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.
This story originally appeared at ktvn.com
