District Explores Hemp Production

[Medical Marijuana]

Diversity is a key component in any economy and the District of 100 Mile House is exploring the cultivation of industrial hemp as a potential source of economic development.

The district recently hosted a meeting for potential growers where John Restakis from the BC Co-operative Association provided information to potential growers on the options, logistics and benefits of forming a co-operative to sell the hemp.

The 100 Mile hemp project is in its developmental stages with rather dismal results coming from attempts at growing the product by the Canim Lake Band and other farmers in 2006.

In 2007 those results were evaluated and various marketing and funding options have been explored.

In 2008 farmers will plant again using the lessons learned from the 2006 crop.

"We need 200 to 250 acres planted to get economically viable data, and we're still learning, it's something very new," said Jammi Kumar, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

He said there are about a dozen local individuals interested in this project for the 2008 planting.

Mayor Donna Barnett announced at the meeting that Howard McMillan has been hired for two months as a part-time co-ordinator to help producers complete necessary paperwork and search out funding to get the project off the ground.

Producers need a licence from Health Canada to grow hemp because of the plants relationship to marijuana but McMillan said there's no cost for the licence and the requirements are not onerous.

Producers must also register with the RCMP because the plant looks identical to marijuana, but it's sterile and contains very little tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ), the element that gives marijuana users a high. "You could smoke a whole field ( of hemp ) and not get high," McMillan said.

The plant has a myriad of uses. The seeds are reportedly very good nutritionally because of their essential fatty acids and amino acids.

Those seeds can also be turned into oil for salads, baking and cooking.

Hemp fibre can be used to make clothing and paper and can even be used to make car parts and building materials.

Researchers are looking at hemp as a biomass fuel and for animal feed.

For further information contact McMillan at 395-6124 or Kumar at 250-861-7200.

Source: 100 Mile House Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 100 Mile House Free Press
Contact: newsroom@100milefreepress.net
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