The HCFR Interview: Cynthia Thielen and David West

Time for some good news. Although some 20 states (and counting) have so far enacted some form of legislation or resolution regarding hemp in the last three years, Hawaii is the only one to have acquired a planting license from the DEA. Surrounded by a 12-foot-high fence and infrared surveillance, this humble sliver of land that was seeded in mid-Dcember, 1999, is the first step in an agricultural experiment that will determine the feasibility of a hemp industry in Hawaii. The research project - funded through a $200,000 grant from hair care products company Alterna -will try to develop the most productive hemp plant for Hawaii's climate.

This email interview was conducted in January 2000 with Cynthia Thielen (CT), the state representative who spearheaded the project and David West (DW), the plant breeder heading the research.

HCFR: What is the level of support for industrial hemp in Hawaii, and who is giving it?
CT: Governor Benjamin Cayetano, the House of Representatives (including the Speaker of the House and leadership from both sides of the aisle), and the Director of the Department of Business & Economic Development.

HCFR: In your legislative efforts, how have you persuaded the undecided and dissuaded the naysayers and opposition?
CT: Presented the facts to them; showed them hemp samples (building materials, food products, car parts, clothing, cosmetics, etc.); gave them fact sheets on the difference between non-hallucinogenic industrial hemp and marijuana.

HCFR: On a political and economic level, what are the goals that you are looking for with the recently announced research project?
CT: Develop a new crop for Hawaii to take the place of sugar, which has died out.

HCFR: Is the DEA mood to industrial hemp changing? Could you comment on working with that agency?
CT: I only have good things to say about the professional way that DEA handled our application and processed it without delay. I believe that the DEA top officials clearly understand the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana. The problem is Barry McCaffrey in the Office of Drug Control Policy who thinks "industrial hemp is a drug" and "sends the wrong message". Unfortunately for him, today's youth know the difference, so McCaffrey loses credibility with them.

HCFR: What are the goals of this research project?
DW: Put seed in ground and collect germplasm.

HCFR: What cultivars are you using? What characteristics are you looking for in this project?
DW: Any & all. Life cycle patterns.

HCFR: What are the unique advantages that Hawaii could give to this project?
DW: Cynthia Thielen.

HCFR: What are some of the obstacles to the development of hemp in Hawaii?
CT: Barry McCaffrey. Once he steps out of the way and quits preventing America's farmers from growing industrial hemp, then the crop can be planted without putting it inside of a "hemp penitentiary."
DW: I have a fence around a quarter acre. It cost me about $30,000 to secure that quarter acre so I could plant hemp inside it. Obstacles?

HCFR: What facilities are lacking within the local economy? What infrastructure is available and adaptable?
CT: Our sugar mills can do the job, and some of these are sitting unused now, since sugar is dead in Hawaii.
DW: We're getting ahead of ourselves...

HCFR: Where is this going?
CT: The possibilities are endless. The car you drive now probably has hemp parts (replacing fibreglass). In addition to the 25,000 uses, a woman just wrote to me about a new one. She is using hemp meal in meatloaf as a binder instead of high cholesterol eggs. She said the flavour improved.
DW: The damnedest hemp garden you ever saw!

For more information about David West's extensive industrial hemp background and online archives check out www.gametec.com/hemp

A DISCUSSION ON CANNABIS CANNABINOIDS-THC & CBD

By Gordon Scheifele & Peter Dragla

Industrial hemp has reappeared into the North American agriculture scene after over 60 years of absence. The former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, Canada, Noble Villeneuve, described the reappearance of industrial hemp as an agricultural "Rip Van Winkle…He is waking up! It’s time to wake up to industrial hemp and its potential within the agriculture and food industry"

As Rip Van Winkle woke up to a whole new generation in his village, so also industrial hemp in its renaissance in North America is facing an entire new age of THC paranoia, technology and markets where manual labour is no longer acceptable. Paranoia surrounding the perceived dangers of THC took industrial hemp out of the North American agriculture scene during the late 1930’s. We are still fighting the war over the issues and politics of "are the Cannabinoids, especially THC, in Cannabis harmful or harmless narcotics?"

