We, the undersigned, registered, qualified voters of California, residents of the country (or City and County) referenced on the signature page of this petition, hereby propose amendments of the Health and Safety Code, relating to cannabis, hemp, marijuana, and petition the Secretary of State to submit the same to the voters of California for their adoption or rejection at the next succeeding general election or at any special statewide election held prior to that general election or otherwise provided by law.
The proposed statutory amendments read as follows:
Cannabis Hemp Heritage Act of 2020
AN ACT TO AMEND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE OF CALIFORNIA:
I. Add Section 11362.4 to the Health and Safety Code of California, such laws and policies shall control any contrary laws and policies:
(a) No person, business, or corporate entity shall be arrested or prosecuted, be denied any right or privilege, nor be subject to any criminal or civil penalties for the possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution, use, or consumption of cannabis hemp marijuana, as provided in this Act, including:
(1) Cannabis hemp industrial products.
(2) Cannabis hemp medicinal preparations.
(3) Cannabis hemp nutritional products.
(4) Cannabis hemp euphoric use and products.
(b) Definition of terms:
(1) (A) The terms “cannabis hemp” and “cannabis hemp marijuana” mean the natural, non-genetically modified plant cannabis hemp, hemp, cannabis, marihuana, marijuana, cannabis sativa L, cannabis Americana, cannabis chinensis, cannabis indica, cannabis ruderalis, cannabis sativa, or any variety of cannabis, including any derivative, concentrate, extract, flower, leaf, particle, preparation, resin, root, salt, seed, stalk, stem, or any product thereof.
(B) The term “non-genetically modified plant” means a plant in which the genetic material has not been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
(2) The term “cannabis hemp industrial products” means natural cannabis hemp, and all products made from cannabis hemp that are not designed or intended for human consumption, including, but not limited to: clothing, building materials, paper, fiber, fuel, lubricants, plastics, paint, seed for cultivation, animal feeds, veterinary medicine, oil, or any other product that is not designed for internal human consumption; as well as cannabis hemp plants used for crop rotation, erosion control, pest control, weed control, or any other horticultural or environmental purposes, for example, the extraction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and toxic soil reclamation.
(3) The term “cannabis hemp medicinal preparations” means natural cannabis hemp, and all products made from cannabis hemp that are designed, intended, or used for human consumption for the treatment of any human disease or medical condition, for pain relief, or for any healing purpose, including but not limited to the treatment prevention, or relief of: Alzheimer’s and pre-Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, arthritis, asthma, cancer, cramps, epilepsy, glaucoma, lupus, migraine, multiple sclerosis, nausea, premenstrual syndrome, side effects of cancer chemotherapy, fibromyalgia, sickle cell anemia, spasticity, spinal injury, stress, easement of post-traumatic stress disorder, Tourette syndrome, immunodeficiency, wasting syndrome from AIDs or anorexia; use as an antibiotic, antibacterial, anti-viral, or anti-emetic; as a healing agent, or as an adjunct to any medical or herbal treatment. Mental conditions including, but not limited to bipolar, depression, attention deficit disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are also conditions considered for medical use.
(4) The term “cannabis hemp nutritional products” means natural cannabis hemp grown for consumption by humans and animals as food, including but not limited to: leaf, root, seed, seed protein, seed oil, essential fatty acids, seed cake, dietary fiber, or any preparation or extract thereof.
(5) The term “cannabis hemp euphoric products” means natural cannabis hemp intended for consumption by people for personal, recreational, meditative, spiritual, religious, or other purposes, other than cannabis hemp industrial products, cannabis hemp medicinal preparations, or cannabis hemp nutritional products.
(6) The term “personal use” means the consumption of cannabis hemp by people 21 years of age or older for any relaxant, meditative, religious, spiritual, recreational, or other purposes other than sale.
(7) The term “commercial production” means the production of cannabis hemp products for sale or profit under the conditions of these provisions.
(c) Industrial cannabis hemp farmers, manufacturers, processors, distributors, medicinal collectives, and retailers shall not be subject to any special zoning requirements, licensing fee, or tax that is excessive, discriminatory, or prohibitive.
