic haze comes in the hope of erasing the pain of unimaginable abuse or to redeem the more honorable parts of the country’s history, our gaze is often averted to the euphemisms of the time. Though hemp’s dark history may seem unrelated or even irrelevant to hemp and cannabis cultivation, distribution and consumption at present, remembering the history of slavery in the hemp industry offers a nuanced insight into how African Americans have contributed to the success of a crop that padded the pockets of slaveholders and served as the backbone of an industry which still lives on today.

“Hemp... is abundantly productive and will grow for ever on the same spot, but the breaking and beating it, which has always been done by hand, is so slow, so laborious, and so much complained of by our laborers.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1815 20 thehempmag.com Hemptodaymagazine.com

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IS H EMP A P L AST I C POLLUTI O N SO LUT IO N?

Separated from the rest of the island by high cliffs, the beach at Kanapou Bay, Hawaii, collects debris from throughout the Pacific.

Despite claims about hemp plastic’s ability to clean oceans and limit landfill growth, the truth is less universally positive. B y A n n i e R o u s e IF CURRENT PLASTIC CONSUMPTION patterns persist, by 2050, the

oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight, according to a 2016 World Economic Forum report. In the meantime, plastics will continue to leach into the human body — and while scientists debate the certainty of toxicity studies determining that the Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics are carcinogenic — the FDA will continue to review BPA’s safety. And of course, plastic consumption will continue to increase petroleum consumption, wreaking havoc on the environment and our overall geopolitical stability.

Clearly, widespread plastic use is dangerous to humans and the planet, but is hemp-based plastic — widely touted as a less toxic and biodegradable material — truly a viable alternative? When hemp’s market size, funding limitations, technological innovations and biodegradability are considered, the solution seems far from a silver bullet.

PHOTO NOAA.GOV

THE MARKET SIZE OF BIOPLASTICS

The bioplastics market in 2014 accounted for approximately 5 million metric tons of product, with an expected growth rate of 17.5 percent between 2015 and 2020. Much of this demand is for

compostable bags, plastic bottles and food service disposables like cutlery and to-go ware.

Currently, corn and soy represent the bulk of the bioplastic market, with corn being the primary feedstock that provides the cellulose and oils necessary for bioplastics. Both corn and soy are heavily subsidized in the U.S., creating the option of massive production possibilities at artificially low prices.

The economies of scale for corn and soy make it more affordable to produce bioplastics that remain cost competitive compared to petroleum-based plastics, but at this stage in the market, it would be difficult for hemp to compete.

Trey Riddle, CEO of Sunstrand, a fiber processing facility in Louisville, Kentucky states, “If [hemp] were to have some sort of unique performance characteristics, then of course that is always intriguing and kind of game-changing, but if it just performs the same as the other options, then it really just comes down to a cost issue.”

Jim Happ, President of Labcon North America, a disposable labware products manufacturer who has collaborated with bioplastics suppliers, states, “Nobody wants to pay more. They want the benefits #hempmag 25

“ For bioplastics to rapidly biodegrade, they must be placed in industrial scale composters under specific pressure and heat. These composters degrade material within 180 days, but unfortunately are uncommon in the United States and often become contaminated with non-compostable plastics.”

HEMP CELLULOSE VS HEMP OIL

Though hemp bioplastics can be produced from either cellulose in the fibers or from oil in the seed, it is likely that hemp plastics will primarily be produced from fiber because of the higher value of hemp oil, says Riddle.

But beyond price, technological issues exist for using the hemp oil or any plant oil as a polymer. Fossil fuels produce long fatty acid chains that are necessary for creating popular single-use plastics. Plants also produce fatty acids, but they are short chains that need to be converted into long fatty acid chains. The process is energy-intensive and expensive, which makes bioplastics more expensive.

However, Riddle states, hemp hurd could be effective as filler in plastics. “At a 2:1 hurd [ratio], at significantly less cost, hurd has a lot of opportunity as filler in plastics as well,” says Riddle. “Putting hemp in polymers, that is a no brainer.”

FUNDING BARRIERS

While federal regulations have prohibited the growth in the hemp supply needed to reduce costs, federal regulations that view hemp as a dangerous substance have also limited funding.

For example, a company called Pure Hemp Technology has developed a Continuous Countercurrent Reactor (CCR) that uses hemp’s 26 thehempmag.com

lignin polymers to create terephthalic acid, which makes up 70 percent of the feedstocks in plastic bottles. CEO Ed Lehrburger states that their “CCR technology is ready… but we are waiting for funding to scale up to the first small commercial demonstration scale.”

BIODEGRADABLE CHALLENGES

While hemp is touted for its biodegradability, the true potential is unknown. When hemp is used as a composite plastic today, it is blended with other polymers and additives that reduce the recyclability and biodegradability potential. If hemp were used as a polymer on its own, it may be biodegradable, but may not have a useful market.

“You can’t have a water bottle that will dissolve in one year, it’s got to be a water bottle that will dissolve in 20 years,” Lehrburger says. “So the industry needs to conduct a lot of R&D, as far as the biodegradability in terms of certain plastic products used.”

In addition, people often believe that bioplastics rapidly biodegrade in landfills; however, that is not the case. For bioplastics to rapidly biodegrade, they must be placed in industrial scale composters under specific pressure and heat. These composters degrade material within 180 days, but unfortunately are uncommon in the United States and often become contaminated with non-compostable plastics.

THE NEED FOR FIBER MARKETS

Ultimately, to have a successful hemp plastic industry, the hemp fiber industry must thrive. Today, there is a market for high-value hemp plastics like automotive composites, and the more the grain and cannabinoid markets grow, the cheaper the fiber will become. However, the plastics market for low-value products like water bottles is years away, if not decades. To compete in this market, we must increase the scale of production so that hemp cellulose outcompetes the price of cellulose in corn, soy and other agricultural commodities. But most of all, it must be cost competitive with petroleum plastics.

PHOTO DANIEL MULLER

of having a bioplastic, but they don’t want to pay more than conventional plastics. [The price] needs to be equal to or not 10 percent more than conventional plastics. People will pay a small premium, but they are not going to pay double.”

Happ stated that petroleum-based polypropylene pellets fluctuate between $1.00-$1.15/pound. If hemp plastics were to compete with petroleum plastics, the price per pound would need to be no more than $1.27/pound. According to Mark Linday at Green Springs Technologies, current market prices for hemp plastic are $2.35/pound.

28 thehempmag.com

Small Farms

SWING BIG A family CBD farm in Oregon remains intent on pushing the hemp industry forward, all while keeping the small farmer in mind.

By Oscar Pascual

#hempmag 29

A

crisp fall breeze sweeps through a seemingly endless sea of green, as farm workers trim massive colas bursting from the stalks that lumber out OF the fertile Oregonian soil. As dusty hands continue to fill several containers spread throughout this emerald ocean, Adam Kurtz reaches into a nearly full bin to examine a majestic portion of this year’s harvest.

He brings the plant closer to his sun-kissed stubble for a smell and a better look, which bears stunning similarity to what cannabis enthusiasts would consider “choice buds.”

Kurtz’s bustling farm — which grows hemp for Oregon Fusion CBD, a company Kurtz co-owns — often takes pictures of the thousands of cannabidiol-rich hemp plants. Oregon Fusion’s harvest is so bountiful that when photos of Kurtz’s crops are posted online, they are often met with incredulity.

“Hemp? Those look like fat nugz filled with THC to me,” exclaims one of Oregon Fusion CBD’s followers on Instagram, beneath a picture of thick colas in the sunlight right before harvest.

In fact, those hefty colas are all tested at under 0.3 percent THC. Oregon Fusion farms exclusively for CBD and oil production, providing often life-saving relief for patients dealing with pain, inflammation, epilepsy and several more illnesses and disorders.

Oregon Fusion cultivates several varieties of CBD-rich hemp on their eight-acre farm, located in a valley outside a small town named Boring, which sits to the southeast of Portland off the road to Mt. Hood.