The Cannabis genus is the only known plant in the plant kingdom that produces Cannabinoids. The produced resin (psychoactive) is characterised in North America as marijuana and the plants producing it – marijuana plants.

THC is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol; the major psychoactive chemical compound produced in high concentrations in marijuana (5-25%) and is found in varying levels (trace to 1%) in every industrial hemp variety. The European Community countries and Canada restrict the THC levels in cultivated industrial hemp varieties to less than 0.3% in the inflorescence at the time of 50% pollen shed and less than 10 ppm in hemp seed and resulting oil products. The second Cannabinoid found in all Cannabis sativa plants is the non-psychoactive CBD called Cannabidiol. Research by Dr. Paul Mahlberg of the University of Indiana, has demonstrated that the level of THC in Cannabis is indirectly proportional to the level of CBD. Hemp varieties with low THC levels contain high levels of CBD. ( See Figure1 "Cannabinoid Contents in Low delta-9 THC Cannabis Strains) and vice-versa – varieties with high THC levels will contain low levels of CBD (see Figure 2 "Cannabinoid Contents in High delta-9 THC Cannabis Strains).

Both THC and CBD levels are highest in the floral leaves and bracts in the top of the inflorescence and decrease in successive lower nodes of pistillate plants. Marijuana has very high levels of THC but very low levels of CBD. CBD is often referred to as the "anti-marijuana compound" and is believed to block the effect of THC in the human nervous system. Hence raiders of low THC industrial hemp fields for a quick harvest of perceived "good stuff" to blend with the "real stuff" soon discover it does not work.

Figure 1

Figure2

THC is part of a C21 chemical family called Cannabinoids, only found in Cannabis plants. These C21 compounds, which consist of the carboxylic acid analogs and transformed products, belong to the chemical class of natural terpenophenols. THC is soluble in water – 2.8 mg/ml at 23 degrees C, with a boiling point at 200 degrees C and a molecular weight of 314.47. The presence of Cannabinoids is a dominant inherited genetic characteristic of the Cannabinaceae family. More than 300 Cannabinoid and related compounds have been reported as natural constituents of the Cannabis plant.

The glandular secretory system in Cannabis sativa consists of three types of capitate glandular hairs (bulbous, capitat-sessile and capitate stalked) distinguishable by their morphology, development and physiology. These glands occur together in greatest abundance and developmental complexity on the abaxial surface of the bracts. Bulbous and capitate-sessile glands are initiated on very young bract primordia and attain maturity during early stages of bract growth. The capitate stalked glands are initiated later in bract development and undergo development and maturation on medium to full sized bracts

On mature bracts (8-10 mm), capitate-stalked glands with tall multi-cellular stalks are scattered over most of the bract along with the mature capitate-sessile and bulbous glands. Capitate-stalked gland are usually absent along the bract margins.

The exudate of these glandular cells – containing Cannabinoids, accumulates between the cuticle and the membranes of the cells. The exudate is a sticky, brown liquid, with a specific sharp smell. The glands ooze several volatile compounds such as terpenes, ketones and esters which produce the characteristic fragrant "marijuana" odour", very prominent in the proximity of any hemp field. The production and secretion of Cannabinoids in Cannabis plants is a hereditary genetic characteristic strongly influenced by environment. The highest concentration of secretory glands is found in young leaves and bracts, especially in inflorescence of pistillate plants during flowering.

The breeding of low THC industrial hemp varieties traditionally involves very labour intensive and costly screening of early generation breeding materials. This will be the first selection process in any breeding program. High THC types (>0.3%) are discarded and the remaining selections then under go further selection for fibre content, stalk yield, grain yield and quality. Since the bracts contain the highest levels of THC, testing is conducted on these organs at flowering time selected from the top internodes of the inflorescence. Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company has developed a fast and very inexpensive chemical process - the DG Test- able to screen thousands of samples in the field. It only takes 2 minutes to develop a reaction and make a reading. This DG test is very sensitive, efficient and inexpensive. Mr. Peter Dragla should be directly contacted for more information concerning this "quick test".

