Volume 2, Issue 8, January ISSN 1488-3988
© 2000 AHEM, ARTHUR HANKS.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial
Top of the Crop
Border Uncertainties Return as US DEA Makes New Recommendations to Customs
USDA Releases Market Report
Europe Changes Some Rules; Lowers Hemp and Flax Subsidies
Speakers Announced for Hemp 2000
CGP Makes Moves
Hemp Freeze Out
The HCFR interview: Cynthia Thielen and Dave West
A Discussion of Cannabis Cannabinoids -THC & CBD
Hemp Shorts
"Certified Organic" Nutiva's Hempseed Bar Available in Stores Nationwide
Breakfast with Hemp Plus
Hempola Shifts Headquarters to Huronia
Hemp Agro Cleared of Marijuana Charges
Carbohydrate Economy Email Bulletin is now available
Europe Changes Some Rules; Lowers Hemp and Flax Subsidies
Association News
NAIHC Conference Report
Upcoming Events
Montreal: January 31st-February 4th: Paperweek 2000
Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 29th and March 1st: HEMP 2000 Speaker Series & Trade Show
May 13th-14th, 2000: Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo
Marketplace
MASTHEAD:
Publisher: AHEM
Editor: Arthur Hanks arthurhanks@hotmail.com
Sales, Sponsorship, and Distribution:
Jason Freeman jfreeman@ssm.net
Associate Editor:
Dr. Alexander Sumach rheading@becon.org
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE:
Peter Dragla pdragla@kent.net, Tracey Hucul tracyh@pangea.ca , Mathhew Huijgen matthew@hempworld.com, David Marcus nathemp@interlog.com, John Roulac john@nutiva.com, Gordon Scheifele gscheife@omafra.gov.on.ca , Cynthia Thielen thielen@aloha.net, Dave West davewest@gametec.com
SUBMISSIONS: Submissions are most welcome. Please contact HCFR editor, Arthur Hanks, at arthurhanks@hotmail.com, with your story, research or information for inclusion in the HCFR. We are also looking for good quality pictures and photos.
Editorial
Fasten your seat belts, and hang on, we are entering some turbulence.
The Canadian and North American Hemp industry was shocked, but not dismayed, by the announcement in early January that the US border was once again closing to Canadian hemp food products while the DEA and ONDCP review their policy of hemp as a controlled substance. And while to The HCFR's knowledge, no shipments have been stopped, as of press time, hemp imports and exports will proceed prudently in 2000 under the threat of continued heavy weather.
The industry doesn't need this and the situation cannot continue. We are supposed to be creating and capturing markets, not fighting rear guard actions against urine tests to keep what has already been achieved. Certainly, there is lots of unfavourable news everywhere: a recent USDA report painted a less than rosy projection of hemp's market future (although discounting the effect of secure supply on market development). Similarly, the European Commission has recently come out with a statement painting hemp foods as undesirable as well. Even more bizarrely, a recent bill that passed at Capital Hill designed to control methamphetamines includes language that would make it a felony "to teach, demonstrate, or distribute any information pertaining to the manufacture of a controlled substance." That would mean that if you are reading this hemp journal online or printed out, somewhere south of the 49th parallel, one of us is breaking the law.
But there is good news. One upside to this political manoeuvring is the valuable PR hemp is receiving and the wider audience that is tuning in to this issue as a consequence. As well, the Canadian government is acting strongly; Ag Canada quickly tipped the industry off to the recent changes and Industry Canada is rightly concerned that trade issues are being confused with domestic drug control policies.
More? See Hawaii with a half acre of hemp in the ground, brandishing a hard-earned license issued by the same DEA. Listen to the nutritionists and dieticians who are beginning to recognise the powerful health benefits of hemp foods. Organic foods and fibres are gaining market share as consumers sicken of the toxic industries we created in the last millennium. Hemp has its place here. While more education is needed at this point to defeat the misidentification of hemp and fear of THC, and will continue to be a part of hemp's marketing mix for many years in the future, critical mass is being achieved. The hemp industry isn't going home and is not asking for a refund or for coupons. Something has to give.
The big problem is not that the US has issues surrounding cannabis. The big problem is not that the DEA wants to regulate the industry through some form of license system. The big problem is that the agency has not developed any framework to issue licenses, and are trying to put the entire industry on hold while they do so.
Here's a tip to the DEA: work with what Canada has already devised and take on the consultation of your counterparts in Health Canada. It took this country a half-decade to get here with stakeholder and government input. For free, to American taxpayers, we have a readily adaptable model of regulation. It's not to everyone's flavour, but it works. Now just get those crusty drug warriors out of our supermarkets and our kitchens and let's see what hemp can give to our society.
January 2000
Vancouver, Canada
arthurhanks@hotmail.com
jfreeman@ssm.net
THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE. PRINT THIS ISSUE OUT ON HEMP PAPER.
Have an opinion?: The HCFR invites commentary, opinions and letters to the editor. Feedback posted may be edited for brevity, grammar and content.
Top Of The Crop
1) Border Uncertainties Return as US DEA Makes New Recommendations to Customs
In a letter to customs dated December 30th, 1999, Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), requested Customs suspend the policy allowing for legal importation of sterilised hempseed and hempseed derived products containing any THC into the United States. This swift move overturns the guidelines, issued Dec. 7th, 1999 that expressly allowed products with a THC content of less than 0.3% to enter the US without a DEA license.
The suspension buys time for the ONDCP/DEA to " ... review the issue to determine whether the policy to allow for traces of THC in hemp products is consistent with their National Drug Control Strategy."
Governments and businesses, on both sides of the border, have been taken by surprise by this latest policy flip flop. The action has been questioned for its legality, for under US federal law, sterilised hempseed, hempseed oil and hempseed cake are legal products, as was made clear in the December documentation. It is unclear whether McCaffrey's office has the executive power to make this decision, without new legislation.
Currently, Canadian companies moving product to the US are being careful with shipping, keeping an eye on what products may be stopped. Sterilised whole seed, whose shells may contain detectable trace elements of THC, are the highest risk. As of press time, no seizures have been reported. However, there are no assurances; the market is becoming "seller beware".