Kurtz and his business partner Ed McCauley are the two-man team behind the tiny family company, but they’re focused on becoming competitive with larger brands by forming a hub of partnering farms that all share their crops with one another.

“If this industry is to be successful, it starts with developing successful partner-farm relationships,” explains McCauley. “Our partner-farm model will enable Oregon Fusion to grow large volumes of CBD hemp, and move our material into a variety of markets nationally.”

Currently, Oregon Fusion CBD is focused on sharing crops with 10 or more new farms in Oregon, and expanding into partnership with farms in New York in 2018.

“Being first to a new industry has its many challenges, but we have developed a successful proof of concept, which we are now expanding to other states,” says Kurtz.

Despite the expansion plans, Kurtz credits his company’s accomplishments to the state of Oregon and its hemp-friendly regulations. In 2017, Oregon had the second most acres of hemp planted out of the 19 states who cultivated the crop. Additionally the entire

30 thehempmag.com

Congressional delegation from Oregon supports hemp, with Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden championing the cause.

“Oregon has allowed the farmers to truly experiment in the hemp industry,” Kurtz says. “We will be the next Idaho potatoes or Florida oranges — Oregon grown, extracted and manufactured hemp.”

One such innovation Oregon Fusion came across was an auto-flowering strain that allowed them to harvest in the summer instead of the fall, with impressive results.

“This allowed us to harvest in August, and the flower had 12 percent CBD and 14 percent total cannabinoids,” says Kurtz. “I think that this type of strain will allow for mechanized harvest in the future, as it is smaller and has less stalk and stem.”

In Oregon Fusion’s first year of growing, they experimented with over 25 varieties. Their results were mixed, Kurtz says, but this allowed them to further refine what they believe are the best growing conditions for hemp in their climate.

Oregon Fusion is also trying to innovate — outside of expanding their partner farm program and their cultivation experiments — with their extraction methods, which makes use of the entire plant rather than just the leaves and trimmings.

And while they utilize the traditional BHO, or butane extraction method, Kurtz says that they put painstaking

Kurtz’s mother Sandy, who Kurtz says is the “main reason” he became a farmer over 25 years ago, inspired by Sandy’s flower farm in the Hudson Valley.

Special Sauce, a high-CBD strain.

Therapy, a high-CBD strain.

Karlee Kurtz, Adam’s twoand-a-half-year-old daughter, is growing up hemp.

#hempmag 31

32 thehempmag.com

care into maintaining purity. Their oil is purged for 72 hours or more, eliminating any residual solvent down to parts per billion. The extended process leaves a true full-plant extract packed with over 750 milligrams of cannabinoids per gram of oil, while preserving the natural terpenes and flavonoids.

The result is then infused throughout their own line of CBD-medicated products that includes honey, olive oil, tinctures and even crumble for dabbing.

“Our flagship product, a 1000-mg whole plant extract mixed with hemp seed oil tincture, can be used both topically and orally, really making it a unique item,” says Kurtz.

Oregon Fusion has had a complicated relationship to Oregon’s cannabis industry since the beginning — as Kurtz and McCauley say they had no idea which cannabis license to apply for before launching their company.

“We were challenged by the constant conflict between ‘medical’ versus ‘recreational’ in the marijuana industry,” says McCauley. “Putting our own belief aside for a minute, it was clear that this controversy would continue for quite awhile until federal laws loosened up.”

“We both arrived at the conclusion that going after an industrial hemp license would be the lowest cost of entry,” adds Kurtz. “At that time, we had no idea just how large the demand was for cannabinoids and CBDbased products. We both jumped in 120 percent and have not stopped.”

But don’t let the aggressive expansion plans fool you.

Kurtz will always prefer harvesting crops over sitting in an office.

“We will always be farmers first. Without the plant, you will have no other facet of this industry.”

Harvesting beauty.

“Oregon has allowed the farmers to truly experiment in the hemp industry,” Kurtz says. “We will be the next Idaho potatoes or Florida oranges — Oregon grown, extracted and manufactured hemp.”

Oregon Fusion has over 20 trial varieties growing at their research and development facility.

#hempmag 33

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“Kona was up all night itching and licking herself. Her vet suggested I try Stop the Itch instead of the usual prescription.

Within just a few days of starting the supplement, she had stopped licking and itching altogether.” - Bea

Helps maintain a calm energy.

“A week ago we started using Therabis Calm and Quiet for our Chihuahua, Shelby, who suffers from separation stress. She has totally transformed in a week’s time and has become so happy and engaged again. She also loves the taste of the product.” - Mary

Hemp CBD wellness for dogs https://Therabis.com

C BD F O R P E TS Despite the lack of clinical research, many pet owners are turning to hemp-based CBD to help their furry friends.

By Ellie Herring

of my veterinarian’s office for the third time since adopting my pup, the reality of becoming a dog owner set in.

Blinded by puppy eyes and dachshund kisses, I had hastily adopted my first puppy a few weeks prior. He appeared healthy at the pound and was given a clean bill of health, but as I quickly came to realize, there may have been a few unchecked boxes on his record. Martini, my five-pound Chihuahua-dachshund mix, periodically limped on his back leg, showed signs of separation anxiety and quietly whimpered with no apparent reason throughout the day.

Heartbroken and determined to provide a better life for Tini, I made an appointment with the vet. Without knowing his previous medical records, the vet was unable to identify the source of his pain. There were no apparent injuries to his leg, and the separation anxiety was likely caused by his abandonment as a puppy. I continued to opt for expensive tests, medications and training methods, but nothing seemed to provide much relief.

After exhausting my options (and draining my wallet), I began to look at alternative methods. I tried a few natural supplements and massage techniques for his leg, but continued to see the same disappointing results.

Just as I had given up on my search and returned to the traditional prescriptions, I came across an ad for CBD-infused pet medication.

I’d heard about the use of CBD for treatment in humans, but was unfamiliar with the effects on dogs. As it turns out, dogs have an endocannabinoid system, just like us.

AS I SAT IN THE LOBBY

In fact, every mammal is born with an endocannabinoid system.

This system, located in the nervous system and brain, contains a set of receptors that are responsible for controlling mood, appetite, pain sensation, memory and the effects of cannabis.

Research into CBD’s effects on animal endocannabinoid systems is still lacking, but two important trials into CBD’s effects on osteoarthritis and epilepsy in dogs are currently underway at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Also, for several years, the pharmacology lab at Auburn University’s veterinary college has been studying the efficacy of CBD on animals, specifically dogs, cats, and horses, using formulas from the CBD-for-pets company Canna-Pet. In 2017, Canna-Pet’s PetConscious Foundation agreed to underwrite $1 million dollars in cannabinoid research, specifically into studying the effects of cannabinoids on cancer, seizures, pain, inflammation and anxiety in dogs, cats and horses.

Dan Goldfarb, CEO of Canna-Pet, says that he hopes the research will help eliminate doubt about the safety and value of CBD products for pets. “We will clearly demonstrate the therapeutic applications of hemp cannabinoids, continue to support American farmers and continue to evolve and create the best products possible for our beloved pets,” Goldfarb says.

Despite the lack of definitive research, the popularity of CBDinfused medicine for pets has grown, as pet owners have begun to wonder if this super compound could help their pets in the same ways that it helps humans. Anecdotally, CBD has helped treat pets who

#hempmag 35

“Dogs are especially responsive to phytocannabinoids, as they have the highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors in their brain and throughout their bodies compared to other animals, including humans. From what our customers have shared with us, cats tend to require a higher amount of CBD to be effective. Often times, this is double the serving size we recommend for dogs.”

-Julianna Carella, CEO of Treatibles suffer from chronic pain, seizures, anxiety, hunger disorders and more.

According to Julianna Carella, CEO and founder of the hemp-based CBD for pets company Treatibles, anxiety is the number one reason Treatibles is provided to pets.

“Phytocannabinoids are very effective in bringing calm and balance to pets suffering from a myriad of conditions including anxiety, as well as joint pain and mobility issues, general pain, inflammation, loss of appetite, effects from cancer and cancer treatments, seizures, end of life comfort and more,” says Carella.

