By Ruth Hill R.N.
This year’s Southern California Hemp Conference in Palm Springs was a big hit this year and attendees are wanting it here every year. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill that Trump signed the states are rushing to implement legislation. Hemp, often called the Christmas Tree plant, has farmers ready with the science and technology to yield a profitable crop with under 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol (THC).
Currently 98% of the hemp grown in California is for the Cannabinol (CBD) market. In the next five years this percentage will switch to industrial hemp. Hemp industrial products were on display at the Hemp Conference. Paper cups, jeans, plywood and hundreds of other products will be made out of hemp. Hemp is a versatile strong product giving farmers a profitable sustainable plant.
On display was the mechanized method of harvesting hemp for CBD or fiber. No more hand trimming the buds. Farmers are studying the ideal method to mass produce and mass harvest crops the same way they harvest carrots or corn. Large machines costing thousands of dollars are a viable long-term investment. Chris Boucher CEO FarmTiva reminded us that keeping the THC lower than 0.3% is the skill of the “farmers eye.”
The science of hemp is pushing ahead to find a testing mechanism that will test the THC content on site. Inspectors cannot tell the difference between a hemp fiber plant or marijuana. Costing many people harvesting or transporting hemp, being wrongfully arrested. A huge benefit to cities allowing hemp farming in their areas is hemp will render the crop from illegal farms ruined due to the cross pollination.
The CA-Hemp Briefing Sheet at the conference states: “CBD Hemp is priced by the “point”, or total percentage points of CBD. There are several kinds of cannabinoids in hemp. These include; Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG) and others.
The CBD level of the harvested biomass is sent to a lab where the THC and CBD content is determined. If the crop is ‘hot’ meaning the THC is over the limit for hemp the crop is destroyed. Remember the farmer is licensed for hemp not marijuana. If a pound of CBD is $2/pound and the crop tested has ten points, then the crop will yield $20/pound.
Sandro Piancone Founder and CEO of Hempacco, described the development of a brand of hemp for cigarettes made with 100% hemp or 50%:50% hemp:tobacco, hemp paper, hemp filter, hemp packaging. The sample he was displaying had 80% CBD. Obviously growing the hemp to have high CBN and CBG will yield higher points.
John Miller Framer at CustomSpectrum.co, spoke about the cannabinoids. He feels tinctures are fading in view and what replaces them is isolates of specific cannabinoids. We know CBN can be used as a sleep aide but what happens when it is combined with CBD? What if we had a tablet with 50/50 CBD/CBN?
Last but not least was Lanny Swerdlow, RN, Director from Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project (MMP) displaying all the legislative policies for our perusal. He holds meeting on the first Saturday of the month at the Chrystal Fantasy in Palm Springs from 12 noon to 1:30 PM when he updates us on federal and state legislative news. Lanny is our one-person lobbyist in Southern California for access to marijuana. Lanny is also a member of the BrownieMaryClub. Lanny is organizing a trip to Sacramento in May for the yearly lobby day. Contact Lanny at lannyswerdlowrn@yahoo.com and Ruth Hill RN at hilruth@gmail.com for questions about medical cannabis