Under NAFTA and the UN Single Convention Treaty on Narcotics, industrial hemp is considered as a legitimate agricultural commodity. All the G8 countries, except the US, produce and export industrial hemp. Lawsuits are being considered, if diplomatic entreaties prove fruitless.
For up-to-date information and breaking media coverage go to www.hempembargo.com
Canadian companies with market access questions should contact Ron Krystynak, Deputy Director for the US, Western Hemisphere, International Trade Policy Directorate, Industry Canada at (613) 759-7653.
A copy of the original memorandum can be obtained from US Customs by calling: Vera Adams, Director, Commercial Processing, at (202) 927-0360.
2) USDA Releases Market Report
A new USDA report, released on January 19th, Industrial Hemp in the United States: Status and Market Potential, discounts the prospects for hemp as an economically viable alternative crop for American farmers. The report holds that the US market for hemp is, and will likely remain, a small, thin market. As well, the study projects that the long term demand for hemp products is uncertain and notes that there is potential for oversupply (specifically pointing at Canada's 30,000+ acres in 1999).
The study notes that the issue of hemp cultivation remains controversial in the US because industrial hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species, Cannabis sativa, which is currently classified in the United States as a Schedule I controlled substance. The timing of this release corresponds with the renewed "Hemp Embargo" which is threatening Canadian hemp exports to the US.
Major objections presented within the study include:
Organic and Conventionally Grown Hemp Seed
Breeding, Production and Market Development
Fin 314: High Yielding Oilseed Hemp Variety
* Record Yield in '99: 2012 lbs/acre * Exceptional Oil Profile * Early Maturity/Easy Harvest *
3) Europe Changes Some Rules; Lowers Hemp and Flax Subsidies
The European Commission has proposed a change up in its subsidy regime for flax and hemp, reportedly designed to curb an explosion in production fuelled by farmers seeking EU aid payments.
Since 1995, the EU's aid for flax and hemp growers has grown from 70 million euros to nearly 160 million in 1999, despite limited sales outlets for much of the crop. Spain, in particular, has witnessed a huge jump in output (12,000 ha. in 1999) and has been fingerpointed as a case of subsidy-driven production.
The existing aid system fails to distinguish between high quality long-fibre flax, which is primarily used in the textile industry, and the lower quality short-fibre variety, mostly used in pulp making and as packing in furniture.
EU officials said the new proposals would cut the subsidy rate for both types, but at the same time introduce a processing aid purely for long-fibre flax.
The new regime is scheduled to come into effect from July 2000 and is estimated to cut aid payments by a third. Hemp aid will also be cut to the same level, which will also be comparable to that of linseed growers.
Under the new proposals the current THC threshold for hemp, set at 0.3% for crops in field, would be reset to 0.2%. Aid for hemp is currently set at EUR 662.8/ha while flax receives EUR 815.6/ha. The proposal also sets a maximum guaranteed quantity of 119,250 tonnes of short flax and hemp fibre per marketing year.
The recommendations also include a curious evaluation of hempseed: "Hempseed has one traditional but limited application as food for fish and birds. The oil from hempseed can be used for specialist cosmetics applications. The use of hempseed or the leafed parts of the plant for human consumption would, however, even in the absence of THC, contribute towards making the narcotic use of cannabis acceptable and, in any event, there is no nutritional justification for this. · None of these products should be encouraged in their own right by the European Community."
In this light, subsidy will be denied producers who are growing grain for use in human nutrition and cosmetics.
For more information and analysis on this issue, check out www.HempCyberFarm.com
Source: Commission of the European Communities, Financial Times (UK), HempCyberFarm.com, Reuters
4) Speakers Announced for Hemp 2000
Speakers have been announced for Hemp 2000 conference to be held Wednesday March 1st, 2000 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (see Upcoming Events for full conference details and schedule). This event is expected to be Canada's largest industrial hemp conference since the successful Hemp Farming and Equipment Show (October 1998).
Speakers include: Bruce Brolley (New Crop Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Food) , Wade Chute (Alberta Research Council), Guy Cloutier (Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association) Kevin Edberg (Minnesota Department of Agriculture), Neils Hansen-Trip (Health Canada), Gero Leson (Leson Environmental Consulting) Brian McElroy, (President, Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association) Jack Moes (The Great AgVenture), Roman Przybylski (University of Manitoba), Ron Tone (Tone Ag Consulting), Don Wirtshafter (Ohio Hempery Inc). Opening remarks will be made by Rosanne Wowchuk, Minister for Agriculture and Food.
5) CGP Makes Moves
After a few months of silence, CGP has unveiled some new faces in their executive and some of their future plans.
Henry Yard has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer.
Slavik Dushenkov, Executive VP of DEA and DEA-registered industrial hemp researcher, has pledged up to $250,000 for testing the effect of human consumption of regular hemp oil against standard marijuana abuse test results. Dr. Dushenkov directs the Company's collaborative biotechnology and seed breeding research & development programs at Rutgers University. His 20 years of research experience includes agricultural molecular biology, plant physiology and bio-remediation.
For the future, CGP has stated that they intend to produce a THC-free hempseed variety in the year 2002. CGP is also forecasting planting 70,000 acres in Western Canada in 2000.
Alan Cade, a Director of CGP, will manage the construction of the planned, integrated straw/fibre and seed processing facilities in Dauphin, Manitoba. Cade is Senior Vice President of Dugan & Associates ("Dugan"), a construction management company in Los Angeles, CA.
According to Dauphin Mayor, Bill Nicholson, the city's old curling rink will be converted into a temporary processing plant come February. Growers under contract with CGP through Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers are optimistic that this facility will proceed.
Construction on the Dauphin plant, originally planned to begin in the fall, was postponed after the Manitoba Securities Commission seized over $450,000 and launched an investigation into possible Securities Act violations. The MSC became involved after monies were raised in the community last April, with no prospectus or IPO registered.
In October, CGP applied for an order exempting certain trades from the MSC's registration and prospectus requirements. The securities commission granted the exemption in late November, citing that the public interest was at stake - CGP owed farmers their first payment that month.
Conditions of the exemption included that CGP had to give shareholders a chance to get their money back as well as securing $500,000 US in financing by the end of 1999.
sources: www.congrowpro.com , Winnipeg Sun
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ANALYSIS:
Hemp Freeze Out
By Dr. Alexander Sumach
1) The official United States view that industrial hemp is a cannabis derived product and therefore a Schedule 1 controlled substance provides a convenient stop play zero card to freeze hemp out of US markets until further notice.