Dana E., a customer who tried the Treatibles dog treats, says that she thought she was going to have to put down her 8-year-old Labrador because he had a tumor, which caused him so much discomfort that he stopped wagging his tail and barking, and he started whining constantly and chewing on his front legs.

“We had put him on many doses of antibiotics that were very costly and although they would heal his legs, he still

36 thehempmag.com

had anxiety,” Dana says. “I love my dogs so much I would try anything, and I didn’t like the alternative. After just a few weeks [of using Treatibles], he started acting like his old self again. He was wagging his tail, barking and has happiness in his eyes.”

Stories like Dana’s are not uncommon.

Treatibles, like many other CBD pet companies, has a testimonials page where customers rave about the positive effects CBD has had on their furry friends. (The FDA has sent warning letters to CBD companies that feature such testimonials on their website, but those companies were not providing CBD products for animals.)

The current marketplace for pet CBD includes products such as medicated pet treats, tinctures, gel caps and salves. Many pet owners turn to treats first, but tinctures are also helpful for picky pets or for pet owners who want greater control over the dosage. Gel caps are great for hiding in treats, and salves can be used for a variety of skin conditions.

Many products, however, do not identify which species of pets they are intended for — even though endocannabinoid systems are different across species.

“Dogs are especially responsive to phytocannabinoids, as they have the highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors in their brain and throughout their bodies compared to other animals, including humans,” says Carella. “From what our customers have shared with us, cats tend to require a higher amount of CBD to be effective. Often times, this is double the serving size we recommend for dogs.”

After researching and finding widespread support for the use of CBDinfused medication for dogs, I decided to give it a try. I ordered a medicated tincture and began the treatment for Tini. As the hundreds of testimonials raved, the CBD tincture finally provided relief. After a few days of the recommended dosage, Tini no longer limped or whined, and showed far milder signs of anxiety when I left. Tini and I were finally at peace.

Photo Essay

Oro Verde:

GREEN GOLD What the Nascent American Hemp Community Can Learn From Italy’s Thriving Industry P h o t o s a n d Tex t B y M a t t e o B a s t i a n e l l i

Rachele Invernizzi moved to Southern Italy on a mission to revitalize an economy and support struggling Italian farmers.

Today, the Northern Italy-born entrepreneur is the president of the vertically integrated Italian hemp company SouthHemp, and her work has helped bring together over 250 farms in Southern Italy.

Her story is a great model for American hemp farmers today, who — if they listen to the lessons of the Italian hemp industry — might be able to tell similar success stories about themselves in 25 years.

“My company and I only work in Southern Italy — and exclusively in Southern Italy from Rome and down to the islands – because the soil conditions are better for hemp,” Invernizzi said, at the 2016 AgroGeneration conference in Italy. “But hemp can be grown all over the world, and we are doing studies that show it can be grown on marginal land, so that even on land where it is difficult to grow for agriculture, hemp is a solution.”

Invernizzi’s facility is just a few kilometers from the city of Taranto, where pollution from the local ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO,

38 thehempmag.com

steel industry left the land unusable for crops.

Invernizzi and her SouthHemp team were able to restore the contaminated soil through the cultivation of hemp.

Today, the facility produces hemp fibers for the bio-plastics company Kanesis of Sicily and for the specialty paper company Canapa Cruda, as well as animal litter, mulch and hemp shives.

“Hemp growth is maximized in loose soils and fertile land, but it also adapts well in marginal areas if sown with the right technique and density,” Invernizzi said. “It is a plant that absolutely does not want chemicals and which is absolutely sustainable to grow.”

Invernizzi often speaks about how the Italian hemp industry had to recover from decades of laws confusing hemp with cannabis. Much like the United States, the Italian hemp industry had a rough 20th century; Italy’s hemp industry, however, has rebounded quickly.

Hemp has a glorious past in Italy. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was among

A dog in front of a five-hectare field planted with industrial hemp on Antonio Cerozzi’s farm in Torremaggiore, Italy. Cerozzi plans to plant one quarter of his 24 hectares, where he also grows cereals and fruits, with industrial hemp over the coming years.

#hempmag 39

Eugenio Durante walks among his 4000 meter field of industrial hemp in Viterbo, Italy. Eugenio, along with his brother Leonardo, has been experimenting with the use of hemp for the realization of handmade fabrics, paper and building materials.

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Industrial hemp inflorescences, low in THC, hang in the curing and drying room for the “Saracinesco in Canapa” project, which aims to reintroduce hemp to the small Saracinesco commune in the hills outside Rome.

Much like the United States, the Italian hemp industry had a rough 20th century; Italy’s hemp industry, however, has rebounded quickly. the world’s leading producers and the largest hemp industry in Europe, with almost 100 thousand hectares of its soil dedicated to hemp cultivation. But, in the 1950s, the arrival of synthetic petroleum-based fibers on the market, coupled with the unrestrained consumerism of Italians looking to emulate the American dream, led to near-oblivion for Italian hemp.

America’s war on drugs also bled into Italy and industrial hemp began to disappear, despite hemp’s lack of psychotropic effects.

International pressure and the interests of the emerging oil industry forced other countries in the world to follow suit, uprooting hemp from its place as a leading agro-industrial fabric.

Nevertheless, the outlook for hemp is now changing, albeit slowly, and once again, hemp is back to being a big opportunity for Italian agriculture — and an alternative to the rural flight for the young Italians who are often pressured to leave their land to look for a job in a city.

Vincenzo Fornaro, a farm owner in Carmine, Italy, is one of those young Italian farmers who felt pressured to leave his farm. Instead, he decided to cultivate hemp on a two-hectare field in an effort not to give up on his struggling land. Invernizzi’s company supplied him with 75 kg of seed in order to plant those two hectares of hemp.

#hempmag 41

Vincenzo Fornaro, owner of the Carmine farmhouse, helps a farm worker pour hemp seeds into a precision- sowing machinery.

A worker drives a forklift truck to transport hemp processing residues that are used to produce pellets at Invernizzi’s hemp processing plant.

42 thehempmag.com

Rachele Invernizzi stands in front of hemp straw bales piled up at her facility, the first hemp processing center in Southern Italy.

Fornaro says because hemp is a rotational crop that doesn’t require herbicides and increases a soil’s fertility, his hemp was able to absorb noxious substances and restore his soil as a bioremediation crop.

Others outside of the farming world are also seeing hemp as a reprieve in Italy’s struggling economy, and many are deciding to invest in the sector. For example, Italian contractor Emilio Sanapo converted his construction business into a company that now builds houses made of lime and hemp.

Italy has been successful in magnifying the opportunities along the whole hemp production chain, including paper production, tissue processing, oil and flour extraction, bio-plastics, power generation, medicinal products, oil for varnishes and solvents, rope, fuel, food and construction products.

The country has also passed increasingly progressive laws, such as removing regulations that required hemp farmers to report their crops to the police and increasing the legal THC limit up to 0.6

#hempmag 43

44 thehempmag.com

Some bundles of hemp, arranged according to ancient tradition, in the vicinity of a cultivated field for the “Saracinesco in Canapa” project.

percent. Also, the Italian Parliament passed a law in early 2017 that states hemp farmers will not be liable if they have THC percentages above 0.6 percent, but they can have their crop seized or destroyed. The Italian government is also providing financial support to the hemp industry.

In fact, with such supportive government oversight, Italian hemp leaders told reporters in early 2017 that their country’s hemp fields had grown by 200 percent in recent years.

“The boom in the cultivation of hemp is an excellent demonstration of the ability of farms to discover and experience new frontiers and meet the growing needs of new consumers,” Roberto Moncalvo, president of the agricultural organization Coldiretti, told Canapa Industriale (a newspaper focused on Italian hemp).

“This shows how the green economy can open up

employment opportunities in rural areas that can contribute to sustainable growth and economic recovery.”