The biggest threat to a viable industrial hemp crop and industry in Canada and the United States is the education, legislative regulations and management of THC in production of the crop and resultant products for market.

Gordon Scheifele is the Northwestern Ontario Research Co-ordinator for Kemptville College/University of Guelph, and is currently working out of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Peter P. Dragla, M.Sc. P.Ag. is an Industrial Hemp Plant Breeder from Ridgetown College/University of Guelph and the Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company, Chatham, Ontario, Canada.

REFERENCES

Bosca, Ivan and M. Karus. 1998. The Cultivation of Hemp. Hemptech. Pg 59.
Hammond, C.T., P.G. Mahlberg. 1977. Morphogenesis of capitate glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa. American Journal of Botany. 64(8): 1023-1031.
Hammond, C.T., P.G. Mahlberg. 1978. Ultrastructural Development of Capitate Glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa. American Journal of Botany. 65(2): 140-151.
Hemphill, J.K., J.C. Turner, P.G. Mahlberg. 1980. Cannabinoid content of Individual Plant Organs from Different Geographical Strains of Cannabis sativa. Journal of Natural Products. 43(1).

Hemp Shorts

A) "Certified Organic" Hemp Products Introduced: Nutiva's Organic Hempseed Bar Available in Stores Nationwide

The Sebastopol-based hemp foods company Nutiva, has introduced The Original Organic Hempseed Bar.  The bar's organic ingredients include sunflower seeds, honey, shelled hemp seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. It is certified organic by Quality Assurance International of San Diego, CA. Nutiva's new bar joins the growing number of certified organic hemp food products in the marketplace, such as Omega Nutrition's Hemp Seed Oil and Ruth's Hemp Foods.

"Nutiva is committed to creating a healthy future for our customers and our planet. Offering certified organic hemp bars, and other super-nutritious foods, is what Nutiva is all about, " says Nutiva founder and president, John Roulac, "It's also consistent with our company¹s
values-based policies, which include donating 1% of our sales to groups engaged in
sustainable agriculture, and refusing to use genetically modified organism (GMO)
ingredients."

Nutiva's line of hemp food products are sold nationwide in natural food stores including Whole Foods and Wild Oats.  Hempseeds are a rich source of protein, vitamin E, and omega-3, and have a rich nutty flavor. Nutiva sources its organic hempseeds from Canada. The bars are manufactured by Ottawa's Honeybar.

Since its launch in 1999 Nutiva has sold well over 125,000 hemp bars, despite the fact that US
Customs and the DEA blocked Nutiva's supply of hemp bars from August to December last year. 

For more information, check out www.nutiva.com

B)Breakfast with Hemp Plus

One of North America's leading natural foods manufacturers has now entered the hemp foods market. Nature's Path, based out of Delta BC, and Blaine, Washington, has recently introduced its Hemp Plus cereal as part of its lines of boxed and bulk granolas.

According to David Neuman, VP of Sales and Marketing, sales of the hemp cereal have been outstanding and are becoming one of Nature's Path's top sellers. With the launch of the boxed brand, he is expecting the cereal to meet the demands of the marketplace.

"The retailers love it because it is "trendy", healthy, organic and tastes great, " says Neumann.

However, it's been a challenge getting the product on the shelves in some cases. According to President Arran Stephens, " Hemp Plus has been turned down in all the supermarkets, but is getting rave reviews in food co-ops and natural foods stores on both sides of the border. Supermarkets don't yet understand the concept."

Stephens emphasises that Nature's Path is committed to providing well packaged foods that taste good, that contribute to good health and that improve the health of the environment. Hemp Plus fits this mandate. "Hemp Plus contains 800 mg of omega fatty acids per serving, " he says, citing the health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol, of including omega fatty acids in the diet.

The company began looking at the product 6-8 months ago. Hemp Plus Granola's ingredients include organic oats, evaporated cane juice, canola oil, rice crisps, brown rice, evaporated cane juice, barley malt extract, sea salt, flax seed oat syrup solids and hemp seed. Labelling on the packages asserts that there is no THC in the product.

