Transcript Cannabis - Department of Natural Resources

Hemp Cultivation:
Yes I Cannabis
Thomas O’Connell
Brian Rubino
Buzzy Shaul
Beth Spergel
Akbar Alikhan
Hemp vs. Marijuana
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United States National Institute of Health, University of Mississippi marijuana
plantation site, showing variation in plant size. A tall fiber-type of hemp plant is
shown at left, and a short narcotic variety (identified as “Panama Gold”) at right.
Hemp vs. Marijuana
Cannabis sativa
•species from which both hemp and
marijuana are derived
•single plant genus that contains
cannabinoids
-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC)
opsychoactive ingredient
-cannabidiol (CBD)
oan antipsychoactive
ingredient
Industrial hemp has trace levels of
THC and high levels of CBD
Marijuana, one the other hand, has
high levels of THC and low levels of
CBD
• Difference as to how marijuana and hemp would appear in the
field.
Uses of Hemp
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Benefits of Hemp
one of the Earth’s most lucrative
biomass resources
– can produce ten tons per
acre in approximately four
months
Fuel
Food
Paper
Biodegradable plastics
Particle board
Animal bedding
textiles
requires minimal, if any, biocides,
pesticides and/or herbicides
approximately 25,000 known
uses
Dietary Advantages
Food
-nutritious food source
-contains all essential amino acids and essential
fatty acids
-33% pure digestible protein
-Advantages over soy bean
A variety of studies have documented the importance
of the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 consumption. Hemp
seed oil is the closest to this optimum ratio of any
naturally occurring oil. Hemp seed oil has a ratio of at
least one-to-three, Omega 3 to Omega 6.
Oils with unbalanced ratios have been shown to have
detrimental physiological effects.
Industrial Advantages
Paper
• One acre of hemp can
produce as much useable
fiber as four acres of trees or
two acres of cotton
• Hemp can be cultivated in as
little as 100 days
• Acid-free
• Chlorine-free
• Compared to paper made
from trees, hemp paper is:
– Stronger
– Longer lasting
– Can be recycled more times
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Would help prevent
deforestation and loss of
biodiversity
Advantages over cotton
• warmer
• stronger
• more water absorbent
• more durable
• UV resistant
• Frost resistant
• Requires little, if any, biocides,
pesticides and/or herbicides,
whereas cotton requires many
Government Opinion
US Government’s View Towards
Industrial Hemp
• Not positive
• The United States National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
voices several basic fears about
legalizing hemp:
– (1) growing Cannabis plants makes
law enforcement more difficult,
because of the need to ensure that
all plants cultivated are legitimate
– (2) utilization of industrial hemp
products may make marijuana use
more acceptable
– (3) many of the movements
supporters are pro-marijuana
advocates
– 4) THC (and perhaps other
constituents) in Cannabis are so
harmful that their presence in any
amount in any material (food,
medicine or even fiber product)
represents a health hazard that is
best dealt with by a total prohibition
Hemp regulation in Canada
• Strict licensing process
• Only government approved low-THC
hemp grown and purchased from
authorized seed vendors
• Applicant background checks
• GPS coordinates of hemp fields
• Random inspections and testing
U.S. Opposition to Domestic Hemp
Cultivation
• Hemp’s Link to Marijuana
– Cultural perceptions cause low desire to legalize cultivation
– Hemp and hemp products have a negative social
connotation
– Political and social opposition is unfounded due to
scientific evidence
– Hemp should not be classified as a drug or associated with
marijuana
– U.S. DEA has objected to domestic hemp cultivation due to
potential regulation expenses
– Hemp cultivation could eliminate illegally grown marijuana
U.S. Opposition to Domestic Hemp
Cultivation
• Capitalistic greed caused hemp’s current legal status
– Hemp was regulated as an agricultural product during
early 20th century
– DuPont’s profitable pesticide and herbicide business
threatened by hemp
– Hearst’s negative publicity of hemp due to timber
investments
– Today: Hemp is a threat to powerful established lobbying
industries
• Raw materials: i.e. cotton, timber, oil
• Manufacturing: i.e. paper, plastics, ethanol
– Initial change to hemp cultivation could be costly, but
ultimately more profitable and sustainable
Case Study – Hemp Legalization in North
Dakota
• 2005- North Dakota legalizes growth of hemp,
provided farmers acquire licenses.