Elsewhere in Europe, hemp cultivation has resumed, including in England, Germany, Romania and Poland. All of these nations have been investing in industrial hemp since the 1990s, which has given them a significant leg up on American competitors — many of whom are focusing on CBD because of America’s competitive advantage in cannabis cultivation.

In Italy, young Italian farmers follow a great tradition; it is no accident that they have been encouraged more by their grandparents than by their parents, who are still strongly influenced by the prohibition era. In Italy, hemp farmers remember that the cornerstones of peasant farming were based on a simple, natural and environmentally friendly lifestyle, and this comes through in the quality of the hemp.

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THE RISE OF T RA D E MAR K E D H E MP the leaves are turning and it’s that time of the year again. No, it’s not the holidays — it’s time for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to send out their nearannual warning letters to CBD companies.

While in previous years the FDA sent out scores of letters, in 2017, they only sent out four, including a letter to the largest and most wellknown producer of CBD products in America and possibly the world: the Stanley Brothers.

The FDA’s recent slap on the Stanley Brothers’ wrist highlights the struggles that many hemp-based CBD companies currently face: how to build brand recognition, how to deal with the stigma around hemp-based CBD and how to transition out of the medical marijuana space — all in the face of complicated federal regulation. As the Stanley Brothers’ case reveals, it’s difficult not to slip up.

The Stanley Brothers are famous for holding several trademarks affiliated with a CBD-rich strain, commonly known as Charlotte’s Web™, IT’S LATE IN 2017;

or now, CW Simply™ (CW). The company came to prominence in 2013 after CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta ran a three-part special profiling the company’s flagship strain and its medical benefits. The strain is named for their first patient, a young girl named Charlotte Figi, who suffers from Dravet Syndrome. While Charlotte had been having over 300 seizures a week, Dr. Gupta reported that with the help of “the Stanley’s special marijuana,” she was down to just one.

Since Dr. Gupta’s special aired, over a dozen states have passed CBD-only medicinal hemp laws, many lacking key language required for them to function, such as how medicine would be grown or could be legally processed. While none of these bills contained “Charlotte’s Web” in their language, the media frequently described them as “Charlotte’s Web Laws.” That is likely because Dr. Gupta’s specials do not mention any other CBD-rich strains, or possibly because the Realm of Caring (RoC), a non-profit

started with help from the Stanley Brothers, has “helped pass [CBD] legislation” in 15 of those states, according to a RoC pamphlet.

In fact, the word “hemp” is never used in any of Dr. Gupta’s specials, not by Dr. Gupta or even by the Stanley Brothers, who refer to their strain as a “plant.” Despite the fact that the word “hemp” is never used in the series, CW promotional materials claim that Dr. Gupta’s special was about hemp. Now, thanks to clever marketing, early application for trademarks (aided by a CNN special establishing prior use), and an aggressive expansion plan, Forbes reports that “CW Hemp dominates the [hemp-derived CBD] space with the largest market share.”

The big question is, how did a strain, which became famous because of a documentary called “Weed,” end up getting trademarked as a hemp plant? The answer has a lot to do with Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, which defined hemp as being any cannabis plant with under 0.3 percent THC, thereby opening the

How the Stanley Brothers’ Charlotte’s Web Became CW Simply™ — And Why the FDA Is Knocking On Their Door

By Mitchell Colbert | Photos Matt Nagar

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doors to freer access to hemp for research purposes.

In February 2013, Josh Stanley, the head breeder of CW, reported in a video for the RoC, that “This particular plant [CW] has 0.5 percent THC and 17 percent CBD.” At the time, the THC percentage was too high to be legally considered hemp. Later that same year, in a TEDx presentation, Josh Stanley confirmed that CW is, or at least was, “a special strain of cannabis plant,” which they “succeeded in [breeding] in January of 2012.”

By the end of 2013, the Stanley Brothers had filed for their first trademark for Charlotte’s Web Hemp Products™, which means the THC content was low enough to be considered hemp. Now that CW was no longer medical marijuana, it could be sold legally as hemp across state lines, whereas up to that point it had to remain in Colorado as cannabis. Interestingly, CW promotional materials tell a different story, where the strain was developed from “proprietary hemp genetics,” which statements by Josh Stanley call into doubt.

Unfortunately for NBC, they did not get that memo about CW becoming hemp, and their regional station, WBBH-TV, was sued in 2016 by the Illinois distributor of CW. The regional station ran a broadcast on July 1st referring to CW as “medical marijuana,” just a year after “Weed III” aired referring to it as “medical marijuana.” The suit, which alleged NBC’s story harmed potential profits, was dismissed earlier this year due to a “lack of personal jurisdiction.”

The Stanley Brothers had to change course again in 2016, when Oregon banned the use of “Charlotte’s Web” as a name, arguing it might appeal to children because it shares the name with a popular children’s book. That move explains the progression of branding from Charlotte’s Web™, to CW Charlotte’s Web™ in 2016, and now in 2017, CW Simply™.

In late September, one month before the Stanleys received their letter from the FDA, The Cannabist reported that for a short period, Target.com was carrying CW Simply™ products. After the story circulated, Target pulled all CW products.

As for the future of CW Simply™, Josh Stanley told MJ Biz Daily in 2014 that he believes the Stanley Brothers will be collaborating with pharmaceutical companies. “Pharmaceutical companies will be here, and are here,” Stanley said, “and they’re probably something we need to embrace and work with.”

This forecast might be why CW’s affiliate, the RoC, joined with Insys Therapeutics, to pay fees to the authors of the recently released study that found 70 percent of hemp-derived CBD products were inaccurately labeled. Though 70 percent of products being inaccurately labeled seems bad, remember last year’s FDA warning letters and how 95.5 percent of products contained the wrong amount of CBD. From one standpoint, 25.5 percent more products are now accurately labeled than they were one year ago, which is a huge improvement.

While the study partially funded by the RoC focused on accurate dosing, CW product labels do not Zachary Sobol harvests industrial grade hemp at the Stanley Brothers’ CW Simply™ farm near Wray, Colorado.

Jared Stanley at the Stanley Brothers’ farm near Wray, Colorado.

“Pass a federal bill to deschedule CBD and allow an industry to offer this compound as a dietary supplement.”

-Paige Figi, Charlotte Figi’s mother

list the CBD content, making accurate dosing impossible for a patient to determine without testing every single batch. In the meantime, one would hope that the FDA would work to protect consumers’ health and safety by continuing to do potency testing of products, and possibly start pesticide testing. Perhaps in time, as federal regulations lax, CW Simply™ will add their CBD total to the label, making it easier for patients to know what is in their medicine.

Multiple attempts were made to reach someone from the Stanley Brothers or the RoC, but were unsuccessful.

Charlotte’s mother, Paige Figi, told HEMP that she “want[s] FDA oversight” of the medicine she has been lauding for years. She feels that the solution to the current situation with the FDA is congressional action. “Pass a

federal bill to deschedule CBD and allow an industry to offer this compound as a dietary supplement,” she says. “If we fail to do so, pharmaceutical companies would be pleased to step in, keep it scheduled and own the market selling this as a drug only. I think it should exist as both.”

Figi specifically called attention to two bills, Senate Bill 1008 (the Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2017) and House Bill 2273 (the Charlotte’s Web Medical Access Act of 2017). It should be noted that HR 3530, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, would also legalize the production of many hemp CBD products.

As these bills work their way through Congress, the fate of “Charlotte’s Web” — and CBD companies like the Stanley Brothers — remains uncertain.

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feature

Colorado:

T H E N ATIO N’S HE M P BASKE T

How the state is setting the standard for industrial hemp production in the U.S. B y J o e l H a t h a w ay

the streets of La Junta, Colorado, it will appear, in many ways, to be the cliché of an American western town.

Sagebrush and farms surround the small, high-desert city of 7,000, and the La Junta downtown retains the brick-and-stone storefront facades that prove there once was money and booming construction here, but somewhere along the way, that capital dried up like soil in late summer.