(d) Cannabis hemp and cannabis hemp medicinal preparations are hereby reclassified and de-scheduled from California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Licensed physicians shall not be penalized for, nor restricted from approving or recommending cannabis hemp for medical purposes to any patient, regardless of age. No tax shall be applied to cannabis hemp medicinal preparations. Sufficient community outlets shall be allowed to provide reasonable and discreet access for patients. No recommending physician shall be subject to any professional licensing review or hearing as a result of recommending or approving the medical use of cannabis hemp
(e) Personal use of cannabis hemp euphoric products.
(1) No permit, license, or tax shall be required for the non-commercial cultivation, transportation, distribution, or consumption of cannabis hemp.
(2) No person shall be required to submit to testing for inactive and/or inert residual cannabis metabolites as a condition of any right or privilege including, employment or insurance, nor may the presence of such metabolites be considered in determining employment, other impairment, or intoxication. Testing for active (not metabolized) cannabis may be used and considered in determining employment, impairment, or intoxication. Cannabis users’ right to bear arms shall not be restricted.
(3) When a person falls within the conditions of these exceptions, the offense laws do not apply and only the exception laws apply.
(f) Commerce in cannabis hemp euphoric products shall be limited to adults, 21 years of age and older, and shall be regulated in a manner analogous, and no more onerous than California’s beer and wine model. For the purpose of distinguishing personal from commercial production, 99 flowering female plants and 12 pounds of dried, cured cannabis hemp flowers, but not leaf, produced per adult, 21 years of age and older, per year shall be presumed as being for personal use.
(g) The manufacture, marketing, distribution, or sales, between adults, of equipment or accessories designed to assist in the planting, cultivation, harvesting, curing, processing, packaging, storage, analysis, consumption, or transportation of cannabis hemp plants, industrial cannabis hemp products, cannabis hemp medicinal preparations, cannabis hemp nutritional products, cannabis hemp euphoric products, or any cannabis hemp product shall not be prohibited, except as provided in this Act.
(h) No California law enforcement personnel, State or local employees of any kind, or funds shall be used to assist or aid and abet in the enforcement of Federal cannabis hemp marijuana laws involving acts that are hereby no longer illegal in the State of California.
(i) Any person who threatens the enjoyment of these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor. The maximum penalties and fines of a misdemeanor may be imposed.
II. Repeal, delete, and expunge any and all existing statutory laws that conflict with the provisions of this initiative.
I. Enactment of this initiative shall include: the case by case review for the purpose of sentence modifications, amnesty, immediate release from prison, jail, parole, and probation, and/or clearing, expunging, and deletion of all cannabis hemp marijuana criminal records for all persons currently charged with, or convicted of any non-violence cannabis hemp marijuana offenses included in, or modified by, this initiative, which are hereby no longer illegal and/or applicable in the State of California. People who fall within this category that triggered an original sentence are included within this provision.
2(a) Within 60 days of the passage of this Act, the Attorney General shall develop and distribute a one-page application, providing for the destruction of all cannabis hemp marijuana criminal records in California for any such offense invalidated by this Act. Such forms shall be distributed to district and city attorneys, made available at all police departments in the State, and made available electronically at https://www.courts.gov/forms.html to persons hereby affected. Upon filing such form with any Superior Court and a payment of a fee of $10.00, the Court shall liberally construe these provisions to benefit the defendant in furtherance of the amnesty and the dismissal provision of this section. Upon the Court’s ruling under this provision the arrest record shall be set aside and be destroyed. Such persons may then truthfully state that they have never been arrested or convicted of any cannabis hemp marijuana related offense which is hereby no longer illegal in the State of California. This shall be deemed to be a finding of factual innocence under California Penal Code Section 851.8 et seq.
III. Within 6 months of the passage of this Act, the legislature is required upon thorough investigation, to enact legislation using reasonable standards, which are compatible with the provisions of this Act to:
1. License concessionary establishments to distribute cannabis hemp euphoric products in a manner analogous to California’s beer and wine industry mode. Sufficient community outlets shall be licensed to provide reasonable commercial access to persons of legal age, so as to discourage and prevent the misuse of, and illicit traffic in, such products. Any license or permit fee required by the State for commercial production, distribution, or use shall not exceed $1,000.00. Regulation, penalties, and enforcement shall be in a manner analogous to, and no more onerous than, California’s beer and wine model.
2. Place an excise tax on commercial sale of cannabis hemp euphoric products, analogous to California’s beer and wine model, so long as no excise tax or combination of excise taxes shall exceed 10% of the retail price of the products. Fifty percent of the excise tax revenues collected shall be made available for the research, development and promotion of industrial, nutritional, and medicinal hemp industries in California.
