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Illinois universities can legally grow industrial hemp now, but it may be a while before seeds are planted.
A new law, effective Jan. 1, allows state institutions with four-year agriculture degrees to research hemp with a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Two of the four eligible schools have expressed interest – the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University.
Rob Rhykerd, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State, said research at the school would focus on production and increasing fiber content in the plant. After that, it would be up to agricultural industries in Illinois to take the research and pursue hemp production.
"It probably wouldn't happen this growing season, but conversations will continue," Rhykerd said.
Hemp's close association with marijuana has been a roadblock for advocates. Hemp and marijuana are separate parts of the same species of the cannabis plant. The marijuana portions include the flowering tops or buds, the leaves and the resin. The rest of the plant – stalks and seeds – is considered hemp. Industrial hemp has less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the psychoactive chemical that gives marijuana users a "high." The THC level in pot averaged 15 percent in 2012, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Studies show hemp fibers can be used in the manufacture of hundreds of products, ranging from paper to carpeting and clothing. The seeds can be used to make personal care products, and the crop has potential as a biofuel and could aid crop rotations.
Peoria native Eric Pollitt, who runs Global Hemp Inc., a hemp product reseller and industrial hemp advocacy organization, has been pushing to open the hemp market for years.
Pollitt works with Luke Haverhals, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Bradley University, and Brent Tisserat, a researcher for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to find natural ways to make building materials.
Although Bradley University isn't one of the four schools eligible to produce industrial hemp, Haverhals said he thinks Bradley could partner with a university to do research. Currently the researchers use processed hemp imported from outside the U.S.
Haverhals and Tisserat are working on several production methods, one of which combines hemp fiber, sawdust, cotton and a recyclable solvent to replace polypropylene – a type of plastic widely used to make car parts and other everyday materials. Haverhals said if hemp could be grown and processed locally, it could be used to make paper, building materials and much more.
"We wouldn't have to cut down a forest in Washington and transport plywood to the Midwest," Haverhals said.
A changing political climate combined with a 2014 federal measure opened the door for industrial hemp in Illinois. The Illinois legislation mirrors a section of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which gave federal permission to states to grow hemp for research.
State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, said he decided to sponsor Illinois' bill after hearing from advocates. The General Assembly passed an industrial hemp bill in 1999 and 2000, but former Gov. George Ryan vetoed the legislation each time.
Illinois is one of 19 states with laws allowing industrial hemp production and one of 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Dan Linn, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said some hemp advocates are trying to separate themselves from the legalization of marijuana because of cultural stereotypes both groups face.
Farmers in the U.S. can't legally grow hemp because it's classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD and ecstasy – all considered to have no medical use in the U.S. The Controlled Substances Act does not distinguish between hemp and marijuana. The Agricultural Act of 2014 exempted hemp research from the Controlled Substances Act but not hemp use for commercial purposes.
In Kentucky – a state Pollitt classified as a leader in industrial hemp studies – universities worked together at campus farms in 2014.
David Williams, professor of agriculture at the University of Kentucky, said the studies focused on finding the best variety of hemp to grow in Kentucky's climate. He said the biggest success was getting through all of the necessary legal protocol.
Kentucky moved quickly to start research at its universities because industrial hemp is in sync with the school's agricultural mission. Williams expects UK to continue the program this year.
Illinois is taking a slower approach. Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University, the other two universities eligible to pursue research in Illinois, don't have plans for industrial hemp any time soon, according to university spokeswomen.
U. of I. doesn't have a specific proposal, but professor Trudy Kriven thinks it's important to undertake this research. Kriven, an affiliate professor of mechanical science and engineering who works on ceramics and sustainability, studies hemp for its fiber use, and said she thinks the university will move full-speed ahead on the program.