The company hopes to have organic hemp seed in the ingredients next year; this year, they used transitional grain supplied by Kenex. Hemp Plus waffles, under the Lifestream label, are also under development.

National distribution deals are pending with Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

" I think (market) opportunities are great, but education is needed to get the grocers," says Stephens. "They are very reluctant at this point. That will change."

"As long as people can purchase nice tasting products, that are nicely packaged and have nutritional benefits, then the skies the limit!"

For more information, check out www.naturespath.com

C)Hempola Shifts Headquarters to Huronia

Hempola has announced it will be setting up its hemp seed operations in Barrie, Ontario. The recently completed purchase of 48 acres six kilometres north of Barrie, paves the way for the re-location of Canada's leading producer of hempseed food and oil products, Hempola Inc. The acreage, highly visible and easily accessible by an exit from Highway 400, has already been ploughed in preparation for next year's hemp planting. Work will commence shortly on the restoration and renovation of the hundred year old barn on the property. The renovated barn will house administration, oil presses and warehousing when re-location is completed next spring.

The new Hempola headquarters will also be a centre for crop research and new product development and plans are being made for the construction of an interpretive centre, juice bar/cafe and outlet store on the site, with the ultimate objective of becoming an important addition to Huronia's range of popular tourist attractions.

Hempola Inc. markets hemp seed food and cold-pressed hemp seed oil products through national distributors throughout Canada and the US and is North America's leading dedicated producer of hemp seed derivative products. More information may be obtained on Hempola products by visiting www.hempola.com

D) Hemp Agro Cleared of Marijuana Charges

A Nicaraguan court of appeal has thrown out all charges against Paul Wylie. Wylie and seven other members of Hemp Agro International were charged with drug trafficking and drug cultivation charges after police, acting on advice from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, raided the company's 160-hectare hemp farm outside Managua, the country's capital, last December.

Wylie was released from a Nicaraguan jail in early January 1999 and is considering civil litigation. The crop in question was seized and destroyed by local authorities.

"In the face of adversity it takes great strength, it takes great resolve and determination. You understand yourself for better or worse, "says Wylie. " It is with that same determination that we at Hemp Agro will continue our work in the tropics as non traditional agriculture is the future for developing nations, specifically hemp."

For tracking Hemp Agro's future progress, check out www.hempagro.com

New! Carbohydrate Economy Email Bulletin is now available

The Carbohydrate Economy Bulletin reports on the growth of a new industry based on plant matter-derived industrial products, and on the growth of farmer-owned manufacturing enterprises. The Bulletin contains news on new technologies, policies, products and businesses involved in this rapidly emerging industrial sector.

This Bulletin is published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a 25 year old non profit research and educational organization that promotes economic development that minimizes environmental damage and maximizes the benefit to the host community.

To subscribe to this email newsletter, contact Jessica Nelson at jnelson@ilsr.org . For more in-depth coverage, subscribe to the Carbohydrate Economy print newsletter. Email emailing Katherine Mullen at kmullen@ilsr.org .

For more information on the carbohydrate economy, including access to ILSR's database of over 200 plant matter-based product manufacturers, news headlines, reports and events, visit the Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse web site at www.carbohydrateeconomy.org .

Association News
NAIHC Conference Report

By John Roulac

The North American Industrial Hemp Council (NAIHC) held its fourth annual conference and trade show in Rolling Meadows, IL, on November 4-6, 1999. The 140 attendees had the opportunity to hear various presentations on the hemp industry and to network.  NAIHC's goal is to bring together a diverse group of farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, ecologists, industry stakeholders and government officials interested in recommercializing industrial hemp as a sustainable seed and fibre crop.