Ten years ago, travelling out in the arid countryside along the banks of the Arkansas River, the only farms you’d have seen along the way were growing produce like melons, tomatoes and chilis, with hardworking farmers toiling at the land to make what living they could. Some farms were more successful than others. Like much of rural, agricultural America, more were flirting with the poverty line than we’d like to admit.

And while not much has drastically changed within the city of La Junta, on the dusty plains outside the city, the landscape, agriculture and economics are currently entering a new era. While growing traditional agricultural products still dominates acreage in the region, increasingly the neat rows of produce are being replaced with another cash crop, which a decade ago would have been inconceivable, not to mention illegal. In the flat expanses of the Great Plains, with the Rockies distant in the background, the neat little rows of green now poking out of the earth are a more lucrative crop: hemp.

IF YOU STROLL THROUGH

INVESTINGIN INCOLORADO’S COLORADO’SRURAL RURALCOMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES INVESTING Thefarms farmsgrowing growing hemp hemp outside outside of of La Junta are raising The raising their their crop crop for Folium Biosciences, claims be the largest verti- intefor Folium Biosciences, whichwhich claims to betothe largest vertically cally integrated manufacturer and distributor of hemp-phytograted producer,producer, manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived derived phytocannabinoids the U.S. maintains The company maintains cannabinoids in the U.S. Theincompany a 70,000-square-foot a 70,000-square-foot (the plant is for a the processing plant in Laprocessing Junta (theplant plantinisLaa Junta former Walmart, former for the sake of size comparison), addingtomore sake of Walmart, size comparison), adding more jobs and money the local jobs and money the local TheFolium’s La Junta new plant50,000-squarecouples economy.

The Lato Junta planteconomy. couples with withfacility Folium’s new 50,000-square-foot in Colorado foot in Colorado Springs, where the facility purification and extraction Springs, are where the purification and extraction processes processes handled. areInhandled. many ways, Folium is presenting a blueprint in Colorado for the In manyand ways, Folium is presenting a blueprint in Colorado for production distribution of hemp nationally. the production anddoing distribution hemp nationally.

“The way we’re vertical of integration… we’re not seeing anyone we’re doing vertical integration… notWe seeing else“The doingway it. The other companies are using thirdwe’re parties. don’t rely anyone elseexcept doingfarmers, it. The other using third parties. on anyone who companies we provideare genetics for and guarantee don’t onRyan anyone except farmers, who we provide aWe price to,”rely says Lewis, chief marketing officer forgenetics Folium. “We for andtransport guaranteeand a price to,” Farmers says Ryan Lewis, marketing harvest, process. just have chief to grow the crop with officer forthat Folium.

“We It’s harvest, transport andstrategy process.

Farmers the plants we supply. part of our larger moving forward, have to grow crop with the plantsfarming that wecommunities.” supply. It’s tojust help farmers and the transform impoverished part of our larger strategy moving forward, to help farmers and transform impoverished farming communities.” #hempmag 51

As of November 2017, over 500 hemp farmers were registered in the state of Colorado.

In 2017, Folium contracted Colorado farmers to grow just over 1,000 acres of hemp out of the state’s total of 9,000 acres, which accounts for over 11 percent of Colorado’s total hemp production. Like almost all producers and processors of industrial hemp in the U.S., the hemp grown

by Folium-contracted farmers is produced for its cannabinoids, rather than industrial applications like paper or fiber. The phytocannabinoid-rich hemp that Folium is growing and processing, like other U.S.-based hemp producers, is finding a market not just in the U.S., but around the world.

It’s an odd quirk, because while industrial hemp cultivation had been illegal in the U.S. for decades, in much of the rest of the world, the “ Currently, 99 percent of the companies are selling CBD isolate, industry continued largely uninterrupted. So, why are American companies leading an international the process of which strips out all of the synergistic compounds. market where they should be experientially, if not CBD by itself is relatively weak. You need all of the terpenoids and technically, behind?

“It’s because our hemp contains more physecondary cannabinoids to achieve sustained relief in your body.” tocannabinoids, so we’re able to break into the - Ryan Lewis, Folium Biosciences market,” says Lewis. “The rest of the world is mostly growing for fiber, where phytocannabiHOW COLORADO IS OUTPACING THE NATION noids are basically just a small biproduct. They’re If La Junta was the cliché of the American West with its nostalgic using a plant that is primarily used for clothing and fiber, which is only downtown and farming-based economy before, it’s now flirting with be- lucrative when undertaken on a massive scale. In the U.S., we’re growing coming Colorado’s new version of the rural normal. Since the passage plants that are largely considered for their phytocannabinoid potency.” of Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, which allowed for the cultivation of industrial hemp in the United States for the first time in decades, COLORADO IS LEADING, BUT OTHER STATES ARE TAKING NOTICE Colorado’s burgeoning industry has been aided by the legalization of Colorado — more than any other state — has moved quickly to capitalize marijuana in 2014. Because Colorado growers, processors and distribon the newly legalized industry. utors had a head-start working out some of the kinks — which are conIn 2017, 19 states reported acreage specified for growing industrial siderable for a newly legalized industry — the conceptual framework for hemp, and Colorado’s production dwarfs that of other states. According the transition to industrial hemp cultivation had already put in place. The to Vote Hemp, a Maryland-based nonprofit hemp advocacy group, in technological requirements for cannabinoid extraction are more involved 2017, Colorado farmers accounted for over 31 percent of all of the than those for most medicinal or recreational THC-based cannabis, but acreage planted for hemp in the entire nation. As of November 2017, over many of the hurdles related to finance and distribution have already 500 hemp farmers were registered through the Colorado Department been considered. of Agriculture.

However, perhaps surprisingly, when you consider the 19 states that “We’ve seen hemp cultivation significantly expand in the U.S. in 2017, are already cultivating industrial hemp, there appears to be no uniformity with over double the number of acres planted in hemp compared to last when it comes to the marijuana-friendliness of each state. Whether states year and the addition of four more states with hemp pilot programs,” are considering new research when it comes to the possible health bensaid Eric Streenstra, president of Vote Hemp. efits of cannabinoids or are looking to boost state treasuries still not fully This growth has been driven largely by the exploding worldwide recovered from the Great Recession isn’t fully clear. What is clear, is that market for CBD-derived products. CBD sales more than tripled between more states are looking at the industry and asking: Why not us?

2014 and 2017, from $108.1 million to $358.4 million, according to the According to Lewis, “We’ve recently been asked to present in front Hemp Business Journal’s mid-2017 report. By 2022, the CBD industry is expected to surpass $1.8 billion in sales. So far, production of hemp- of the legislatures in Utah and Kansas. They want to better understand derived CBD is lagging behind demand, meaning that the full size of the the opportunity and process and want help as they write legislation for legalizing hemp cultivation in their states.” potential market remains unknown.

52 thehempmag.com

PHOTOS COURTESY FOLIUM BIOSCIENCES

BECOMING A GLOBAL EXPORTER

Workers outside Folium’s hemp processing plant in La Junta, Colorado.

CBD-rich trimmings, stacked high on the processing floor.

#hempmag 53

54 thehempmag.com

W. VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

VIRGINIA

VERMONT

TENNESSEE

10 acres 14 acres

0 acres 175 acres

37 acres 87 acres

180 acres 575 acres

225 acres 200 acres

0 acres 36 acres

0 acres 965 acres

500 acres 3469 acres

70 acres 3020 acres

2017 ACRES

PENNSYLVANIA

OREGON

N. DAKOTA

N. CAROLINA

30 acres 2000 acres

216 acres 417 acres

1 acre 1 acre

9000 acres

2016 ACRES

NEW YORK

NEVADA

NEBRASKA

0 acres 542 acres

51 acres 1205 acres

2525 acres 3100 acres

5921 acres

1/4’’ SQUARE REPRESENTS 500 ACRES

MONTANA

MINNESOTA

MAINE

1 acre 30 acres

2 acres 5 acres

INDIANA

KENTUCKY

1 acre TBD

HAWAII

COLORADO

Folium Bioscience’s processing plant, with industrial-size ventilation system.

