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hempamerica-blog · 10 years ago

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Freeing the Seed

CO Constituents Opt for Fair-Trade Hemp As State Regulations Lag Behind

In a recent public hemp meeting held on December 19th, Rocky Mountain Hemp Association and the Colorado Department of Agriculture brought together local farmers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and investors nationwide to discuss the most challenging and influential changes in hemp cultivation for 2014. The CDA’s San Juan Conference Room was host to over 100 cannabis enthusiasts all eager to hear the latest in hemp news and state initiatives for the upcoming year.

Director of the Department’s Plant Industries Division Mitch Yergert and Assistant Director/ Seed Program Manager Duane Sinning presented a brief look into this year’s harvest, addressing several concerns and revisions to the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Program Act and other insights on what is to come for Colorado’s 2015 agricultural calendar. He shared the CDA’s goal of “carving out legal landscape for hemp” through continued cooperation between growers and state bodies.

The CDA has worked in collaboration with growers and seed breeders throughout the year to form a “legitimate and level playing field,” and get variable plants onto Colorado soil. Sinning began by summarizing the many ‘hemptivities’ stemming from this year’s harvest season like registration numbers for commercial and research and development applicants throughout Colorado, crop types and plant varieties, and other significant changes in federal and state legislature.

The data presented was collected in testing and field study and provides the learning curve necessary for the Colorado’s future success as an industrial hemp supplier.

“Not everyone fits in the box.” Of the 259 registrants listed as state-certified growers, 21 are located in Larimer County, 12 in Boulder County, and 13 in Delta County.

Field types ranged from large in ground and outdoor, monoculture plots, to multiple breeding programs, to home grows of less than 1 acre.

Both the type of crops being grown and their method of planting were unseen to the Department in some cases, but Sinning was most impressed by the level of ingenuity behind a movement that is shaking up Colorado’s agra-economic infrastructure.

“I’m amazed at the creativity (with hemp) that can be used all the time. It’s not the same rope and soap industry of the 1930s.”

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Although the age-old methods of utilizing hemp for clothing and paper are still prevalent in the modern hemp world, entrepreneurs in the industry are finding new ways to expand its application into markets like extracting cannabinoids for its therapeutic components.

(Image from: www.hightimes.com) At his headquarters in Lafayette, CO, Centennial Seeds Founder Ben Holmes discusses the various uses and strains of the crop.

“Industrial hemp often gets lost in the CBD talk. Its industrial uses are good for fiber and can pass through farm equipment pretty easily,” but much like the many genes that make up our DNA, these various seed types are diverse, containing an array of cannabinoids that are unique to each strain.

For example, most of us recognize the farm-feasible, “dry resin” crop by its assortment of industrial application. From manufacturing paper, car parts, clothing, and more, to its role in supporting nutrient-rich soils.Holmes explains that varieties like Otto II are considered “Type 3 resin plants,” and are “valueless as both a fiber and seed crop.” These varieties have been proven to be extremely significant in providing homeopathic alternatives for individuals suffering from major illnesses and diseases today. The list of benefits associated to CBD oil is ongoing; from seizures and muscle spasms, to combatting cancer cells, psychosis, and inflammation. CBDs are said to assist in managing numerous autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders, amongst a list of other serious illnesses impeding on our nation’s health today.

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/23/5-must-know-facts-cannabidiol-cbd/

Holmes’ background lies largely in medical marijuana strains, but since 2008, he has branched out from the THC market to serve the state’s high demand alternative cannabinoid use; he recently released the variety “Otto II”, a hemp seed whose components are high in CBDs and therefore, prime for extractions.

“We’ve created the first highly viable seed, first in the world for Type 3 resin,” a step up from Holmes’ more “rough and coarse” Otto I, a strain whose origins began at Denver’s Full Spectrum Laboratories.

CBD plant; R-4 strain

“The difference is night and day.”