The opening presentation by former-CIA director, James Woolsey, focused on current hemp politics in the US. A panel provided updates on state activities including HI, ND, IL, VA and TN.  While three individual US states have approved legislation to grow hemp, the US DEA has to date (Nov 99) not granted any licenses. Geof Kime with Hempline, Hugh McKee with Flaxcraft and Jean Laprise of Kenex spoke of the challenges to meet fibre quality standards as well as be cost competitive with competing raw material sources. William Miller with Miller Consulting provided an overview of markets on hemp building materials and the development of a non-toxic base natural resin for composites. Greg Herriot with Hempola gave an overview of the Canadian hemp industry while noting planting acreage increased six-fold from 1998 to 1999 season. The Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company has bred, Anka, the first Canadian cultivar with limited planting seed quantities available for sale in 2000 and mass quantities in 2001. Emmanuel Geoffroy with Geotex discussed the European industrial hemp sector. Mr. Geoffroy noted that while overall acreage had dropped off in Europe, France and Germany had seen increase's in total acres planted in their respective countries. Ruth Shamai with R&D Hemp talked about the potentials in hemp foods and Med Byrd highlighted the various technical and logistical challenges in making hemp paper.

Attendees were in an upbeat mood after learning at the show that Kenex had successfully shipped its first hempseed load in the US in over three months. Back on August 9, 1999, US Customs and DEA had seized a load of legal Candian hempseed destined for a birdseed manufacturer. NAIHC announced its sponsorship of a analytical research study which will compare what quantities of hemp oil is required to ingest which can result in a positive drug test.  Preliminary results are expected to be available in early 2000 with the final results to be published in a peer reviewed journal  in mid-2000.

For more information on NAIHC, please visit www.naihc.org or email chair@naihc.org or call 608-258-0243.

John W. Roulac, is the founder and president of Hemptech and Nutiva, a leading manufacter of hemp foods. John is also board secretary of the NAIHC. He can reached at john@nutiva.com or 707-823-2800.

Montreal: January 31st-February 4^th: Paperweek 2000

Palais des Congrès de Montreal. Annual meeting and convention with exhibition co-hosted by the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (CPPA) and the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTEC). Thousands of attendees from some forty countries will gather to discuss business conditions and learn about new technologies. The event will include CPPA Open Forums, the PAPTAC technical sessions with over 200 presentations, and the EXFOR products exposition.

Contacts: PAPTAC Annual Meeting Technical Program, Contact: Glen Black, voice: 514-392-6967, fax: 514-392-0369, email: gblack@paptac.ca
PAPTAC Annual Meeting Registration, Contact: Pascale Frappier, voice: 514-392-6954, fax: 514-392-0369, email: pfrappier@paptac.ca
EXFOR registration, Contact: Michèle Vézina, voice: 514-392-6965, fax: 514-392-0369, email: mvezina@paptac.ca

Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 29^th and March 1st: HEMP 2000 Speaker Series & Trade Show The Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association will be hosting Hemp 2000 at the Ramada Marlborough Hotel, February 29^th and March 1^st in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Hemp 2000 Speaker Series and Trade Show will deliver factual information about producing, harvesting, processing & marketing industrial hemp in order to strengthen industry potential and growth. All private and public sectors with an interest in the hemp industry are encouraged to attend.

A reception on the evening of Feb 29th will feature a hemp auction; have hemp food samples provided by Fresh Hemp Foods and Hemp Beer provided by River City Brew Pub & Restaraunt. The Body Shop will also be "on hand" providing samples and hand massages with their new Hemp Hand Protector Creme.

Agenda Wednesday March 1^st

7:15 a.m. Continental breakfast, Registration, Trade Show open
8:00-8:20 Welcome Rosanne Wowchuk, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Role of the Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association Brian McElroy, President – Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association (MIHA)
8:20-9:00 Hemp Food Products and Something Called THC, Gero Leson, Leson Consultants
9:00-9:30 Effect of Management on Seed and Oil Quality, Roman Przybylski, University of Manitoba
9:30-10:15 The Status of Industrial Hemp in the United States, Kevin Edberg, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
10:15-10:45 Refreshment Break
10:45-11:40 The Potential for Hemp in Paper and Forest Products, Wade Chute, Alberta Research Counci
11:40-12:00 Health Canada Update, Neils Hansen-Trip, Health Canada
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-1:40 Cross Canada Checkup, Guy Cloutier, Director - MIHA
1:40-2:10 Selling Hemp Food Products in the United States, Don Wirtshafter, Ohio Hempery
2:10-2:40 Effect of Fertility on Hemp Grain Yield, Ron Tone, Tone Ag Consulting
2:40-3:00 Refreshment Break
3:00-3:30 Getting Quality Grain – Lessons Learned in 1999, Jack Moes, The Great AgVenture
3:30-4:00 Management Issues to Getting Hemp Off to a Good Start, Bruce Brolley, New Crop Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Food
4:00-4:15 Question & Answer Panel with afternoon speakers
4:15 Closing remarks