This is continental industry, not Pokemon. The outcome of the game will determine the official fate of the entire modern New World industrial hemp initiative. Canadian hemp's recent listing on Americas' Most Wanted is not what we had in mind as an introduction. Canadian hemp arrives in America, setting off alarms in all the wrong places, somehow irritating our neighbours' watchdogs that bark at the delivery vans of Canadian hemp arriving in the modern American marketplace.
2) This sudden dumbing-down for hemp at the highest levels of policy making suggests that our great trading partner is a little behind schedule in implementing a tough new drug strategy and paving the toll road for hemp entering modern commerce.
3) Although Canadian law clearly distinguishes between varieties of the cannabis plant, the United States has not yet made a similar division between industrial hemp and recreational marijuana. When Canadian hemp arrived at their borders with all proper documents, US agencies were caught unprepared, and hemp arrived in their faces just as their ten year drug war funding platform was coming up for review. US federal drug market managers, facing the scorn of dope duty not done, elected to pull the THC zero card on hemp as a way to chill the industry's advance until after the presidential election. They have no interest in the business health of Schedule 1 substance producers.
This freeze conveniently stopped all play in the hemp arena and changed the game to houserules. Our advice remains "seller beware"
4) The American hard-line on hemp is likely a stall for time, as such door slamming serves no practical purpose in the War on Drugs. This Dragnet style delivery, presenting a first date gone wrong scenario may be little more than an in-house SOS to reduce the flow of hemp rolling across the border. This may have been done in order to keep the hemp harvest as low as possible for the time being. Hemp can be chained into position at high tide. The origins of this diplomatic vandalism aimed primarily at Canadian produced Industrial Hemp products has its origins in the July 29th, 1997 ONDCP Statement on Industrial Hemp (found at http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov, search for "hemp"). This official document concludes a study that discounts the potential of hemp referring to the emerging industry as merely " A novelty product with limited sustainable development values, even in a novelty market."
5) Hemp is regarded in this same report as an eco-swindle, a cover crop Trojan horse to advance the dishonest agenda of the legalisation of marijuana movement. This cynical overview insults the integrity of the Canadian government who thoroughly evaluated industrial hemp and saw fit to make it legal for Canadian farmers to grow under a comprehensive regulatory system. Other hemp-literate G8 nations were growing hemp as well and better off for it.
The same data that lead Canada to adopt responsible hemp culture has been discounted by American policy makers. Pro hemp information in modern America is ignored as invalid science; hemp market players are presumed guilty of pursuing an industrially insincere destiny. Hard words from friends next door with whom we share so many other good opportunities.
6) Deputy Director of Canada/US Agricultural trade Mr. Ron Krystynak referring to the US chill on Canadian hemp imports says, "this is an example of confusing drug policies with trade policies." However, nothing much is expected to happen until the US Counterdrug Technology Assessment Centre (CTAC) releases their requirements for tactical technological identification of THC at all ports of entry. They are in no hurry. Until such standards are operative, Canadian hemp imports into the USA might be frowned upon, and at the same time any domestic American hemp cultivation program discouraged.
7) The 1997 report does not exactly applaud the merits of hemp, and instead takes a suspicious view of the new industry. It goes on to cast their doubts in their negative assessment of the value of hemp, adding that " For every proposed use of Industrial hemp there already exists an available product, or raw material which is cheaper to manufacture and provides better market results"
8) The report estimates that the 1996 US hemp market was worth only $12,000,000; a much lower figure than industry estimates, nor does it offer any supportive data to qualify this lowball value. The report recommends that the modern hemp initiative in America be thwarted. The low estimated value of this bogus industry presented great difficulty in monitoring the crop from field to marketplace. In their view, hemp was simply not worth the trouble of enforcement for the drug war dollars spent. Rendering a Schedule 1 controlled substance legal for purposes indicated was clearly not a high priority at the time, considering the "anything -goes-till-the-Supreme-Court-says-otherwise" social style of their mighty nation when it comes to matters of balancing freedom and responsibility. The explanation given for this reluctance to accommodate hemp at that time is understandably cautious. Whatever, but the report goes on to say:
"Legalising hemp production (in the US) would send a confusing message of de facto (real life) legalisation of marijuana cultivation" ÷and then goes on to say÷ " The facts do not support hemp cultivation as a legally or economically viable option for US interests. ONDCP does not consider it prudent to change the current status of Cannabis sativa as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. "
9) Trickling behind the caution and countermeasures against hemp in the policy report was a most enlightening sentence that might be the crack where the light gets: "Certainly any new credible evidence should be given careful consideration." This will be the hemp industry's opportunity to show its integrity.
10) Even though this policy statement was released three years ago, just prior to the Canadian advance into the fully commercial hemp arena, most hemp industry insiders failed to recognise the aroma of disapproval towards all things cannabis from the Dope Hunters in Washington. Many US hemp industry players hoped it would not actually be adopted into US policy when the Canadian hemp crop arrived on the market. At that point, hemp would be able to pass any drug tests our US friends required. Surprise! Welcome to the new hemp casino and watch out for the wet paint signs.
11). We can clearly see that the success of the Canadian hemp initiative four years later produced results contrary to forecasts by the same US agencies that had damned hemp as a loser fraud crop going nowhere.
It went somewhere.
These same agencies are now bailing as fast as they can to keep up as leaders of drug eradication. While they place anti-drug commercials on the "Simpsons" show to reach target audiences (who are admittedly the least susceptible to this sort of message) to discourage demand for illicit substances. Saying hello to hemp and saying no to everything else would be a public relations nightmare. If Homer Simpson wouldn't do anything altruistic for hemp, why should the DEA? (editor's choice, check out How the U.S. secretly paid Hollywood to put anti-drug propaganda into some of America's most popular TV shows, by Daniel Forbes at www.salon.com )
12) Just in case hemp comes on like dandelions, US agencies are in the process of scrambling to put some sort of hemp review in place themselves. Several US federal agencies have been watching the emergence of industrial hemp since 1994.
How did they all miss the impact of hemp when everyone else saw it coming?