3. Determine an acceptable and uniform standard of impairment based on scientifically acceptable performance testing, to restrict persons impaired by cannabis hemp euphoric products from operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery, or otherwise engaging in conduct that may affect public safety.
4. Regulate the personal use of cannabis hemp euphoric products in enclosed and/or restricted public places.
IV. Pursuant to the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the people of California hereby repudiate and challenge Federal cannabis hemp marijuana prohibitions that conflict with this Act.
V. Severability: If any provisions of this Act, or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid by any court, the remainder of this Act, to the extent it can be given effect, or the application of such provisions to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
VI. Construction: If any rival or conflicting initiative regulating any matter addressed by this Act receives the higher affirmative vote, then all non-conflicting parts shall become operative.
VII. Purpose of Act: This Act is an exercise of the police powers of the State for the protection of the safety, welfare, health, and peace of the people and the environment of the State, to protect the industrial and medicinal uses of cannabis hemp, to eliminate the unlicensed and unlawful cultivation, selling, and dispensing of cannabis hemp; and to encourage temperance in the consumption of cannabis hemp euphoric products. It is hereby declared that the subject matter of this Act involves, in the highest degree, the ecological, economic, social, and moral well-being and safety of the State and all of its people. All provisions of this Act shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of these purposes: To respect human rights, to promote tolerance, and to end cannabis hemp prohibition.
It’s true. Hemp is the next cash crop. However, before you buy a bag of seeds on the internet, locate a plot of land in sunny Florida, and toss seeds like Johnny Appleseed expecting money to grow out of the ground, first, do the research. I can’t stress enough how important it is to look before you leap; I recommend working with an association to act as a professional guide because navigating these waters will be no easy task.
Case in point, July 2019 is on record as the day merchant service providers threw the hemp industry a major-league curveball. The hemp industry had been on a winning streak and many newcomers to the business hadn’t lived through the bleakness of instant bank account closings, bad product, no product, or wire and revoked merchant privileges, but for those in the industry for any length of time, this was their normal. “I have experienced and heard stories of CFOs spending 60-70% of their time over the last three months completing applications for banking and merchant services,” said Christopher Martinez, Chairman and President of The Florida Hemp Council. The good news is some banks and merchant service providers realize the burgeoning opportunity and are lining the bases with new payment options.
Are your seeds Certified? Seeds are only certified to variety and not to levels of THC, or CBD because this data does not exist…yet. And for every state which has legalized hemp, it’ll take two to three years before a farm turns a significant profit. The growing farms in Florida will not be any different.
As we overcome these obstacles and swing for the fences, the next fastpitch is CBD processing. CBD extraction is the topic of conversation lately and there’s no doubt investment into CBD extraction is already happening in Florida. However, fiber production requires retting, degumming, and decortication. This fiber production technology is advanced in China but woefully neglected in the United States. We know big manufacturers have been sniffing around but until big money jumps into space we can expect it to move at a snail’s pace.
Rounding out the inning are the retailers, which legally must register with Florida to ensure they’re not selling unregistered or uncertified products, plus all organic labeling is accurate and consumer safety. It’s important that retailers request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for each product being sold in their stores from an accredited 3rd party laboratory. Per the FDA, CBD cannot medically cure or treat what ails you, so labels must not claim to do so. Consumers are learning anecdotally via social media and online how CBD, CBG, CBN, and the entourage effect can help with certain health conditions. If products go to a retailer, manufacturer, or another reseller, no health claims are allowed by law on the product label or marketing.
So, as a fledgling industry, where consumers can’t be told how to ingest the products, or how much product to administer, retailers must exercise caution over the watchful eye of law enforcement, manufacturers need clean extraction, and farmers need certified seeds, then how is our business going to grow from under the radar to $20 billion over the next five years? The answer is simpler than you’d suspect – consumers see firsthand that the products work for them and they spread the word. Retailers educate themselves by joining organizations such as the Florida Hemp Council, while manufacturers and farmers do what they have always done, meet consumer demand.
A federal financial agency released updated guidelines on banking in the hemp industry on Monday, following up on requests from multiple lawmakers to provide clarity on the issue.
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) said in its interim guidance that providing banking services to hemp businesses is allowable since the crop and its derivatives were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. The notice also emphasized the economic potential of hemp and the role credit unions can play as the industry continues to develop.
