Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
More than 50 Hoosiers met to celebrate the eighth annual Hemp History Week and discuss ways to advocate for the legalization of hemp farming in Indiana.
Right now, industrial hemp can be grown in Indiana for research purposes by organizations such as Purdue University.
Members of the Indiana Hemp Industries Association are advocating to expand the market so that Hoosiers can grow hemp rather than import it.
"Indiana companies are importing hemp – hundreds of thousands of pounds per week," said Justin Swanson, an IHIA board member and an attorney at Bose McKinney.
"In Elkhart County, a company called FlexForm is manufacturing car panels, and high-end companies like Mercedes are requesting natural fiber to be used in door panels.
"In Indiana you can import all you want, you just can't grow it. We want to connect lawmakers to growers and end users here Indiana, that way we're all supporting each other."
Moving Forward
Swanson said that Indiana hemp has come a long way in the past two years.
When he started advocating for hemp growth, the conversation used to revolve around the differences between hemp and marijuana.
Lawmakers now better understand that industrial hemp does not contain significant levels of THC, the psychoactive element of marijuana.
"The No. 1 priority for Indiana legislators was to make sure we had a sustainable, long-term road funding solution," he said. "Hemp did not get a whole lot of attention this year.
"Our main goal is to find an appropriate home for the industrial hemp program.
"Right now it's the state chemist's office, where it's kind of quarantined, in my opinion.
"We want to help find a more appropriate home for the program — an agency that could help promote the industry and connect growers with end users."
Local Support
Jamie Campbell, strategic director of Indiana's hemp association, said that farmers of all types should support one another.
"We're here so Hoosiers can help Hoosiers," she said. "Our goal is to bring people together and find a way to take action ... There's room at the table for everyone.
"If you look around this room, we have organic farms, small farms, a corporate farm, livestock, hydroponics – it's all here.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Advocates seeding industrial hemp market | News | agrinews-pubs.com
Author: Erica Quinlan
Contact: Contact Us | Site | agrinews-pubs.com
Photo Credit: AgriNews
Website: agrinews-pubs.com | Your Ag Source
Right now, industrial hemp can be grown in Indiana for research purposes by organizations such as Purdue University.
Members of the Indiana Hemp Industries Association are advocating to expand the market so that Hoosiers can grow hemp rather than import it.
"Indiana companies are importing hemp – hundreds of thousands of pounds per week," said Justin Swanson, an IHIA board member and an attorney at Bose McKinney.
"In Elkhart County, a company called FlexForm is manufacturing car panels, and high-end companies like Mercedes are requesting natural fiber to be used in door panels.
"In Indiana you can import all you want, you just can't grow it. We want to connect lawmakers to growers and end users here Indiana, that way we're all supporting each other."
Moving Forward
Swanson said that Indiana hemp has come a long way in the past two years.
When he started advocating for hemp growth, the conversation used to revolve around the differences between hemp and marijuana.
Lawmakers now better understand that industrial hemp does not contain significant levels of THC, the psychoactive element of marijuana.
"The No. 1 priority for Indiana legislators was to make sure we had a sustainable, long-term road funding solution," he said. "Hemp did not get a whole lot of attention this year.
"Our main goal is to find an appropriate home for the industrial hemp program.
"Right now it's the state chemist's office, where it's kind of quarantined, in my opinion.
"We want to help find a more appropriate home for the program — an agency that could help promote the industry and connect growers with end users."
Local Support
Jamie Campbell, strategic director of Indiana's hemp association, said that farmers of all types should support one another.
"We're here so Hoosiers can help Hoosiers," she said. "Our goal is to bring people together and find a way to take action ... There's room at the table for everyone.
"If you look around this room, we have organic farms, small farms, a corporate farm, livestock, hydroponics – it's all here.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Advocates seeding industrial hemp market | News | agrinews-pubs.com
Author: Erica Quinlan
Contact: Contact Us | Site | agrinews-pubs.com
Photo Credit: AgriNews
Website: agrinews-pubs.com | Your Ag Source