Perhaps they knew all along and missed an early window of opportunity to get on top of hemp. It's as if US Drug Agencies were NASA orbiting Mars negotiating a movie deal before actually landing. What's a little waiting when you own the clock when a Billion-dollar crop can be had by merely dealing out another policy card? And not every card says zero. One might even find a ready-made 0.3% card and away we go. Pass GO and keep out of jail. As always, Cool True Canadian Hemp can meet any reasonable THC ceiling and show the paperwork for purity. Zero may be a little harder to swing
13) This is not the hemp inquisition no matter how it is painted to be by the hemp-friendly media. It is a legitimate review of the safety and value of a rapidly emerging industrial hemp sector that was not expected to really make it this far.
Yet demand-reduction programs against hemp cannot really expect to shape a hempophobic future and any further chastisement will only serve to present hemp as a target for even more radical shopping and thus, ensure hemp as cool forever. Now that's marketing
14) There is movement towards installing a proper US permit system overseeing the distribution of hemp products circulating in America. Regulating a full free market American hemp cultivation program would be an enormous tactical and administrative task if zero tolerance standards are to remain in force.
Zero THC standards might make domestic American cultivation impossible, even behind razor wire.
15) Regulating hemp that should have died in its Canadian crib is not their sole concern. Noisy, low value modern hemp is a bug on their windshield while racing to install techno ultima drug sniffing gates at all ports of entry.
This ambitious drug wall project is way, way behind schedule and 2000 AD arrived without a full menu of services plugged in. All the state level clamour in support of local hemp initiatives are powerless to act until the US Federal law says otherwise
16) Counter narcotic technologies may well be fully operative, but strategy and personnel were clearly not yet in place nor are they prepared to monitor hemp and divide the food seed from the sowing seed, human cuisine or birdseed or the salad oil from the from bath oil. Hemp is an unwelcome hassle for US Drug Enforcement agencies to recognise right now, much the less deal effectively with. Low cost, decisive Blanket Prohibition is the operative mode once again
17) This sour embrace for hemp is suddenly very bad news for Canadian producers as we look ahead to spring sowing and wonder how our cool hemp will be welcomed when it arrives at US Customs with a clean bill of health and a purchase order to deliver same to an American address.
18) There are no special provisions to rescue industrial hemp and without decisive energy to carry hemp away from drug war target into a completely new direction, official US policy seems to be saying thanks but no thanks for hemp.
19) There will not likely be any relaxing of the present US position regarding hemp prohibition on the grounds that it is cannabis until some future president can iron it out and pull a federal domestic cultivation package together.
The next presidential election is coming up soon, and domestic American hemp cultivation may not exactly be viewed as a critical crop for US farm strategies, Industrial Hemp has many strong supporters but it is not welcome by everyone as a new crop in America right now.
But as we have seen, US hemp policy can change direction without apology.
20) Until then, hemp remains a thorny rose to handle as international hemp offerings on American markets face an orchestrated discouragement from US Federal agencies concerned that the dangers of allowing industrial hemp would be celebrated by youth and mistaken with approval of growing marijuana on many levels.
These agencies are not empowered to consider with any other standards for safe hemp when their own directives require zero THC. This is how Rumpelstiltskin operates. Assigning the impossible task of achieving zero THC seems a little over reaching to a responsible de facto Canadian hemp industry that manages to satisfy every other planetary sanitary requirement to grow and prepare our hemp.
Check out the comprehensive 1999 Canadian industrial hemp crop and market wrap-up prepared by the Hemp Futures Study Group in the forthcoming issue of the Journal the International Hemp Association - (back issues online at www.HempCyberFarm.com).Look for Dr. Sumachs' feature story "Canadian Hemp History- Part One" when you buy the latest issue of Hemp Times Magazine, an expanded version of the New World hemp history presentation to HIA in September.
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The HCFR Interview: Cynthia Thielen and David West
Time for some good news. Although some 20 states (and counting) have so far enacted some form of legislation or resolution regarding hemp in the last three years, Hawaii is the only one to have acquired a planting license from the DEA. Surrounded by a 12-foot-high fence and infrared surveillance, this humble sliver of land that was seeded in mid-December, 1999, is the first step in an agricultural experiment that will determine the feasibility of a hemp industry in Hawaii. The research project - funded through a $200,000 grant from hair care products company Alterna -will try to develop the most productive hemp plant for Hawaii's climate.
This email interview was conducted in January 2000 with Cynthia Thielen (CT), the state representative who spearheaded the project and David West (DW), the plant breeder heading the research.
HCFR: What is the level of support for industrial hemp in Hawaii, and who is giving it?
CT: Governor Benjamin Cayetano, the House of Representatives (including the Speaker of the House and leadership from both sides of the aisle), and the Director of the Department of Business & Economic Development.
HCFR: In your legislative efforts, how have you persuaded the undecided and dissuaded the naysayers and opposition?
CT: Presented the facts to them; showed them hemp samples (building materials, food products, car parts, clothing, cosmetics, etc.); gave them fact sheets on the difference between non-hallucinogenic industrial hemp and marijuana.
HCFR: On a political and economic level, what are the goals that you are looking for with the recently announced research project?
CT: Develop a new crop for Hawaii to take the place of sugar, which has died out.
HCFR: Is the DEA mood to industrial hemp changing? Could you comment on working with that agency?
CT: I only have good things to say about the professional way that DEA handled our application and processed it without delay. I believe that the DEA top officials clearly understand the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana. The problem is Barry McCaffrey in the Office of Drug Control Policy who thinks "industrial hemp is a drug" and "sends the wrong message". Unfortunately for him, today's youth know the difference, so McCaffrey loses credibility with them.
HCFR: What are the goals of this research project?
DW: Put seed in ground and collect germplasm.
HCFR: What cultivars are you using? What characteristics are you looking for in this project?
DW: Any & all. Life cycle patterns.
HCFR: What are the unique advantages that Hawaii could give to this project?
DW: Cynthia Thielen.
HCFR: What are some of the obstacles to the development of hemp in Hawaii?
CT: Barry McCaffrey. Once he steps out of the way and quits preventing America's farmers from growing industrial hemp, then the crop can be planted without putting it inside of a "hemp penitentiary."