The strain’s high-CBD components are normally indicated by its bright yellow, tie-dye colored leaves; Otto II’s CBD: THC ratios range from 30:1 to over 100:1, remaining in the legal scope for hemp cultivation in the state. “Testing is crucial during periods of unusually hot weather and drought conditions which may increase total Δ9-THC levels in hemp plants. When Otto II is grown as industrial hemp we recommended that Δ9-THC levels are assayed 3 to 5 weeks prior to the anticipated harvest to verify that the crop meets the statute for maximum delta9-THC levels.”

Otto II is just one of the many products at Centennial Seeds being introduced into the burgeoning cannabis market today. Holmes stays busy at his lab breeding and incorporating other CBD varieties into his program While the ambiguous definition of industrial hemp remains wavering in state and federal levels, builders at Loveland Hemp Co, LLC are certain that cultivating the crop will shape a more economically and environmentally-friendly market state-wide.

Their current project near Fort Collins is measuring up to be a community mixer, showcasing the new face in home hemp-building. With several hard-working volunteers and one small hemp house, organizers are hoping to have the project completed this summer, but have been delayed by the massive amount of snowfall this month.

Hemp-crete can only stabilize in warm temperatures, making the icy winter difficult to work around.

“It’s too cold to pack hemp. There’s over a foot of snow at our jobsite, so we will be resuming mid-March.”

Loveland Hemp Co will be hosting a team of mostly women to help learn the ropes during several “half-days” next month.

“We’re also holding spring building workshops on site through the Sustainable Living Association in March and April,” but due to limited capital, the hemp-building company will be launching their Go Fund Me campaign for anyone interested in helping to get the project completed.

At Colorado Hemp Project’s sister store, Nature’s Root, Bill Billings and his daughter Danielle are also announcing several innovative hemp products into market this year, including their line of facial scrubs, topical ointments, and therapeutic home remedies made from their Sterling “Hope” hemp crop. The father-daughter duo is developing their strain into a wide-range of accessible markets like tea-making, CBD extractions for medicinal use, and even supplying a new skateboard line made from hemp fiber!

Cannabis enthusiasts are thrilled at the opportunity to jump on board and ride the wave of hemp regulation, but without the consent of federal authorities over seed importation, most are being forced to postpone their plans for growing the industrial crop this season.

When asked about the success of Colorado’s hemp market in regards to recently passed regulation, Holmes says, “It’s too early to tell.”

“The first year was a complete shakedown,” But Holmes explains that expert, in-state seed-breeding may be the first major source of stimulus for CO hemp capital this year.

“It’s definitely all in the seed. We can’t have a market without the seed.”

Although the need for safe, therapeutic relief is imminent in the world today, federal bodies seem to be listening at their leisure. Sinning continued by discussing the Cole Memorandum, a statement which was released by the Department of Justice on June 30th 2011 to assist states participating in medical marijuana regulation. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued the notice regarding federal prosecution for individuals in marijuana business, reinforcing the terms of the Ogden Memorandum in 2009, stating the DOJ’s stance on drug trafficking:

“The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department’s efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed.” The Cole Memo reiterates that excessive arrest for state-compliant consumers and distributors is “not an efficient use of federal resources to focus enforcement efforts on individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or their caregivers. The term “caregiver” as used in the memorandum meant just that: individuals providing care to individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses, not commercial operations cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana.”

At the CDA meeting, Sinning explains that the initial goal is to provide a proper framework for operating hemp business in Colorado while remaining in line with the Cole Memorandum, but their success relies heavily on cooperation on all sides.

“You should be able to do what you’re doing without being impeded on from the federal government,” as well as state or local enforcement.

“We don’t get a lot of guidance from the feds, believe me. What we’re doing fulfils your needs to give legitimate business, and makes sure federal government stays in its prospective realm of influence, prevent drug driving. The DOJ and DEA use the term “marijuana” the same way we use the word “cannabis”,” which is pivotal in creating a market for industrial hemp and carrying out state regulation.

