Original Articles

June is Hemp History Month. “Humphrey Ploughjogger” was a pseudonym or nom de plume of founding father John Adams, the second U.S. President. The Humphrey Ploughjogger letters are in an American tradition of humor that arises from illiterate phonetic spelling and rustic dialect, and that is meant to cover an undertone of serious purpose. From … Continue reading "“Humphrey Ploughjogger”"...

As they are based in Brussels itself (the “Washington DC of the European Union”), and have a professional staff used to doing this for other industries, here are my suggestions for the European Industrial Hemp Association’s continued service to members: Lobby for the Common Agriculture Program (CAP) to include subsidies for hemp seed and flower … Continue reading "EIHA: Future Goals?"...

If I were 30, 40 years younger I’d develop a microdose product using a non-Scheduled psychedelic myco and get it into national distribution with clever marketing. It is time. It’s not always about heroic doses when it comes to psychedelics. There might be bigger money in a say 50 mg psilocybin product taken a couple … Continue reading "Shrooms Aren’t Weed"...

“📣 BioeconomyVentures, developer of bioeconomic ecosystems, launches its first #OpenCall and is looking for 65 European innovators in the food sector, involving start-ups, spin-offs or SMEs. Are you developing solutions in the food sector? The “Future of Food” program is for you! More info 👇 ☝️ Applications will be open until 26 July 2022.“ Read … Continue reading "Open Call for Euro Food Innovators"...

California recently banned perishable hemp foods, despite a 28-year history of safety in that state. HempRella cheese alternative and Hempeh Burger were perishable foods introduced into international distribution in thousands of stores in 1994 by a Santa Rosa, California, company, Sharon’s Finest. It was even sold in the Travis AFB PX. Other products affected include … Continue reading "AB45: Californians Dreamin’ & Screamin’"...

Since you only have one chance to pitch any particular investor, why not make the pitch as good as you can? I will review your project and make suggestions for improvement. Why me? This is why. Contact and tell me a little about your project (no secrets, just the public version) and if I think … Continue reading "Project Review Service"...

FDA is broken, with unelected bureaucrats unconstitutionally making new law by enforcing the Exclusionary Rule on CBD for the exact opposite of its intended use. Plus that whole lie about CBD not being marketed before GW’s application. There’s a reason CBD is but one of 20,000 unregistered NDIs, that’s just how badly FDA is broken. … Continue reading "FDA’s Elegant CBD Solution"...

Ironic that there’s so little interest in improving the easiest segment in which most companies can pivot to hemp with, hemp’s first billion dollar segment, and 90% of Canadian hemp: seed as food. I guess we’ll just keep mimicking Canada“While the sheer scope of what we have yet to learn about industrial hemp might seem … Continue reading "USDA Hemp Grants"...

At 10 ppm max THC for hemp foods while the US is at 3,000, has Canada established an illegal non-tariff trade barrier in violation of USMCA (née NAFTA)? Especially since it appears Health Canada enforces it only on imports?...

Most of the hemp memes circulating are uncited so I investigate to see from whence they come, and thus their accuracy. That “hemp produces 300 gallons of oil and 8,000 pounds of seed per acre” one is the worst, it’s more like 35 gallons and 1,500 pounds if you’re lucky. I don’t ask for a … Continue reading "Source of “Hemp = 4x More Fiber Than Trees”"...

With 25,000 possible products from hemp, which should you do first? CBD products require expensive extraction and packaging equipment and have regulatory issues, technically illegal to FDA. Fiber products need huge investment in infrastructure for an expensive product not yet approved for commercial building, or a $20 million investment if you want to make textiles. … Continue reading "Food: Hemp’s Low-hanging Fruit for Success"...

Many don’t realize that in the early years the American Soybean Association hated us vegan food producers because we could turn scarcity into abundance, with our 16:1 net protein yield over meat. Opposing hempseed today, which has been fodder way longer than even rice or soya, would be right up their alley. Read more at: … Continue reading "Animal Groups Clutch Pearls Over Hemp"...

The Natural Products Association has filed a citizen’s petition calling for FDA to either rule that CBD is a legal dietary ingredient or to make a rule allowing enforcement discretion on the substance. Read more at: https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2022/02/22/npa-submits-citizen-s-petition-demanding-resolution-on-cbd-issue...

Did you know Cannabinoid levels in hemp tops can vary by 8x between the fan leaves and flowers? That’s why the test sample collection is so critical. USDA could achieve the practical effect of 1% max THC today, just by modifying the collection protocol...

Here is Cannabis scientist Robert C. Clarke discussing the 2018 field trials in Tasmania that I participated in. The plan was Rob would grow the hempseed and I would turn it into branded hemp foods and get it into people’s stomachs. The trial was 172 acres (70 ha) and 19 varieties. There are a few … Continue reading "Field Trials for Hempseed in Tasmania"...