ACRES OF HEMP GROWN PER YEAR

TOTAL 2016 = 9,770 | TOTAL 2017= 24,871

CBD-specific clones starting out in a controlled environment.

“

PHOTOS COURTESY FOLIUM BIOSCIENCES

- Eric Streenstra, president of Vote Hemp

WITH OR WITHOUT GOVERNMENT RESEARCH, THE INDUSTRY WILL GROW

With demand soaring, cultivation ramping up and more states embracing the industry, it seems only a matter of time before more standard, traditional companies jump in and invest in the industry. As the benefits of cannabinoids become more well-known (to both current enthusiasts and the public at-large) and further studied, the potential applications will grow alongside the market.

Whether the federal government will begin full-scale research into possible benefits and applications of cannabinoids remains to be seen. But public knowledge about how they’re helping transform people’s lives is growing, creating an exploding market.

Still, according to Lewis, we’re just beginning to realize the potential.

“Currently, 99 percent of the companies are selling CBD isolate, the process of which strips out all of the synergistic compounds,” says Lewis. “CBD by itself is relatively weak. You need all of the terpenoids and secondary cannabinoids to achieve sustained relief in your body.”

Folium extracts the full spectrum of cannabinoids from their hemp, claiming all are necessary to support and activate the beneficial qualities found in hemp plants.

“We believe as a company that phytocannabinoids are essential nutrients that have been removed from our supply and food chain, which has caused an inadvertent deficiency that is related to a myriad of diseases we’re seeing proliferated today,” says Lewis. “Once more people realize that, cannabinoids will become ubiquitous as a product and ingredient.”

FOR COLORADO’S FARMING COMMUNITIES, THE FUTURE IS NOW If — and realistically, it appears more to be a question of when — the general public embraces hemp oil, the fields surrounding small farming communities like La Junta, in Colorado and elsewhere, will increasingly be planted with hemp.

And when that day comes, if the recent past and present are any indicator, Colorado will likely be at the forefront of all aspects of the industry, from growing and extraction technology to applications and delivery methods, just as they are today. #hempmag 55

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Dr. Stuart Titus, in the downtown San Diego headquarters of HempMeds

interview

Titan

TITUS The man behind HempMeds discusses his company’s global expansion, his journey from the marijuana industry into the hemp industry and the truth behind the “hippies’ disappointment.”

PHOTO ROB FORSYTHE

By A . J. Herrington

THE SANTA FE DEPOT SITS at the edge of San Diego’s sunny downtown, near the shore, where the harbor is filled with sailboats.

Built in 1915, San Diego’s train station is rumored to have been constructed with concrete containing hemp fiber. Its Mission Revival Style architecture is a stark contrast to the 20-story office building towering across the street. But it’s a fitting neighbor, considering the top-floor suite of the office building I’m in is the home of Medical Marijuana Inc., a company that is building its brands with industrial hemp.

I’m early for my meeting with company CEO Dr. Stuart Titus, so I enjoy the view across the bay to Coronado from the glass-walled conference room while I wait. We’ve met before, and recognition

flashes in his eyes as he enters and greets me with a warm smile. I’m here to learn about the company and where it’s headed, directly from the man at the top.

HEMPMEDS HISTORY Early in our conversation, I asked Dr. Titus how he became involved in the business of cannabis as therapy — and how he found his way to the helm of one of the largest companies in the hemp industry. He explained that after 11 years as a bond trader and underwriter on Wall Street, he pursued a “180-degree transformation” in profession and began studying physical therapy and rehabilitation.

After earning a doctorate in physiotherapy, he opened a clinic in North Carolina.

#hempmag 57

HIS OWN SUPPLY About the same time, Dr. Titus contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite during a round of golf in North Carolina.

The malady had a dramatic effect on his health. Restless leg syndrome left him unable to sleep through the night, exacerbating the problem. Months of progressive decline and nerve damage left him desperate. “If there was assisted suicide in California, I would have hit that plunger on at least five, maybe six occasions.”

With HempMeds CBD capsules newly ready for market, Dr. Titus began a daily regimen of about 100 mg of cannabidiol daily. “Somehow, synergistically, I was in the right place at the right time,” he says.

The new therapy had a dramatically positive impact on his health and quality of life, he says. His body strengthened and regained its range of motion. The spasticity in his limbs calmed down. Forgetfulness was replaced by mental clarity. He’s now traveling the world, hiking and playing golf again, all while fulfilling his duties as a CEO. As we discuss the benefits of CBD that continue to be discovered and researched, it seems difficult to believe that not long ago, Dr. Titus had been experiencing frequent lapses of memory. His ability to recall details of medical studies including who conducted them, when and where they occurred, their findings and potential implications, is impressive.

58 thehempmag.com

Fields of CBD-rich hemp in Eastern Europe, grown for HempMeds

EXPANDING ABROAD Dr. Titus, of course, isn’t the only person who has found relief with HempMeds formulations. As time went on and the product offerings increased, more and more people saw their health improve with CBD. The most dramatic examples have come from families with epileptic children. Parents, whose children have found no relief with medications from pharmaceutical companies, are desperate for a remedy for frequent and terrifying seizures.

One of those parents is Penny Howard of Texas. Her daughter Harper, who passed away in 2016, suffered from a rare genetic condition known as CDLK5 epilepsy. As the disease progressed, Harper suffered up to 40 seizures daily and was left incommunicative.

Traditional medicines were ineffective.

After viewing Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN special “Weed,” Howard decided to try medical marijuana with Harper. With research, she settled on HempMeds Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO). In an article she wrote for the Huffington Post, Howard relates the profound effect RSHO had on Harper. “Within the first three days we had eye contact and verbalization sounds from her, an attempt to interact with us physically and she was now able to show us that she was with us mentally,” she wrote. “It wasn’t long before she went a day without a seizure! And then another day without a seizure!”

Howard channeled her excitement for Harper’s success into advocacy. She created a blog and Facebook page Hope for Harper, in order to connect with and support other families challenged by CDLK5. It didn’t take long for Brazilian Katiele Fischer, whose daughter Anny also suffered from the rare form of epilepsy, to take notice.

PHOTOS COURTESY CMW MEDIA

It didn’t take long for Dr. Titus to realize that many of the athletes he was treating were relying on a popular, but underground treatment. “I found by-and-large that all the contact [sport] players were using cannabis to control pain and inflammation and help with sleep,” he remembers. Intrigued, Dr. Titus followed his curiosity, attended a couple of medical marijuana symposiums and started his professional cannabis career.

Personal experience would come later.

Although he had left Wall Street, Dr. Titus kept tabs on the financial markets, with an eye out for new investment opportunities. In 2001, Dr. Titus and a group of other investors acquired Medical Marijuana Inc., a company founded by former marijuana smuggler and self-styled “King of Pot” Bruce Perlowin. At the time, it was a two-year-old startup exploring ways to monetize the creeping legality of cannabis in California and other states. The company did some consulting work, and toyed with operating medical dispensaries and delivery services.

But management decided that a publicly traded company ought not to handle a federally controlled substance, so new business models were sought out.

The company realized that, according to the 2004 case Hemp Industry Association v. DEA, the non-psychoactive parts of imported hemp seeds, stalks and stems were not subject to control under the Controlled Substances Act, and in 2011, Medical Marijuana Inc. launched their flagship subsidiary HempMeds, which sells therapeutic CBD oil derived from hemp.

By autumn of that year, the company’s first crop of CDB-rich hemp was being harvested in Europe, and export and import protocols were developed to transfer hemp extract paste to the United States. In 2012, HempMeds’ first product, a 25 mg CBD capsule, was ready for testing.

After learning of the Howards’ success with RSHO, Fischer asked relatives in the United States to order some from the HempMeds website, and then ship it to Brazil for Anny. Fearful that the package might be intercepted, the relatives hid the CBD oil in a stuffed animal, to increase the chance it would make it to its destination.

Just like Harper, Anny’s response to the RSHO was incredible.