“This prevent revenue from cannabis to go to criminal elements, prevent state authorized cannabis activities to be used as a cover for other drug related activities.”

Under Colorado standards, “hemp” is any cannabis plant or crop (grown or not) that contains under .3% THC, a number shared by international trade agreements in Canada and Australia. The 1996 agreement between Canada and Chile incorporates the importation of various substances like raw hemp, raw flax, cotton, and essential oils.

(As of today, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast enters a Free Trade Agreement with Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Aivaras Abromavičius during a recent mission to the state. Fast addressed the significance of Canada’s relationship to Ukraine and its prosperity post the Russian aggression and civil unrest in the Slavic nation.)

http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/chile-chili/amend1.aspx?lang=eng

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/comm/news-communiques/2015/01/26a.aspx?lang=eng

Although the ball seems to be rolling for hemp in Colorado, there are still a few major bumps in the road to fair, international trade. Section 7606 of the Farm Bill states that institutions of higher education, state departments of agriculture, and private parties operating under the pilot program can legally grow hemp, but can they legally reap the rewards?

Sinning warns that “if THC count goes above this number, it heads to Department of Revenue,” where growers could potentially suffer criminal penalties in other state agencies.

“I don’t have jurisdiction in offering a waiver for these,” Sinning says, “that remains with other agencies.” The CDA’s authority rests solely in areas of testing for traces of pesticides in organic fields, collecting data on crops, and making sure that all permit information stays up to date.

Sinning also discussed several issues surfacing over the year, like the difficulty addressing seed importation and quality, major hurdles in Colorado legislature. He mentioned several cases of registrants purchasing high priced seeds that would sometimes fail to germinate, “and when you went to find them, they were no longer in the state.” For most farmers and local investors, it seems to be more of a gamble than a guaranteed challenge.

Although cultivation is legally supported by the FARM Bill and consistent with Colorado’s pilot program for R&D and commercial use, state and federal bodies neglected to ordinate the crucial task of buying chips.

“It’s been musical chairs in some cases,” Sinning explains, while others have made major victories in getting hemp to the Rocky Mountain state.

Sinning expressed the difficulty of poor communication and the lack of collected data as a result; he shared that some participants had even disconnected phone lines, or had given no notice of harvest beforehand to department officials.

He also noted the challenges of determining which seed varieties were most successful due to temperature and climate patterns, a major factor in producing commercial plots this year. The Industrial Hemp Regulatory Program Act marks the THC threshold at <.3%, but as growers started testing plots this year, many are startled by the jump in numbers. As a built in defense mechanism against UV rays, the THC ratios can grow in ‘high’ levels of sunlight.

Many farmers have taken the leaps to cultivate hemp this year, but most are still learning the tricks of this age-old trade.

“It’s new to everybody,” Sinning says, “we aren’t Canada,” where cultivation has been federally legal since the 90s. “We aren’t Kentucky,” which he shares is both a good and bad. For example, Kentucky has recently authorized a 5-year research project for hemp growers in the state where seeds are being provided by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to higher institutions and selected farmers. On the other hand, state-issued permits are only admitted after passing a background check and are reviewed by state police. In comparing the two states, Sinning argues that the illegality of medical marijuana in Kentucky has actually presented less of an issue for the state in determining legal code, whereas Colorado law-makers have had a difficult time assessing its definition.

Both the CDA and the state’s cultivators this year show hope for the future of hemp in Colorado and share the common goal of improvement and progression on all levels to build a better economy. Sinning and his panelists hope to see a growing level of experience and across the board communication with programs like COHeReNT, Colorado Hemp Research for Novel Translation, whose mission is to “perform collaborative research, provide educational opportunities to graduate students at Colorado State University (“CSU”) and the University of Colorado (“CU”), seek out commercialization opportunities for industrial applications, and contribute to the economic well-being of the state of Colorado, the region and the nation as related directly to industrial hemp.” The advisory board consists of several co-directors from the CDA and all three participating universities.