“Lawful hemp businesses provide exciting new opportunities for rural communities,” NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood said in a press release. “I believe today’s interim guidance keeps with the mission of the nation’s cooperative credit system to serve people who have been overlooked and underserved.”
“Many credit unions have a long and successful history of providing services to the agriculture sector,” he said. “My expectation is that credit unions will thoughtfully consider whether they are able to safely and properly serve lawfully operating hemp-related businesses within their fields of membership.”
In a letter sent to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) last month, which the presidential candidate’s Senate office shared exclusively with Marijuana Moment, Hood noted that NCUA was “working on possible future guidance to financial institutions”but that such guidance would be subject to change depending on what regulations the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ultimately develops.
In the meantime, the new interim guidance notes that “growth in hemp-related commerce could provide new economic opportunities for some communities, and will create a need for such businesses to be able to access capital and financial services” while clarifying that credit unions “may provide the customary range of financial services for business accounts, including loans, to lawfully operating hemp related businesses within their fields of membership.”
While NCUA said that it is “generally a credit union’s business decision as to the types of permissible services and accounts to offer,” it highlighted the need to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements, in particular:
—Credit unions need to maintain appropriate due diligence procedures for hemp-related accounts and comply with BSA and AML requirements to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for any activity that appears to involve potential money laundering or illegal or suspicious activity. It is the NCUA’s understanding that SARs are not required to be filed for the activity of hemp-related businesses operating lawfully, provided the activity is not unusual for that business. Credit unions need to remain alert to any indication an account owner is involved in illicit activity or engaging in activity that is unusual for the business.
—If a credit union serves hemp-related businesses lawfully operating under the 2014 Farm Bill pilot provisions, it is essential the credit union knows the state’s laws, regulations, and agreements under which each member that is a hemp-related business operates. For example, a credit union needs to know how to verify the member is part of the pilot program. Credit unions also need to know how to adapt their ongoing due diligence and reporting approaches to any risks specific to participants in the pilot program.
—When deciding whether to serve hemp-related businesses that may already be able to operate lawfully–those not dependent on the forthcoming USDA regulations and guidelines for hemp production–the credit union needs to first be familiar with any other federal and state laws and regulations that prohibit, restrict, or otherwise govern these businesses and their activity. For example, a credit union needs to know if the business and the product(s) is lawful under federal and state law, and any relevant restrictions or requirements under which the business must operate.
“Hemp provides new opportunities for communities with an economic base involving agriculture,” the notice states. “The NCUA encourages credit unions to thoughtfully consider whether they are able to safely and properly serve lawfully operating hemp-related businesses within their fields of membership.”
After USDA releases its rules for the hemp industry, which are expected to come ahead of the 2020 planting season, NCUA said it “will issue additional guidance on this subject.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who like Bennet has also pressured federal regulators to clear up confusion around hemp banking, took credit for NCUA’s response and celebrated the new guidance.
“I’m delighted to hear the NCUA has answered my call on behalf of Kentuckians to ensure the legal hemp industry can access much-needed financial services,” McConnell said in a press release. “Although President Trump signed into law my initiative last year to remove hemp from the federal list of controlled substances, many of my constituents have told me about their difficulty receiving loans and other services that are necessary to successfully run a hemp business.”
“Through this guidance by the NCUA, I look forward to more hemp farmers, processors and manufacturers starting or growing their operations with the help of Kentucky’s credit unions,” he said. “As Senate Majority Leader, I’ll continue advocating for Kentucky’s priorities throughout the federal government, and I’m proud of today’s positive news.”
Credit unions have generally been friendlier to the marijuana and hemp industries than have conventional banks, and NCUA has similarly taken a more proactive role in evolving to meet the demands of these burgeoning markets.
For example, the agency’s head clarified earlier this month that credit unions wouldn’t be punished simply for serving hemp businesses so long as they were following standard procedures. NCUA also released a draft rule in July that would allow people with past drug convictions to work at credit unions.
Cannabis banking issues have received significant congressional attention this session, with a bipartisan consensus emerging around creating a legislative fix so that hemp and marijuana businesses are able to access financial services.
The hemp industry in particular has enjoyed bipartisan support since the crop was legalized, but while marijuana remains a federally controlled substance, more lawmakers from across the aisle are expressing interest in affording cannabis businesses the same access in order to increase financial transparency and mitigate public safety risks associated with operating on a largely cash-only basis.