Dr David Nutt is a drugs expert in England. His 2010 study “Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis” found that even heroic doses of psychedelics are safer than Cannabis, after accounting for 16 possible harms. For psychedelics those harms were “Drug-specific impairment of mental functioning” and “Family adversities.” But in today’s age … Continue reading "Microdosing 20x Safer Than Cannabis"...

This is one way to disclose Cannabinoid and Terpene content in a product, much like the FDA-mandated Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts already familiar to consumers. The advantage of this for the consumer is obvious, but how does it help the manufacturer? Because raw lab reports often reveal trade secrets. To the knowledgeable eye they … Continue reading "Cannabinoid Facts Label"...

EPA-approved pesticides for Hemp. If you think they aren’t needed, in most cases you would be wrong. Not to mention use of herbicides sprayed pre-emergent. And don’t get me started on Nitrogen Read more at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/pesticide-products-registered-use-hemphttps://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/pesticide-products-registered-use-hemp...

Looking to start a Hempcrete business? Consider using something other than the most-tightly regulated and expensive fiber crop in history, such as ag waste. Then, if and when appropriate, pivot to hemp. With 561,431 acres of rice grown in Italy, one company uses the massive amount of rice waste to build with. It’s far cheaper … Continue reading "“Biocrete? “Ricecrete?”"...

In keeping with their long history of hurting hemp (see here, here, here, here, and here), the hemp trade associations now support a new bill in Congress to devastate the young industry by criminalizing Delta-8 and other legal isomers. Ironically, Delta-8 products saved the hemp industry the last two years. It also tightens max THC … Continue reading "Hemp Associations Versus Hemp (Again)"...

Have you been in the Cannabis or Hemp production or processing industry for a while? Do you know your stuff? Are you concerned about noobs making Standards that you’ll have to later use, thus want to get them right? Then I strongly suggest you join the ASTM D.37 Cannabis Committee, which includes Hemp. The problem … Continue reading "ASTM D.37 Needs YOU!"...

If the national hemp associations in the US and Europe possessed even a smidgen of vision and competence, they would’ve developed a grassroots campaign to protect CBD years ago. Much like the Plant-based foods trade association did in Europe for use of terms like “milk,” for vegan foods. Besides the immediate effect it also builds … Continue reading "Grassroots CBD Campaign?"...

Recently many have tried to play “gotcha” with the CBD industry by testing and publicizing the difference between stated and actual CBD content. The latest one called the products “foods” but used a variance of +/-10% instead of the typical 20% variance used in foods. Just one “gotcha.” But all along I’ve been saying “now … Continue reading "Unlike CBD, Food Variance as High as 1,500%"...

“Recreational” Cannabis or Marijuana is a Prohibitionist construct. Don’t buy into it, it’s a linguistic therefore mind-control trap. In fact, the science-based truth is that All Use Is Medicinal. It’s the newer way for Prohibitionists to divide us, the Cannabis user. Us v Them, but in fact we are All One. Don’t fall for the … Continue reading "All Use Is Medicinal"...

Having a hard time setting up a state-legal marijuana business? Between trademarks, insurance, and banking, they make it as difficult as possible simply because it is still Schedule 1 federally. One workaround is to pivot to a different Cannabis product, namely hemp. Hemp (<0.3% max THC) is federally legal and in every state, yet it … Continue reading "Schedule 1 Workaround"...

The E.U.’s Common Agriculture Program is 60 years old this year, the farming subsidy scheme. But many decry it’s impact on small farms; they say it favors small hobby and large corporate farms at their expense. One said: “As a farmer, it needs a lot of reforms. Subsidies should take into account productivity and/or conservation … Continue reading "CAP is Now 60; it Should Retire"...

State by state is the way to progress this, same with CBD in foods. States are the “laboratories of democracy.” Force USDA’s hand, one state at a time. That Constitutional novelty, the Tenth Amendment, is what allows states to legalize CBD foods and hemp fodder just like it does all the regulated marijuana states. It’s … Continue reading "U.N. Blocked by the 10th Amendment"...

If you want to argue reducing pot taxes, whip out the Laffer Curve...

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is reducing the THC limit for 2022 by as much as 25%. That’s extra-legislative: Congressional intent was 0.3%, one decimal place. That covers up to 0.39999%. KDA’s blame of Congress for the extra decimal place is shameful. Ironically, Kentucky has long treated hemp horribly and enabled those sucking hundreds of … Continue reading "KY Reduces Max THC in Hemp by up to 25%"...

California’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Board is a lesson in who is really our ally and who isn’t. A few years ago when it started the two biggest hemp companies there were put on it despite their long commitment to purchasing from Canada and China. The owner of one was even made President. They didn’t encourage … Continue reading "Lessons from Cali Hemp"...