DW: I have a fence around a quarter acre. It cost me about $30,000 to secure that quarter acre so I could plant hemp inside it. Obstacles?
HCFR: What facilities are lacking within the local economy? What infrastructure is available and adaptable?
CT: Our sugar mills can do the job, and some of these are sitting unused now, since sugar is dead in Hawaii.
DW: We're getting ahead of ourselves...
HCFR: Where is this going?
CT: The possibilities are endless. The car you drive now probably has hemp parts (replacing fibreglass). In addition to the 25,000 uses, a woman just wrote to me about a new one. She is using hemp meal in meatloaf as a binder instead of high cholesterol eggs. She said the flavour improved.
DW: The damnedest hemp garden you ever saw!
For more information about David West's extensive industrial hemp background and online archives check out www.gametec.com/hemp
A DISCUSSION ON CANNABIS CANNABINOIDS-THC & CBD
By Gordon Scheifele & Peter Dragla
Industrial hemp has reappeared into the North American agriculture scene after over 60 years of absence. The former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, Canada, Noble Villeneuve, described the reappearance of industrial hemp as an agricultural "Rip Van Winkle·He is waking up! It's time to wake up to industrial hemp and its potential within the agriculture and food industry"
As Rip Van Winkle woke up to a whole new generation in his village, so also industrial hemp in its renaissance in North America is facing an entire new age of THC paranoia, technology and markets where manual labour is no longer acceptable. Paranoia surrounding the perceived dangers of THC took industrial hemp out of the North American agriculture scene during the late 1930's. We are still fighting the war over the issues and politics of "are the Cannabinoids, especially THC, in Cannabis harmful or harmless narcotics?"
The Cannabis genus is the only known plant in the plant kingdom that produces Cannabinoids. The produced resin (psychoactive) is characterised in North America as marijuana and the plants producing it ö marijuana plants.
THC is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol; the major psychoactive chemical compound produced in high concentrations in marijuana (5-25%) and is found in varying levels (trace to 1%) in every industrial hemp variety. The European Community countries and Canada restrict the THC levels in cultivated industrial hemp varieties to less than 0.3% in the inflorescence at the time of 50% pollen shed and less than 10 ppm in hempseed and resulting oil products. The second Cannabinoid found in all Cannabis sativa plants is the non-psychoactive CBD called Cannabidiol. Research by Dr. Paul Mahlberg of the University of Indiana, has demonstrated that the level of THC in Cannabis is indirectly proportional to the level of CBD. Hemp varieties with low THC levels contain high levels of CBD. ( See Figure 1 "Cannabinoid Contents in Low delta-9 THC Cannabis Strains) and vice-versa ö varieties with high THC levels will contain low levels of CBD (see Figure 2 "Cannabinoid Contents in High delta-9 THC Cannabis Strains).
Both THC and CBD levels are highest in the floral leaves and bracts in the top of the inflorescence and decrease in successive lower nodes of pistillate plants. Marijuana has very high levels of THC but very low levels of CBD. CBD is often referred to as the "anti-marijuana compound" and is believed to block the effect of THC in the human nervous system. Hence raiders of low THC industrial hemp fields for a quick harvest of perceived "good stuff" to blend with the "real stuff" soon discover it does not work.
Figure 1
Figure 2
THC is part of a C21 chemical family called Cannabinoids, only found in Cannabis plants. These C21 compounds, which consist of the carboxylic acid analogs and transformed products, belong to the chemical class of natural terpenophenols. THC is soluble in water ö 2.8 mg/ml at 23 degrees C, with a boiling point at 200 degrees C and a molecular weight of 314.47. The presence of Cannabinoids is a dominant inherited genetic characteristic of the Cannabinaceae family. More than 300 Cannabinoid and related compounds have been reported as natural constituents of the Cannabis plant.
The glandular secretory system in Cannabis sativa consists of three types of capitate glandular hairs (bulbous, capitat-sessile and capitate stalked) distinguishable by their morphology, development and physiology. These glands occur together in greatest abundance and developmental complexity on the abaxial surface of the bracts. Bulbous and capitate-sessile glands are initiated on very young bract primordia and attain maturity during early stages of bract growth. The capitate stalked glands are initiated later in bract development and undergo development and maturation on medium to full sized bracts
On mature bracts (8-10 mm), capitate-stalked glands with tall multi-cellular stalks are scattered over most of the bract along with the mature capitate-sessile and bulbous glands. Capitate-stalked gland are usually absent along the bract margins.
The exudate of these glandular cells ö containing Cannabinoids, accumulates between the cuticle and the membranes of the cells. The exudate is a sticky, brown liquid, with a specific sharp smell. The glands ooze several volatile compounds such as terpenes, ketones and esters which produce the characteristic fragrant "marijuana" odour", very prominent in the proximity of any hemp field. The production and secretion of Cannabinoids in Cannabis plants is a hereditary genetic characteristic strongly influenced by environment. The highest concentration of secretory glands is found in young leaves and bracts, especially in inflorescence of pistillate plants during flowering.
The breeding of low THC industrial hemp varieties traditionally involves very labour intensive and costly screening of early generation breeding materials. This will be the first selection process in any breeding program. High THC types (>0.3%) are discarded and the remaining selections then under go further selection for fibre content, stalk yield, grain yield and quality. Since the bracts contain the highest levels of THC, testing is conducted on these organs at flowering time selected from the top internodes of the inflorescence. Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company has developed a fast and very inexpensive chemical process - the DG Test- able to screen thousands of samples in the field. It only takes 2 minutes to develop a reaction and make a reading. This DG test is very sensitive, efficient and inexpensive. Mr. Peter Dragla should be directly contacted for more information concerning this "quick test".
The biggest threat to a viable industrial hemp crop and industry in Canada and the United States is the education, legislative regulations and management of THC in production of the crop and resultant products for market.
Gordon Scheifele is the Northwestern Ontario Research Co-ordinator for Kemptville College/University of Guelph, and is currently working out of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Peter P. Dragla, M.Sc. P.Ag. is an Industrial Hemp Plant Breeder from Ridgetown College/University of Guelph and the Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company, Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
REFERENCES
Bosca, Ivan and M. Karus. 1998. The Cultivation of Hemp. Hemptech. Pg 59.