• January 2007, Monson and Hauge acquired
licenses from the state.
• February 2007, Applied to Federal DEA for
licenses to grow hemp. Ask for decisions by April
1 (with time to plant before the end of the
growing season).
• June 2007 – Monson and Hauge file lawsuit
against DEA for delay
• Continual battle between farmers and DEA
Benefits of farming Hemp in North Dakota
• Farming is a large part of
the economy
• 1993, Scab, a fungus also
known as Fusarium,
Destroys wheat crop in
N.D.
• Hemp grows very will in
Canada, just north of N.D.
• Hemp suits the rocky soil
in the area
• Opponents of this legalization
claim that there is really no
economic benefit to legalizing
Hemp.
• Claim that the farmers are
being used by the marijuana
advocates - the only people
who would benefit from this
legalization.
• “This is not any subversive thing like trying to
legalize marijuana or whatever. This is just
practical agriculture. We’re desperate for
something that can make us some money.”
-David C. Monson, Farmer, high school
principal and Republican state legislator in
North Dakota
If Hemp production is profitable,
then world production will be
thriving and trade vigorous
Case Study #1: People’s Republic of China
• Never any debate over legality of crop
• World’s largest producer of Hemp fibers and Hemp seed
– large force of cheap labor
• Although China contributes 40.6% of total world crop, it occupies only
0.3% of the country’s agricultural acreage
• Increasing foreign demand for Hemp products, driven by European and
North American consumers
• Foreign price is high, but Domestic price remains low
• Poor Market Structure = Poor Response
• Chinese policies favor Grain production
• Hemp is not a priority of the state when determining markets
• But, Chinese National Hemp Industry has pushed for more Research and
Development, as well as better technologies
• Hemp is currently at 10% of state’s Cotton output, 20% is projected goal
Case Study #2: European Union
• Licensing
– THC in plant must be less than 0.2% (as compared to 15% in
narcotic Cannabis)
– There Is a set amount of only 14 varieties, experimentation in
breeding is discouraged
• Formal application required with intention of area to be used for
cultivation
• Subsidies
– Sample of crop must be sent in for testing
– Begun in 1988, but amount has decreased due to reported
problems with illegal drug activity
– Recently renewed = 90 €
• Hemp for Europe campaign
– massive Research and Development effort
. . . and Canada
• To obtain a license from Ministry of Health,
THC < 0.3%
• Hemp trade only possible with certain
licensed countries with restrictions
• No Whole Plants!
• Chemical processing technology to remove
pectin
– creates a whiter, softer, fabric
Why isn’t the world market thriving?
• Anti- Narcotics laws necessitate regulation and lots of red tape in Europe
and Canada, Trade severely limited
• In China, a case of institutional failure in building an international market
• No true cost effective means of processing the plant for fiber and various
other components
– technology lacking
• Industrial Hemp faces competition from established commodities like
Cotton (textiles), Timber (paper), Soy (food), and Petroleum (oils and
plastics)
• Not a “miracle” plant- different varieties are necessary to yield different
products
• Nation of greatest consumption (U.S.) is largely out of the picture
• Hemp needs a chance to move beyond the Novelty product sold in Health
Food stores and “Hand-Blown Glass” shops
But, potential certainly exists
• California firm Hemptech estimated
International Market value
– 75 million € in 1995
– 1.5 billion € in 2001… and growing!
• American entry into the market and greater
availability of Hemp products to American
consumers could turn Industrial Hemp into
the cash crop Washington envisioned
Connection to NTRES 331
Survivalist
• Would support its efficiency (less likelihood of depletion)
– Produces up to ten tons per acre in only 4 months
– Quickly renewable resource
Prometheans
• Due to efficient production, no real need to strictly conserve
– Only a transition from one resource to another
• Hemp is the new alternative
– As traditional resources dwindle, new (less-expensive)
alternative then become commonly used
Proposed Hemp Governance
Combination of Top-Down Regulation and Market –Based incentives
Government’s Role:
• Set standards for maximum THC content
• Develop licensing system
State/Local Role:
• Perform regular THC analyses
• Maintain crop records
Market Based Incentives
• Government could provide subsidies for hemp cultivation
– Similar to EU strategy
• Costs involved would have to outweigh costs incurred by Government
(subsidies, licensing, etc)
An integral part of M & K’s third epoch towards sustainability