The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill in March that would protect banks that service marijuana businesses from being penalized by federal regulators, and the Senate Banking Committee also held a hearing on the issuelast month.
Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (I-ID), who suggested earlier this year that his panel wouldn’t convene to discuss the matter as long as cannabis is federally illegal, has since taken a stance that the issue needs to be resolved.
But while advocates hoped that legislation to address marijuana banking problems would be taken up by the full House ahead of the August recess, that window closed and attention is now turned to a potential hearing in the fall.
Even though many are moving toward CBD for its health benefits, the market is still crazy and confusing. Perhaps it’s time we all take a closer look at Hemp protein and Hemp seeds as the superfoods that they are. Discover the easy and logical way to give our body more balance nutrients from one source. Hemp is the power booster to reboot our bodies immune system engine! Btw – hemp smoothies are off the charts tasty with Hemp milk and your favorite fruits!
Hemp is made for human consumption which has become obvious just recently when we found out, in the last five years, we have an endocannabinoid system with receptors for cannabinoids! Who knew? We certainly didn’t know, and now, we do. Why wait to hemp up our endocannabinoid system when we have completely legal Hemp, Hemp proteins and Hemp seeds at our fingertips. *be sure to go with reputable companies for your products andread the ingredients!
These small, brown seeds are rich in protein, fiber, and healthful fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s. They have antioxidant effects and may reduce symptoms of numerous ailments, improving the health of the heart, skin, and joints.
Although hemp seeds come from the Cannabis sativa plant, they do not produce a mind-altering effect.
In this article from Medical News Today, we look at the various benefits of hemp as a superfood.
Nutritional benefits of hemp seeds
Protein
Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein, providing all nine essential amino acids.
Hemp seeds contain almost as much protein as soybeans. In every 30 grams (g) of seeds, or about 3 tablespoons, there are 9.46 g of protein.
These seeds are a complete source of protein, meaning that they provide all nine essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks for all proteins. The body cannot produce nine of these acids, so a person must absorb them through the diet. Relatively few plant-based foods are complete sources of protein, making hemp seeds a valuable addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Hemp seeds are especially rich in an amino acid called arginine, which has benefits for heart health.
Hemp contains an extensive list of naturally occurring vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and E. Also present are B complex vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin. Hemp further contains vitamins that are not sufficiently present in most modern diets, like beta carotene, helping users gain the nutrients they need to maintain health. Hemp is likewise a source of minerals like zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium.
Protein in your diet is essential in the receiving of amino acids, but it’s important that we obtain protein from the right sources. Eating even small amounts of red meat has been warned against by health officials. Instead, essential amino acids can be obtained through plant sources like hemp, which contains all 20 amino acids – including the 9 essential amino acids our body can’t make on its own.
The one fat you can never get enough of is Omega 3, but modern diets typically use other, less healthy fats. While both Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are essential to human health, they should ideally be consumed at a close ratio of around 3:1. Eating the right kind of Omega 6 fatty acids, like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a plant-based Omega 6 fatty acid found in hemp at the 3:1 ratio suggested, can reduce the negative effects of high-fat diets.
The shelled seeds of the hemp plant contain about 35 percent essential fatty acids and 33 percent plant protein. They are also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. These high levels of protein, fiber, and healthy omega fatty acids mean that using hemp foods can benefit you by helping aid proper digestion and promoting healthy eating patterns, which may lead to weight loss.
Hemp seeds contain an impressive array of vitamins and minerals and are especially rich. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon or 30 grams of hemp seeds contains:
166 calories
9.47 g of protein
14.62 g of fat
2.6 g of carbohydrates (including 1.2 g of fiber and 0.45 g of sugar)
21 mg of calcium
2.38 mg of iron
210 mg of magnesium
495 mg of phosphorus
360 mg of potassium
2.97 mg of zinc
Healthy Benefits
Protect the brain
The CBD compound found in hemp seeds may help with neurological conditions.
A study published in the journal Food Chemistry found that hemp seed extract has antioxidant effects in lab tests. These effects may result from the seeds’ cannabidiol (CBD) content.
Results of a review from 2018 suggest that CBD and other compounds in the seeds may have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, effects and may also help to regulate the immune system.