So, when a subsequent shipment of RSHO was confiscated by Brazilian customs, Fischer took legal action. Wisely, the Fischers had documented Anny’s progress, including her dramatic reduction in seizures. When the family sued Brazilian drug-regulating authority ANVISA, the court swiftly ruled that it would be “inhumane” to deny Anny access to RSHO. Other sick Brazilians have followed their precedent and the government now allows use of RSHO for more than a dozen medical conditions with a prescription and import permit.

The success of parents like Penny Howard and Katiele Fischer has begun to snowball internationally. When Raúl Elizalde of Mexico tried CBD hemp oil for his epileptic daughter Grace, she too responded amazingly well. He also sued the government for permission to procure RSHO. Working with regulation authority

COFEPRIS, which was hesitant to approve a formulation with any THC, HempMeds created RSHO-X, a new formulation with no trace of the psychoactive cannabinoid. Other HempMeds products are produced with up to 0.3 percent THC, the legal limit for hemp-based products in the United States.

Raúl Elizalde is now the president of a new division of the Medical Marijuana Inc. corporate family, HempMeds Mexico, and his activism and passion continue. He recently traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to speak before a World Health Organization panel considering the future international regulation of CBD. He urged the body to allow CBD use as both a dietary supplement and as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals. In June, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto issued a decree legalizing medical marijuana — but only for cannabis with less than 1 percent THC. As people in more and more countries call for access to cannabis therapies, Medical Marijuana Inc. is in the midst of global expansion. The direct sales division, Kannaway, will be launching its multi-level marketing model to Europe in 2018. In the United States, Kannaway has a sales force of about 15,000 independent “brand ambassadors” that offer a full line of CBD products including skin care by Cannabis Beauty Defined.

“If there was assisted suicide in California, I would have hit that plunger on at least five, maybe six occasions.”

-Dr. Stuart Titus, CEO of HempMeds

#hempmag 59

Dr. Titus believes that CBD will remain popular, no matter if it is extracted from marijuana, hemp or hops.

Dr. Titus acknowledges that the international growth of HempMeds has its challenges. One of the most formidable barriers has been the differing regulatory climate encountered from country to country.

For the expansion of Kannaway into Europe, for example, many of the company’s ingestible products will be required to complete a registration process that includes evidence of safety and efficacy. Next year’s launch will begin with skin care and topical treatments, which are subject to less stringent rules. More products will be added as the time-consuming and costly registration continues. “We can go as fast as our funding allows us to go,” Dr. Titus explained.

PAST CONTROVERSIES, FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS

The management of Medical Marijuana Inc. have expressed a firm commitment to compliance with the case law established by HIA v.

DEA, which also poses challenges for the firm’s growth. Their CBD is currently sourced exclusively from stem, seed and stalk of hemp grown in seven European countries, extracted in Germany, and then exported to the United States as a thick, oily paste. The effect this costly process has on the retail price of the company’s offerings is evident when compared with the myriad of domestically grown hemp CBD products now available.

Dr. Titus says the 2014 Farm Bill only authorizes hemp agriculture for research purposes, and until commercial domestic farming is legalized, his corporation will continue to source CBD from European hemp. He believes despite the price disadvantage, the company can stay competitive by offering new and exclusive products, and investing in the research and development necessary to enter tightly regulated markets.

Competition and regulation haven’t been the only obstacles encountered by Medical Marijuana Inc. on its road to growth. In 2014, the advocacy non-profit Project CBD released a report entitled

60 thehempmag.com

“Hemp Oil Hustlers” that included allegations of tainted product making people, including infants, violently ill. The article also contained assertions that some of its business practices appear to resemble tactics of a “pump and dump,” a financial scam popularized in the film The Wolf of Wall Street. The report went on to say that “Kannaway appears to be a pyramid scheme.”

When asked about the Project CBD report, which he characterized as “full of inaccuracies,” Dr. Titus said he couldn’t say much, citing a pending $100 million libel lawsuit against Project CBD and the author. However, he was able to address, in general terms, some of the topics raised. All Medical Marijuana Inc. products, he asserts, are tested for safety at three stages in the manufacturing process.

As for Kannaway, Dr. Titus says that “we’re comfortable with our company meeting the definition of a non-pyramid.”

Dr. Titus also rejects claims of stock market shenanigans, pointing out that the major investors when the report came out three years ago are still shareholders. “With a pump and dump, of course, you have to have management selling shares. If management hasn’t sold shares, there’s no dump.”

Dr. Titus sees continued growth for the company in that future.

Forbes projects annual sales of products with CBD, once known as the “hippies’ disappointment” for its THC-mitigating effects, will hit a billion dollars by 2020. Dr. Titus sees his corporation poised for expansion, even with an uncertain regulatory environment. If, as most in the cannabis industry expect, legalization continues to spread, Medical Marijuana Inc. sees opportunity in therapeutic THC products. But even if progress is rolled back and hemp is no longer a viable option, Dr. Titus points out that CBD can be obtained from other plants, including hops and flax. Cannabinoid therapies, he assures me, are here to stay.

HEMP

Hemp fibers have been used all over the world for centuries to create textiles, footwear and clothing. Hemp’s durability makes these products perfect for everyday wear.

By HEMP Staff | Photos Dan Armstrong

Hemp Donner / astraldesigns.com / $100

1.

A more aggressive take on the token hemp slip-on of yesteryear, the Hemp Donner by Astral proves that the fibrous qualities of the hemp plant can be just as functional as they are appealing. Regardless of what many mainstream shoe companies think, the smaller kayak brand Astral knew well before they crafted the Donner that hemp can be used for both a hiking shoe and your typical Sunday lounger. Using hemp textile leads to a more functional, breathable, lightweight and overall happier sole. I fully praise their choice. Buyers beware — they fit a bit snug.

A HEMP HIKING SHOE?

#hempmag 63

2. Albert Cap / herschel.com / $34.99

Everyday Hempwear

A PORTLAND FAVORITE. The Albert cap has a low-profile 5-panel fit, along

with a breathable fast-drying hemp membrane sure to please any rainsoaked socialite. The backstrap is an adjustable nylon band with a plastic clip, making for a streamlined and snug closure. The 55 percent hemp, 45 percent cotton combo creates a gentle, non-abrasive and overall airy feel, making this lightweight comfortable hat a keeper.

2

1 Women’s Coralie / outdoorresearch.com / $37.50 3.

One of my favorite qualities of hemp is its ability to dry quickly. In fact, hemp can absorb up to 20 percent its own weight while still feeling dry to the touch. Being breathable and chic are just added bonuses to the myriad of qualities this plant bestows. It’s no wonder Outdoor Research has added a hemp line after being in the technical apparel business for over 30 years. Their Woman’s Coralie is a well-constructed, trendy addition to their line-up of quality attire and befits any day on the river, hiking in the woods or rocking that office chair just fine. This slim fit shirt packs light but wrinkles easily. After the hemp breaks in, however, the wrinkles should subside. The only downside of this shirt is that the fit is straight, and it might accomodate more body types with a tailored cut. The roll-up, tab-secured sleeves, however, are a nice edition when fishin’.

FOR THOSE BREEZIER RIVER DAYS.

3 4. Lo-Pro Vegan / saucony.com / $60 SUPER STYLISH, FULL OF COMFORT. Although the synthetic nylon tag under the tongue made us a bit skeptical as to what type of “hemp” was actually used in the construction of this women’s shoe, we can all agree on the idea of a healthier production process for the planet. With a canvas upper deck and sole made of recycled rubber, they win some planet points with us. The shoe remains vegan-friendly, as no animal by-products or leather ingredients were used in its construction.

47 thehempmag.com 64

PRODUCT PAGE. 2. Iron Forge

/ patagonia.com / $79

a new fabric’s in town.