Sinning also hopes to create the state’s first regulatory seed certificate program “to improve seed quality, so farmers get what they pay for and expect,” and believes that along with certain rule changes in legislature, this will help in collecting more data on in-state cultivation as well as clarifying the issues presented in 2014.

Certain changes to the legal framework of the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Program Act consist of a more flexible use of the term “commercial” to encompass both academic research and private agreements through the state pilot program, allowing for more research and development. Other revisions include a no transfer policy for registrants of land area, as well as a one mile minimum for any industrial hemp planting operating near “any other cannabis plant that are not included in an industrial hemp registration and are growing outdoors.” Amendments apply for indoor growing as well, including a division in plant zoning for each operation. Sinning expresses a need to continue collaborating with growers throughout the region in order for operations to function as fairly as possible.

“This is going to sound strange, but I get a lot of folks from the marijuana sector calling and saying you’re ruining my business. They’re afraid it will lower the THC in marijuana. It makes the sheriff’s unhappy.”

Growers state-wide are being asked to meet within the scope of legal regulation in order to expand Colorado’s booming cannabis market today, including the high-grade pot growers of Pueblo County who recently attempted to refute right to grow outdoors. Sinning says, “The County doesn’t have that control,” but although there are many uses for the crop, it is not an ornamental plant. Hemp can pollinate nearby cannabis plants anywhere from 900ft to 2 miles to roughly 25.

As Billings proclaims, “You can’t test mother nature.” Controlling aspects like wind direction and pollination is an impossible task, but the CDA are still working with growers on all levels to implement a fair playing field for cannabis. Sinning explains that unfortunately in some cases, growers may be “stuck with” the inevitability of hybridization. He states that any plants containing higher than .3% THC shall not be share land designated with hemp cultivation. “If anybody’s got ideas on how to mitigate this better, let us know.”

During planting season this year, Bill’s first crop was received mostly with a warm welcome by Sterling and Logan County residents, up until the team was greeted at the warehouse by Sterling’s Commissioner and two supporting officers who were responding to a report from a concerned citizen about an illegal marijuana operation; the deputies were initially a bit wary of the teepees of 6-8ft female hemp plants, but after learning of the state-certified operation, seemed eager to learn more about the crop and its benefits to the community.

Billings’ 2 acre harvest was also a first-timer for Sterling’s neighborhood seed cleaners Lebsock’s Feed & Seed who were excited to learn about the new agra-economic crop. Cleaners in the region are accustomed to running through corn, oats, and wheat seeds for farming, but the crew was eager to take on the tricky task of cleaning over 400 lbs of Colorado Hemp Project’s “Hope” variety. Office worker Devin Hayes shared excitement at seeing hemp being grown in his community.

“It could be a very useful thing here. Seeing the crop and seed itself was a lot different than I expected. I’ve never seen hemp, everything we get is processed. It’s cool to see the actual plant.”

When asked how hemp might help expand Sterling’s economic make-up, Hayes expressed a similar certainty shared by farmers in the small agricultural town.

“The corn market is in the dumpster. Hemp would make us not so majorly reliant (on other crops). Educationally, it’s nice to show the agricultural sector that it isn’t an evil thing.”

Helpers faced several challenges during the process of cleaning, like finding the perfect size screens for seeds and bagging the excess flower, which also contains high levels of CBD and is essential in producing teas and other hemp goods.

Gathering and packaging seed was less of an obstacle for the team, as seeds were collected in 50-pound bags and sewn shut with the mill’s storing equipment.

Colorado Hemp Project’s harvest season was guided by friend and skilled grower Tom McClain, a Kentucky native whose family is known historically for their role in hemp cultivation.

“It was pretty awesome how everything worked out with being able to get seed and Jim (James Brammer) going out on a limb to get us to plant. It was perfect conditions, and the land provided us with everything we needed. It was truly a blessed feeling, working with it as it was growing from a juvenile crop to seeing the separation of male and female.”

