HEMP EDUCATION 101

If the most important thing about real estate is "location, location,
location," then Robert Robinson believes the most important thing for
industrial hemp is "education, education, education."

Robinson, director of Modern Hemp, and members of Vote Hemp displayed some
products and offered taste samples of "Hemp Crunch" and "Hemp Nuggets" and
Alpsnack Nutrition Bars on Monday in Minot near the DEA office in an
attempt to garner public opinion to "Just Say No" to the Drug Enforcement
Agency's ban on hemp.

The DEA's "Final Rule" ban would have gone into effect on Monday, ending
the legal sale of hemp seed and oil products in the United States. The
ruling, issued on March 21, 2003, was petitioned for appeal to the Ninth
Circuit Court in March.

The Ninth Circuit Court blocked the DEA hemp ban on Friday, allowing the
continued sale of food and other hemp products.

Robinson said the stay was simply good for business.

"What we are doing is looking to educate people about the products and to
show that hemp can be a legitimate industry," Robinson said. "There's this
big hype that flax is the perfect oil, but medically and biologically
speaking, that's not the case. The body consumes the EFA's (essential fatty
acids) Omega 6 and Omega 3 elements in oils at a 3 to 1 ratio and flax is
almost the opposite, at 1 to 3. Hemp seed is about that perfect 3 to 1
ratio. We just wanted to show people some of the products and educate
everyone on the benefits of the products."

The Hemp Industries Association estimates annual retail sales of hemp
products at more than $105 million in the United States, with global retail
sales at more than $250 million.

The United States is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the
growing of industrial hemp.

Robinson said North Dakota is primed to bring manufacturers into the state
to begin processing hemp because of the existing infrastructure. He said
the ruling puts confidence back into the equation.

"We are less than an hour from the Canadian border and we have the ability
to process a lot of the [hemp] fibers that flax is presently utilizing,"
Robinson said. "We also have excellent highway systems and railways to
transport the products. We don't want the farmers worrying about how they
are going to get this to market, nor have manufacturers not look to North
Dakota as a source because no one is planting the crop. Now, we can finally
start looking at getting some of these facilities in our state. We're
working to get two test sites going in the state, one south of Minot and
one in Fargo."

The sites would be part of a $55,000 grant NDSU received to grow the hemp
crops and provide additional information for research purposes. Robinson
said a lot of misconceptions still exist about hemp.

"Once we develop these sites, which will be the first in the nation since
1958, there will be more information available on hemp than ever before,"
Robinson said. "There is a huge difference between industrial hemp and
marijuana. They are two completely different plants. They are both members
of the cannabis family, but so is hops, which is used in so many of our beers."

An organization called "Vote Hemp" likens the difference between the two
plants as similar to the difference between the breeds of St. Bernard's and
Chihuahuas.

Canada started to license research crops in 1994 and by 2001, 92 Canadian
farmers grew 3,250 acres of organically certified hemp crops. Overall,
about 26 countries allow hemp to be grown and produced.

Romania is the largest commercial producer of hemp in Europe, while France
is the major source for the low-THC producing hempseed.

The Ninth Court ruling indicated the trace of THC is "infinitesimal" in
hemp seed. The decision was equated to the exemption of poppy seeds, which
can contain traces of opiates.

Joe Sandler, counsel for the HIA, said the ruling provides retailers and
consumers with a reason to continue to stock, sell and consume hemp products.

"The Court's order effectively prevents the DEA from enforcing its 'Final
Rule,'" Sandler said. "With this stay in effect, all those who sell,
import, manufacture, distribute and retail edible hemp oil and seed
products can continue in those activities secure in the knowledge the
products remain perfectly lawful."

Robinson said that 17 states are currently in the process of legalizing
industrial hemp and others are applying for grants . He added area farmers
can benefit greatly by adding the diversity of the hemp plant to their crop
rotation.

"North Dakota is still agricultural based and the farmers are the life
bread of our economy," Robinson said. "We have the potential to develop
this industry in North Dakota and create more jobs in Minot. Once we get
the DEA approval on the test plots, we'll be able to show what North Dakota
can do in this market. We've had tremendous support in the area and I think
it is because people realize what the benefits will be to farming and
manufacturing."


Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2003
Source: Minot Daily News (ND)
Copyright: 2003 Minot Daily News
Contact: editor@ndweb.com
Website: http://www.minotdailynews.com/