The review suggests that, because of these potential properties, CBD may help with neurological conditions, including:
The medical community believes that omega-3 fatty acids improve the health of the heart and reduce the risk of issues such as arrhythmias and heart disease.
Hemp seeds contain high levels of omega-3s and a healthful ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.
The seeds also contain high levels of arginine, an amino acid that turns into nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is essential for artery and vein dilation, and it helps keep blood vessel walls smooth and elastic.
Lowering blood pressure, eating a healthful diet, and participating in varied forms of exercise may help to decrease the risk of heart failure.
Reduce inflammation
The amount of omega-3s in hemp seeds and the seeds’ healthful omega-3 to omega-6 ratio can together help to reduce inflammation.
In addition, hemp seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid which may also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Some studies on animals suggest that GLA can act as a potent anti-inflammatory. However, recent studies in humans suggest that the acid is not always effective.
A review in The European Journal of Pharmacology states that humans process GLA in a very complicated way, which may explain why the studies in humans produce more varied results than those on animals.
When looking at these studies, it is important to note that researchers usually use high concentrations of hemp seed extracts and that eating the seeds may produce less dramatic effects.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) and acne can both result from chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory compounds in hemp seeds may help.
Among other possible dietary causes, acne may be linked to a deficiency in omega-3s. The high omega-3 content in hemp seeds may help to manage and reduce acne symptoms.
A 2018 review explored the effects of dietary changes on skin diseases. While the authors found evidence that eating more omega-3s may improve symptoms of acne, determining the extent of the effects will require more research.
The authors also note that prebiotics and plant fibers may help to manage symptoms of AD. Hemp seeds are a rich source of plant fiber.
Relieve rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. It causes the immune system to attack its own tissues, which leads to inflammation in the joints.
In 2014, research conducted in human cells suggested that hemp seed oil could have anti-rheumatic effects.
However, a 2018 review found a lack of conclusive evidence to suggest that cannabinoids could effectively treat rheumatic diseases. The authors noted that more research is needed.
Note from the Publisher, darlene mea:
Why wait for healthy? If it is our intent to get back to healthy, Hemp seeds and Hemp Protein is a powerful way to re-boot our engine! Let me know how it goes?
In 2017, the Nevada Department of Agriculture issued 26 permit for hemp growers as a research program. In 2018, hemp was removed from the Schedule 1 federal drug list, and turned into an agricultural commodity. Now there are more than 200 hemp grower in the silver state.
In 2017, the Nevada Department of Agriculture issued 26 permit for hemp growers as a research program. In 2018, hemp was removed from the Schedule 1 federal drug list, and turned into an agricultural commodity. Now there are more than 200 hemp grower in the silver state.
Don Blunt is one of the more than 200 farmers growing hemp this season, and it’s his first since joining the industry. They’re about seven to eight weeks away from their first harvest, but right now they’re making space to grow more next year.
“We’re going to clear another 50 acres next year, We have a 50-acre farm this year and it’s doing quite well,” Blunt says. “We have about 110 thousand plants, and the growing cycle is 120 days and we’re about halfway there.”
Blunt opened his farm in March and planted his first hemp plants in June. He decided to start a hemp farm after CBD cured his migraines. He had gone to neurologists at the Mayo Clinic and Stanford and nothing worked prior.
“That was about a little less than a year ago,” Blunt says. “And I’m headache free now I lost all of my migraines because of the CBD.”
There’s demand for industrial hemp products like rope, but Blunt plans to sell all of his hemp for CBD use. He likes the medicinal effects, and likes the variety of products.
“Tinctures, the vapes, the balms, the rubs for arthritis and so forth,” Blunt says. “We’ve had several inquiries for cancer treatments for the pain. Pets is a huge market. We give all of our pets CBD.”
In order for hemp to be legally sold by farmers, it has to be tested for THC, and can’t have more than .03 percent of THC. Blunt says that’s not hard to meet if you buy quality product.
“It’s all about the genetics,” Blunt says. “If you buy good seeds from the proper people. We actually do third-party testing with three different labs in three different states.”
Blunt says he could add more acreage down the line. He hopes as the industry grows and more states recognize cannabis and hemp as useful products, banks will be more open to doing business with them.
“They have kind of grown in their horns so to speak,” Blunt says. “They’re not supporting hemp at this time. And I hope that changes because it makes it tough on us farmers.”
Blunt has six full-time employees, and adds about 30 workers when it’s time to harvest because there’s so much extra work.