Hammond, C.T., P.G. Mahlberg. 1977. Morphogenesis of capitate glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa. American Journal of Botany. 64(8): 1023-1031.
Hammond, C.T., P.G. Mahlberg. 1978. Ultrastructural Development of Capitate Glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa. American Journal of Botany. 65(2): 140-151.
Hemphill, J.K., J.C. Turner, P.G. Mahlberg. 1980. Cannabinoid content of Individual Plant Organs from Different Geographical Strains of Cannabis sativa. Journal of Natural Products. 43(1).
Hemp Shorts
A) "Certified Organic" Hemp Products Introduced: Nutiva's Organic Hempseed Bar Available in Stores Nationwide
The Sebastopol-based hemp foods company Nutiva, has introduced The Original Organic Hempseed Bar. The bar's organic ingredients include sunflower seeds, honey, shelled hempseeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. It is certified organic by Quality Assurance International of San Diego, CA. Nutiva's new bar joins the growing number of certified organic hemp food products in the marketplace, such as Omega Nutrition's Hemp Seed Oil and Ruth's Hemp Foods.
"Nutiva is committed to creating a healthy future for our customers and our planet. Offering certified organic hemp bars, and other super-nutritious foods, is what Nutiva is all about, " says Nutiva founder and president, John Roulac, "It's also consistent with our companyÕs values-based policies, which include donating 1% of our sales to groups engaged in sustainable agriculture, and refusing to use genetically modified organism (GMO)ingredients."
Nutiva's line of hemp food products are sold nationwide in natural food stores including Whole Foods and Wild Oats. Hempseeds are a rich source of protein, vitamin E, and omega-3, and have a rich nutty flavor. Nutiva sources its organic hempseeds from Canada. The bars are manufactured by Ottawa's Honeybar.
Since its launch in 1999 Nutiva has sold well over 125,000 hemp bars, despite the fact that US Customs and the DEA blocked Nutiva's supply of hemp bars from August to December last year.
For more information, check out www.nutiva.com
B) Breakfast with Hemp Plus
One of North America's leading natural foods manufacturers has now entered the hemp foods market. Nature's Path, based out of Delta BC, and Blaine, Washington, has recently introduced its Hemp Plus cereal as part of its lines of boxed and bulk granolas.
According to David Neuman, VP of Sales and Marketing, sales of the hemp cereal have been outstanding and are becoming one of Nature's Path's top sellers. With the launch of the boxed brand, he is expecting the cereal to meet the demands of the marketplace.
"The retailers love it because it is "trendy", healthy, organic and tastes great, " says Neuman.
However, it's been a challenge getting the product on the shelves in some cases. According to President Arran Stephens, " Hemp Plus has been turned down in all the supermarkets, but is getting rave reviews in food co-ops and natural foods stores on both sides of the border. Supermarkets don't yet understand the concept."
Stephens emphasises that Nature's Path is committed to providing well packaged foods that taste good, that contribute to good health and that improve the health of the environment. Hemp Plus fits this mandate. "Hemp Plus contains 800 mg of omega fatty acids per serving, " he says, citing the health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol, of including omega fatty acids in the diet.
The company began looking at the product 6-8 months ago. Hemp Plus Granola's ingredients include organic oats, evaporated cane juice, canola oil, rice crisps, brown rice, evaporated cane juice, barley malt extract, sea salt, flax seed oat syrup solids and hempseed. Labelling on the packages asserts that there is no THC in the product.
The company hopes to have organic hempseed in the ingredients next year; this year, they used transitional grain supplied by Kenex. Hemp Plus waffles, under the Lifestream label, are also under development.
National distribution deals are pending with Whole Foods and Wild Oats.
" I think (market) opportunities are great, but education is needed to get the grocers," says Stephens. "They are very reluctant at this point. That will change."
"As long as people can purchase nice tasting products, that are nicely packaged and have nutritional benefits, then the skies the limit!"
For more information, check out www.naturespath.com
C) Hempola Shifts Headquarters to Huronia
Hempola has announced it will be setting up its hempseed operations in Barrie, Ontario. The recently completed purchase of 48 acres six kilometres north of Barrie, paves the way for the re-location of Canada's leading producer of hempseed food and oil products, Hempola Inc. The acreage, highly visible and easily accessible by an exit from Highway 400, has already been ploughed in preparation for next year's hemp planting. Work will commence shortly on the restoration and renovation of the hundred year old barn on the property. The renovated barn will house administration, oil presses and warehousing when re-location is completed next spring.
The new Hempola headquarters will also be a centre for crop research and new product development and plans are being made for the construction of an interpretive centre, juice bar/cafe and outlet store on the site, with the ultimate objective of becoming an important addition to Huronia's range of popular tourist attractions.
Hempola Inc. markets hempseed food and cold-pressed hempseed oil products through national distributors throughout Canada and the US and is North America's leading dedicated producer of hempseed derivative products. More information may be obtained on Hempola products by visiting www.hempola.com
D) Hemp Agro Cleared of Marijuana Charges
A Nicaraguan court of appeal has thrown out all charges against Paul Wylie. Wylie and seven other members of Hemp Agro International were charged with drug trafficking and drug cultivation charges after police, acting on advice from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, raided the company's 160-hectare hemp farm outside Managua, the country's capital, last December.
Wylie was released from a Nicaraguan jail in early January 1999 and is considering civil litigation. The crop in question was seized and destroyed by local authorities.
"In the face of adversity it takes great strength, it takes great resolve and determination. You understand yourself for better or worse, "says Wylie. " It is with that same determination that we at Hemp Agro will continue our work in the tropics as non traditional agriculture is the future for developing nations, specifically hemp."
For tracking Hemp Agro's future progress, check out www.hempagro.com
New! Carbohydrate Economy Email Bulletin is now available
The Carbohydrate Economy Bulletin reports on the growth of a new industry based on plant matter-derived industrial products, and on the growth of farmer-owned manufacturing enterprises. The Bulletin contains news on new technologies, policies, products and businesses involved in this rapidly emerging industrial sector.
This Bulletin is published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a 25 year old non profit research and educational organization that promotes economic development that minimizes environmental damage and maximizes the benefit to the host community.
To subscribe to this email newsletter, contact Jessica Nelson at jnelson@ilsr.org . For more in-depth coverage, subscribe to the Carbohydrate Economy print newsletter. Email emailing Katherine Mullen at kmullen@ilsr.org.