McClain was delighted by the opportunity and the synergy of the surroundings; he was also surprised to see how well the field birds reacted to the crop.

“They were so adamant! When we worked the field, they wouldn’t fly away; they would just get ahead of you a little ways. They were set on the hemp seed! It seemed to me like a direct response from nature saying thank you.”

When asked about his experience with the seed cleaning process, McClain was pleased by the collaboration over something so new to the community. As a seasoned grower, he shares that getting the seed ready for next year can be an experimental yet crucial part of harvest, but that the trials for “Hope” were definitely a success.

“It was a lot of fun to clean. I’m glad we got to work together by hand to find the right screens and did the job manually. It was a beautiful crop. Farmers typically know that when you bring a crop in, there’s usually bugs.”

He shared that this is “outside of the norm in what you expect in any crop. Others that I was a part of did have some insect damage. We had amazing results.”

Other changes in CDA regulation include a mandatory plant report for all registrants. “By the time you put that seed in the ground, you’d better know what it is,” and you better hope you’ve got the necessary documents to cover your crop. The CDA’s inspection program has also expanded to include an allowance of up to 100% random selection for applicants.

“We have no capacity to do 100% of testing, but we need to make changes for getting better sampling data.” Sinning adds that no applicant shall be selected 2 years in a row without cause. The revisions state that any industrial hemp crop tested above .3% but less than 1% “shall not be subject to penalty if grown solely for research and development purposes by an individual or entity holding a research and development registration, and the crop is destroyed or utilized on site in a manner approved of and verified by the Commissioner.” The same stands for commercial use; revocation or suspension of registration due to high THC levels will not ensue given the state’s approval.

Another major issue that the Department hopes to address this year is providing a framework for individual breeding programs.

“We want to be able to talk to registrants on things like how to get around someone with over 150 varieties and work with them instead of destroying a program,” says Sinning.

Until then, Holmes and breeders state-wide are keeping their fingers crossed for regulatory changes on the federal level.

“That’s what I want to do, be your everyday, run of the mill seed distributor who isn’t getting product stolen” or redistributed under another name. Holmes hopes to help alleviate the high demand for seed with innovative strains like Otto II and other high CBD varieties.

Like most cannabis seed breeders nationwide, he awaits the crucial factor of accessing plant breeders’ rights, or PBRs, which allow for patenting products or intellectual property before releasing them onto market.

Breeders must first provide samples of the seed to federal authorities like the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation to testing seed viability and genome structure before obtaining rights, “and only if the USDA accepts the application.”

“Transporting live cannabis material is illegal under federal law”, but fortunately for Holmes’ and other in-state breeding programs, “transactions are locked in state,” at the Fort Collins-based National Seed Lab.

As House Bill SB. 134 enters into the Judiciary Senate Committee, CO legislatures are being asked to answer to the critical demands of the market, amending the Controlled Substances Act to remove industrial hemp from the term “marijuana”. But returning the crop to its feasible use might mean more than altering its meaning at the state level; Hemp’s success on the market could highly depend on its acceptance and integration within these federally regulated establishments. While the tides of the age-old hemp trade turn in Colorado’s legislature, its agra-economic sector will open up a new front in protecting growers and seed breeders nation-wide. As constituents are opting for free-trade hemp this year, many are turning to community education and public action for fostering local support.

Rep. Jared Polis and staff have teamed up with organizations like Rocky Mountain Hemp Association to offer legislative training sessions where they share tips on being more involved in government and discuss “how-to’s” on tools like letter-writing campaigns, attending town hall meetings, and public speaking.

To learn more about what you can do to support SB 134 and help remove hemp from criminal penalties today, visit the Rocky Mountain Hemp Association website here. Contact your committee members today, and help free the seed!

#seedfreedom #hempheals #coloradohempproject #rmha #educate

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