News Moderator: 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New law allows Illinois universities to conduct hemp research - Chicago Tribune
Author: Lexy Gross
Contact: lgross@tribune.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago Tribune: Chicago breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic - Chicago Tribune
A new law, effective Jan. 1, allows state institutions with four-year agriculture degrees to research hemp with a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Two of the four eligible schools have expressed interest – the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University.
Rob Rhykerd, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State, said research at the school would focus on production and increasing fiber content in the plant. After that, it would be up to agricultural industries in Illinois to take the research and pursue hemp production.
"It probably wouldn't happen this growing season, but conversations will continue," Rhykerd said.
Hemp's close association with marijuana has been a roadblock for advocates. Hemp and marijuana are separate parts of the same species of the cannabis plant. The marijuana portions include the flowering tops or buds, the leaves and the resin. The rest of the plant – stalks and seeds – is considered hemp. Industrial hemp has less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the psychoactive chemical that gives marijuana users a "high." The THC level in pot averaged 15 percent in 2012, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Studies show hemp fibers can be used in the manufacture of hundreds of products, ranging from paper to carpeting and clothing. The seeds can be used to make personal care products, and the crop has potential as a biofuel and could aid crop rotations.
Peoria native Eric Pollitt, who runs Global Hemp Inc., a hemp product reseller and industrial hemp advocacy organization, has been pushing to open the hemp market for years.
Pollitt works with Luke Haverhals, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Bradley University, and Brent Tisserat, a researcher for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to find natural ways to make building materials.
Although Bradley University isn't one of the four schools eligible to produce industrial hemp, Haverhals said he thinks Bradley could partner with a university to do research. Currently the researchers use processed hemp imported from outside the U.S.
Haverhals and Tisserat are working on several production methods, one of which combines hemp fiber, sawdust, cotton and a recyclable solvent to replace polypropylene – a type of plastic widely used to make car parts and other everyday materials. Haverhals said if hemp could be grown and processed locally, it could be used to make paper, building materials and much more.
"We wouldn't have to cut down a forest in Washington and transport plywood to the Midwest," Haverhals said.
A changing political climate combined with a 2014 federal measure opened the door for industrial hemp in Illinois. The Illinois legislation mirrors a section of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which gave federal permission to states to grow hemp for research.
State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, said he decided to sponsor Illinois' bill after hearing from advocates. The General Assembly passed an industrial hemp bill in 1999 and 2000, but former Gov. George Ryan vetoed the legislation each time.
Illinois is one of 19 states with laws allowing industrial hemp production and one of 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Dan Linn, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said some hemp advocates are trying to separate themselves from the legalization of marijuana because of cultural stereotypes both groups face.
Farmers in the U.S. can't legally grow hemp because it's classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD and ecstasy – all considered to have no medical use in the U.S. The Controlled Substances Act does not distinguish between hemp and marijuana. The Agricultural Act of 2014 exempted hemp research from the Controlled Substances Act but not hemp use for commercial purposes.
In Kentucky – a state Pollitt classified as a leader in industrial hemp studies – universities worked together at campus farms in 2014.
David Williams, professor of agriculture at the University of Kentucky, said the studies focused on finding the best variety of hemp to grow in Kentucky's climate. He said the biggest success was getting through all of the necessary legal protocol.
Kentucky moved quickly to start research at its universities because industrial hemp is in sync with the school's agricultural mission. Williams expects UK to continue the program this year.
Illinois is taking a slower approach. Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University, the other two universities eligible to pursue research in Illinois, don't have plans for industrial hemp any time soon, according to university spokeswomen.
U. of I. doesn't have a specific proposal, but professor Trudy Kriven thinks it's important to undertake this research. Kriven, an affiliate professor of mechanical science and engineering who works on ceramics and sustainability, studies hemp for its fiber use, and said she thinks the university will move full-speed ahead on the program.
News Moderator: 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New law allows Illinois universities to conduct hemp research - Chicago Tribune
Author: Lexy Gross
Contact: lgross@tribune.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago Tribune: Chicago breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic - Chicago Tribune