For more information on the carbohydrate economy, including access to ILSR's database of over 200 plant matter-based product manufacturers, news headlines, reports and events, visit the Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse web site at www.carbohydrateeconomy.org .
Association News
NAIHC Conference Report
By John Roulac
The North American Industrial Hemp Council (NAIHC) held its fourth annual conference and trade show in Rolling Meadows, IL, on November 4-6, 1999. The 140 attendees had the opportunity to hear various presentations on the hemp industry and to network. NAIHC's goal is to bring together a diverse group of farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, ecologists, industry stakeholders and government officials interested in recommercializing industrial hemp as a sustainable seed and fibre crop.
The opening presentation by former-CIA director, James Woolsey, focused on current hemp politics in the US. A panel provided updates on state activities including HI, ND, IL, VA and TN. While three individual US states have approved legislation to grow hemp, the US DEA has to date (Nov 99) not granted any licenses. Geof Kime with Hempline, Hugh McKee with Flaxcraft and Jean Laprise of Kenex spoke of the challenges to meet fibre quality standards as well as be cost competitive with competing raw material sources. William Miller with Miller Consulting provided an overview of markets on hemp building materials and the development of a non-toxic base natural resin for composites. Greg Herriot with Hempola gave an overview of the Canadian hemp industry while noting planting acreage increased six-fold from 1998 to 1999 season. The Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company has bred, Anka, the first Canadian cultivar with limited planting seed quantities available for sale in 2000 and mass quantities in 2001. Emmanuel Geoffroy with Geotex discussed the European industrial hemp sector. Mr. Geoffroy noted that while overall acreage had dropped off in Europe, France and Germany had seen increase's in total acres planted in their respective countries. Ruth Shamai with R&D Hemp talked about the potentials in hemp foods and Med Byrd highlighted the various technical and logistical challenges in making hemp paper.
Attendees were in an upbeat mood after learning at the show that Kenex had successfully shipped its first hempseed load in the US in over three months. Back on August 9, 1999, US Customs and DEA had seized a load of legal Canadian hempseed destined for a birdseed manufacturer. NAIHC announced its sponsorship of a analytical research study which will compare what quantities of hemp oil is required to ingest which can result in a positive drug test. Preliminary results are expected to be available in early 2000 with the final results to be published in a peer reviewed journal in mid-2000.
For more information on NAIHC, please visit www.naihc.org or email chair@naihc.org or call 608-258-0243.
John W. Roulac, is the founder and president of Hemptech and Nutiva, a leading manufacturer of hemp foods. John is also board secretary of the NAIHC. He can reached at john@nutiva.com or 707-823-2800.
Upcoming Events:
Montreal: January 31st-February 4th: Paperweek 2000
Palais des Congrès de Montreal. Annual meeting and convention with exhibition co-hosted by the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (CPPA) and the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTEC). Thousands of attendees from some forty countries will gather to discuss business conditions and learn about new technologies. The event will include CPPA Open Forums, the PAPTAC technical sessions with over 200 presentations, and the EXFOR products exposition.
Contacts: PAPTAC Annual Meeting Technical Program, Contact: Glen Black, Voice: 514-392-6967, Fax: 514-392-0369, email: gblack@paptac.ca
PAPTAC Annual Meeting Registration, Contact: Pascale Frappier, Voice: 514-392-6954, Fax: 514-392-0369, email: pfrappier@paptac.ca
EXFOR registration, Contact: Michèle Vézina, Voice: 514-392-6965, Fax: 514-392-0369, email: mvezina@paptac.ca
Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 29th and March 1st: HEMP 2000 Speaker Series & Trade Show The Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association will be hosting Hemp 2000 at the Ramada Marlborough Hotel, February 29th and March 1st in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Hemp 2000 Speaker Series and Trade Show will deliver factual information about producing, harvesting, processing & marketing industrial hemp in order to strengthen industry potential and growth. All private and public sectors with an interest in the hemp industry are encouraged to attend.
A reception on the evening of Feb 29th will feature a hemp auction; have hemp food samples provided by Fresh Hemp Foods and Hemp Beer provided by River City Brew Pub & Restaurant. The Body Shop will also be "on hand" providing samples and hand massages with their new Hemp Hand Protector Creme.
Agenda - Wednesday, March 1st
7:15 a.m. Continental breakfast, Registration, Trade Show open
8:00-8:20 Welcome Rosanne Wowchuk, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Role of the Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association Brian McElroy, President ö Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association (MIHA)
8:20-9:00 Hemp Food Products and Something Called THC, Gero Leson, Leson Consultants
9:00-9:30 Effect of Management on Seed and Oil Quality, Roman Przybylski, University of Manitoba
9:30-10:15 The Status of Industrial Hemp in the United States, Kevin Edberg, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
10:15-10:45 Refreshment Break
10:45-11:40 The Potential for Hemp in Paper and Forest Products, Wade Chute, Alberta Research Council
11:40-12:00 Health Canada Update, Neils Hansen-Trip, Health Canada
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-1:40 Cross Canada Checkup, Guy Cloutier, Director - MIHA
1:40-2:10 Selling Hemp Food Products in the United States, Don Wirtshafter, Ohio Hempery
2:10-2:40 Effect of Fertility on Hemp Grain Yield, Ron Tone, Tone Ag Consulting
2:40-3:00 Refreshment Break
3:00-3:30 Getting Quality Grain - Lessons Learned in 1999, Jack Moes, The Great AgVenture
3:30-4:00 Management Issues to Getting Hemp Off to a Good Start, Bruce Brolley, New Crop Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Food
4:00-4:15 Question & Answer Panel with afternoon speakers
4:15 Closing remarks
HEMP 2000 is organised by the Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association and sponsored by Manitoba Agriculture & Food and Agriculture & Agrifood Canada. Event Co-ordination provided by Blue Sky Business Services.
The Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association is a non-marketing agency whose mandate is to promote the development and sustained growth of the Manitoba hemp industry. The MIHA acts as a united voice to facilitate and support hemp production, processing, research, public awareness and education. The MIHA mission is to promote the use of industrial hemp as a commercial crop.