The Iron Forge Hemp pant is an all-new line of fair-trade workwear from our innovative friends at Patagonia. With a mix of 55 percent industrial hemp, 27 percent recycled polyester and 18 percent organic cotton, these relaxed fit, tan dungarees will take a beating on the jobsite and feel just as stylish when a strong after-work cocktail’s in order. If you’ve ever owned a pair of Carhartts, you know how long it takes to break them in. With the Iron Forge pant, comfortability levels are at an alltime high right out of the box. Double thick canvas adds for extra strength in the knees while the pockets are large and in-charge with wide half circle openings in the rear. To top it off, you’re supporting a company who promotes ethical work practices and has publicly endorsed our nation’s national park system and public lands. A company willing to fight for national forests can deposit our hardearned money any day of the week for a pair of pants that will last a lifetime.

BACK OFF CARHARTT,

4

6 HEMP

5

SEND INFO ABOUT YOUR PRODUCTS TO EDITORIAL@THEHEMPMAG.COM IF YOU’D LIKE US TO TEST THEM OUT.

#hempmag 65

H AVE A H EART HEMP MILK A four-ingredient recipe for a hemp staple.

of your local market likely has an evergrowing selection of non-dairy milks. Between soy, almond, coconut, rice, cashew and hemp milk, there’s a wide variety of products that have different things going for them. For example, soy has almost as much protein as cow’s milk and rice milk is the most hypoallergenic.

But despite the benefits of other types of non-dairy milk, many of these milks also have drawbacks, and so hemp milk was the first variety that I deemed worthy enough to live in our house. Soy shouldn’t be consumed in large quanities, almond milk may be unsustainable and rice milk has very little protein. Hemp milk, however, stands out as the premium option.

Hemp milk is as easy to make as it is healthy. You can use it in baked treats, soups, smoothies or simply drink it alongside a meal. The milk is made from whole or hulled seeds (hemp hearts) – a superfood high in amino acids with enough omega-3 fatty acids required for a day and contains no soy, cholesterol, gluten, dairy or saturated fat. My recipe for hemp milk also adds agave and vanilla, though some folks enjoy the taste with no added flavorings.

Hemp milk is best when enjoyed just after blending, but will last for up to five days in the fridge. If you are not straining out the hemp seeds, blend or shake well before drinking.

As hemp comes from the cannabis sativa plant, people often ask me if they will get high from hemp milk. The hemp plant is bred to contain only trace amounts of THC, so you will feel no psychotropic effects from its seeds. You will get tremendous health benefits, but if you are looking to get buzzed, hemp milk will leave you unsatisfied. That said, there is nothing wrong with spinning a little canna-butter in the blender along with the seeds and milk if that’s the experience you’re looking for.

NOWA D AYS , T H E MILK SE CT ION

PHOTO BRUCE WOLF

By Laurie and Maryjane

He m p Milk Makes 8 half-cup servings

INGREDIENTS 1 cup hulled hemp seeds 4 cups water 2-3 teaspoons agave 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Process for three minutes.

2. Take a spoonful to taste for sweetness and thickness.

Add more water if it’s too thick for your desired consistency. Changing the water ratio is kind of like controlling the difference between heavy cream and skim milk.

3. Strain the milk if you want, though this is not required.

Refrigerate, shake and enjoy!

#hempmag 67

WO RD O N T H E STREET Hemp industry leaders currently have wallets, fields and storage bins that are either half-empty or half-full — depending on who you ask. B y HALF-EMPTY • “ We have seen the growing enthusiasm of farmers, and they are indeed planting low-THC varieties. But cannabis is cannabis. However low the THC concentration, massive plantations can increase the risk of drug abuse and lead to many social problems.”

– Yun Chunming, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, on China’s increasing illicit hemp industry

J u l i a C l a r k- R i d d e l l

NEUTRAL • “We just have to figure out a policy of how [industrial hemp] can be corralled in a way that it doesn’t get abused.”

– Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, in comments to Congress • “The Hemp Industries Association is strictly opposed to the attempts by a few pharmaceutical companies to make CBD a prescription-only drug.

The Hemp Industries Association asks that the FDA not privilege pharmaceutical company priorities at the expense of the U.S. domestic hemp agricultural sector and the cannabinoid nutraceutical industry worldwide in its recommendation to the World Health Organization regarding CBD.”

• “It’s the new normal: California, Nevada and Canada all take CBD away from hemp and give it to the marijuana side. That’s taking away 98 percent of the crop’s value, and it might mark the death-knell of Canadian hemp profitability in the world market.”

– Colleen Keahey, Hemp Industries Association Executive Director, in public comment submitted to the FDA

– American hemp consultant Richard Rose, on Canada’s potential new hemp licensing plans

• “For hemp to take its greater place in the agricultural landscape, it needs to be seen as a commodity. We’re very bullish about the food aspect of hemp. It’s right for an American farm to dominate that market, especially in the organic space.”

HALF-FULL

– Dan Dolgin, co-founder of JD Farms, in Bloomberg BELOW: Hemp being harvested at a farm in Springfield, Colo., in October 2013 — the first known harvest of industrial hemp in the U.S. since the 1950s.

• “Getting farmers to produce quality grain for us is not an issue. We have faith they can do it. We know they can do it. The issue is getting grain into markets and expanding the market. Some people see that as obstacles.

I see it as an opportunity.”

68 thehempmag.com

PHOTO P. SOLOMON BANDA

– Ken Anderson, president of seed company Legacy Hemp, after Wisconsin legalized hemp

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Smart content for your businesses is as essential as cannabis' many components. So reach out to Ricardo Baca and the Grasslands team if your marketing materials need a reboot— and mention this ad for a complimentary audit of your business' content presence.

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Forecast

H EL P US ANSWER: WHAT HEL P S S MAL L HEMP FA RMER S T HR I V E? we’re going back to our roots and focusing on the small farmer. We want to know what you think: What strategies are small hemp farmers using to remain competitive in the market? What regulations are placing undue burdens on small farmers?

What are the environmental benefits and detriments to working on the small scale? And most importantly, what brings small farmers together?

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE,

IF YOU HAVE A STORY YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE HEMP MAG, SEND AN EMAIL TO: EDITORIAL@THEHEMPMAG.COM!

UNTIL THEN, CHECK OUT OUR FIRST ISSUE OF HEMP. THE FIRST ISSUE IS AVAILABLE IN FULL ONLINE AT THEHEMPMAG.COM AND INCLUDES SUCH STORIES AS:

• INSIDE KENTUCKY’S REVIVING HEMP INDUSTRY BY DAVE CARPENTER

Last seen on farms during World War II, American hemp has come roaring back as highly therapeutic oil. Walk with us through the healing fields of Kentucky’s Atalo Holdings.

• SOUTH AFRICAN ACTIVISTS PUSH FOR HEMP BY NICK JAKSIC

When pondering the African continent, most Americans are probably more apt to envision landscapes of Saharan deserts and dense jungles rather than arable fields of hemp. But that perception is changing as countries like South Africa push for sensible legislation of the plant.

• HEMPCRETE HOMEBUILDING BY JIM WILLMOT

During a rainy North Carolina weekend, people from Florida to Washington State gathered in the Smoky Mountains to learn about building with hemp. Skeptics as well as true-believers in all things hemp emerged from the weekend with a shared understanding: industrial hemp-based building materials can be used to build affordable – and in many ways, more desirable – residential and commercial structures.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA We’re a new publication with room to grow, and we want to get to know you! Sometimes it feels like the hemp industry is scattered around the country with few avenues for connection, so until we meet you at the next conference or at the neighborhood farm supply shop, let’s meet up online!

Add us @hempmag on Instagram and Twitter and tag a post with #hempmag and we’ll follow you back.

Twitter: @hempmag Facebook: @hempmagazine Instagram: @hempmag 70 thehempmag.com

#hempmag 71

Hemp

“PROHIBITION... GOES BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF REASON IN THAT IT ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL A MAN’S APPETITE BY LEGISLATION AND MAKES A CRIME OUT OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT CRIMES... A PROHIBITION LAW STRIKES A BLOW AT THE VERY PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH OUR GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED.” — Abraham Lincoln 72 thehempmag.com

PHOTO ADAM KURTZ

H I N DS I G HT

Farm Symposium

PRESENTED BY

PRODUCED BY

Colorado Hemp Company

Get Tickets Now!

NoCoHempExpo.com