Please Note: HEMP 2000 deals exclusively with industrial hemp and does not promote or support recreational cannabis. All sponsors & exhibitors must agree to only display literature and/or products promoting the use of industrial hemp and not recreational cannabis. The MIHA reserves the right to remove any materials deemed unsuitable from the show.
Early bird tickets must be purchased by February 4th, 2000.
Contacts:
To receive an application to exhibit at the show or for more information please contact: Heather Daymond at 204-983-2994, or email daymondh@em.agr.ca
For up-to-date information on speakers & topics, call Bruce Brolley, Crop Diversification Section, Manitoba Agriculture & Food at 204-745-5667.
For interviews & media information contact: Shaun Crew at 204-275-7616
Or go to: www.pembinavalley.com/miha or www.pangea.ca/~hemp2000/
May 13th-14th, 2000: Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo
The Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo is gearing up for its third annual show, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California. Over 75 booths are available for vendors at the 2000 show, which includes a major expansion on Church Street in front of the venue.
The Hemp Expo has opened an office at 224 Walnut Avenue, Suite C in downtown Santa Cruz. The new phone number is (831) 466-0500. The new fax line is (831) 466-0510. A sub-lease through the Hub for Sustainable Transportation, the space is ideally located a block away from the Civic Auditorium.
Special Guest Wavy Gravy, AKA Hugh Romney, is living proof that the ideals and beliefs of a generation are being continued today. One of the 60's most colourful characters, Wavy Gravy is winner of the 1999 Creative Altruism Award presented by the Institute of Noetic Sciences, as well as numerous other recognitions of service, including the Arthur M. Sohcot Award for Dedicated Public Service.
The Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo provides a positive basis for public support of hemp reintroduction, with an open-to-the-public, trade-show based setting that is well organized and effectively promoted. Live music, a hemp fashion show, a hemp house, a hemp camp display, hemp foods and beverages, educational and historical exhibits, workshops, videos, speakers and panel discussions are featured.
"The 2000 Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo could be one of the most important events in the history of hemp reintroduction," says Tom Hemmer, Development Director.
Now established as the dominant trade show for the developing hemp industry, vendors and hemp reintroduction advocates are drawn from around the world to Santa Cruz.
For more information call the Hemp Expo's publicity voicemail at (831) 425-3003, or visit on the web at http://www.cruzexpo.com. For sponsor and vendor inquiries call (831) 466-0500.
HAVING AN INDUSTRIAL HEMP EVENT?
Contact Arthur Hanks, HCFR Editor, at arthurhanks@hotmail.com with details.
MARKETPLACE
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Construction Technologies has developed an environmental building system. The pre-start up company is developing technology to produce structural, insulating building materials for housing, offices and commercial projects. Hemp and other fibres are part of the high volume process. For further information please visit: members.home.net/lyfordg
Contact Geoffrey Lyford, Project Co-ordinator at lyfordg@home.com
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"Operation Ditchweed" Thanks to all HCRF readers who sent leads where to find wild hemp.Wonderful field work by many thoughtful people has produced some dazzling results fit for science and society, This valuable data has been passed on to the proper channels and all is cool. Let's have lots more please! This wild gene pool may be very important for future breeding of far north adaptable varieties. Each wild hemp location is different- we want them all to learn just how these diverse hemps thrive so well in such adverse conditions. If you know where authentic wild hemp grows, with all discretion please contact our civilian response team to arrange ripe seed collection . Every patch of ditchweed is a winner- Any more news or rumours of wild hemp in Quebec, Belleville, Trenton, the Kawarthas, islands of the Grand River is welcome. And no, we don't sell wild hempseed but yes, we will pay for the real thing. For more information about the autumn 2000 wild hempseed collection project contact Dr. Sumach, Hemp Futures Study Group, PO Box 1680, Niagara on the Lake Ontario, Canada, LOS IJO, 905 468 3928 rheading@becon.org or please leave an inquiry at the HFCR arthurhanks@hotmail.com
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Feed the world with a click of the mouse. Visit the Hunger Site at www.thehungersite.com
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Shedding light on all things cannabis: www.chrisconrad.com
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REACH A WIDE QUALIFIED AUDIENCE THROUGH ADVERTISING IN THE HCFR. Sponsorship and Supporting positions also available. Marketplace special! Have your link here for as low as $20 per issue. For more information, please email: jfreeman@ssm.net
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Get your website up and going already·
Online but not on the web? Need to give your non-profit group an Internet presence? Too busy to get around to setting up · still? ? Terry Lefebvre of Hemptrade is offering FREE web page hosting for industrial hemp-related sites, as well as layout, set up and administration for all sites at fairly reasonable rates. Contact Terry at hempmaster@hemptrade.com for more info.
SUPPORTING ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE:
Fibrex Québec Inc, info@fibrexcanada.com
Gen-X, genx@net1fx.com
BioHemp Ltd., jfreeman@biohemp.com
HempWorld Inc., matthew@HempWorld.com
Canterra Seeds, schafer@canterra.com
Greenman Nonwood Papermill, greenman@lynx.bc.ca
North American Industrial Hemp Council, chair@naihc.org
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DISTRIBUTION: The HCFR is available for free to interested parties only on the Internet. Direct subscription for this issue is 1,300+. We encourage associations working in the industry to circulate the HCFR to their members (note: we regret that we are temporarily discontinuing the *.txt mailout of the newsletter). Other non-profit use is encouraged.
THE HCFR ON THE WWW: Back issues of the HCFR are posted on the following industrial hemp websites: Natural Hemphasis, Hemptrade, Hemppages, Global Hemp and Hemp Cyberfarm. Check us out at:
www.hemphasis.com/hcfr
www.hemptrade.com/hcfr
www.hemppages.com
www.globalhemp.com/Media/Magazines/HCFR/
www.hempcyberfarm.com
Thanks to David Marcus, Terry Lefebvre, Mari Kane, Eric Pollit and Matthew Huijgen for their continuing good work on making needed information available.
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NEXT ISSUE: Issue will be out Feb. 27th: Ads will close Feb. 20th .
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© 1999-2000 AHEM, ARTHUR HANKS. INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR (S). NOT TO BE DUPLICATED FOR FINANCIAL OR PERSONAL GAIN. CONTACT US ABOUT REPRODUCTION RIGHTS.