HEMP 2000 is organised by the Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association and sponsored by Manitoba Agriculture & Food and Agriculture & Agrifood Canada. Event Co-ordination provided by Blue Sky Business Services.

The Manitoba Industrial Hemp Association is a non-marketing agency whose mandate is to promote the development and sustained growth of the Manitoba hemp industry. The MIHA acts as a united voice to facilitate and support hemp production, processing, research, public awareness and education. The MIHA mission is to promote the use of industrial hemp as a commercial crop.

Please Note: HEMP 2000 deals exclusively with industrial hemp and does not promote or support recreational cannabis. All sponsors & exhibitors must agree to only display literature and/or products promoting the use of industrial hemp and not recreational cannabis. The MIHA reserves the right to remove any materials deemed unsuitable from the show.

Early bird tickets must be purchased by February 4^th, 2000.

Contacts:
To receive an application to exhibit at the show or for more information please contact: Heather Daymond at 204-983-2994, or email daymondh@em.agr.ca
For up-to-date information on speakers & topics, call Bruce Brolley, Crop Diversification Section, Manitoba Agriculture & Food at 204-745-5667.
For interviews & media information contact: Shaun Crew at 204-275-7616
Or goto www.pembinavalley.com/miha or www.pangea.ca/~hemp2000/

May 13^th-14^th, 2000: Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo

The Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo is gearing up for its third annual show, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California. Over 75 booths are available for vendors at the 2000 show, which includes a major expansion on Church Street in front of the venue.

The Hemp Expo has opened an office at 224 Walnut Avenue, Suite C in downtown Santa Cruz. The new phone number is (831) 466-0500. The new fax line is (831) 466-0510. A sub-lease through the Hub for Sustainable Transportation, the space is ideally located a block away from the Civic Auditorium.

Special Guest Wavy Gravy, AKA Hugh Romney, is living proof that the ideals and beliefs of a generation are being continued today. One of the 60’s most colourful characters, Wavy Gravy is winner of the 1999 Creative Altruism Award presented by the Institute of Noetic Sciences, as well as numerous other recognitions of service, including the Arthur M. Sohcot Award for Dedicated Public Service.

The Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo provides a positive basis for public support of hemp reintroduction, with an open-to-the-public, trade-show based setting that is well organized and effectively promoted. Live music, a hemp fashion show, a hemp house, a hemp camp display, hemp foods and beverages, educational and historical exhibits, workshops, videos, speakers and panel discussions are featured.

"The 2000 Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo could be one of the most important events in the history of hemp reintroduction," says Tom Hemmer, Development Director.

Now established as the dominant trade show for the developing hemp industry, vendors and hemp reintroduction advocates are drawn from around the world to Santa Cruz.

For more information call the Hemp Expo's publicity voicemail at (831) 425-3003, or visit on the web at http://www.cruzexpo.com. For sponsor and vendor inquiries call (831) 466-0500.

HAVING AN INDUSTRIAL HEMP EVENT?
Contact Arthur Hanks, HCFR Editor, at arthurhanks@hotmail.com with details.

MARKETPLACE
Construction Technologies has developed an environmental building system. The pre-start up company is developing technology to produce structural, insulating building materials for housing, offices and commercial projects. Hemp and other fibres are part of the high volume process. For further information please visit: members.home.net/lyfordg
Contact Geoffrey Lyford, Project Co-ordinator at lyfordg@home.com ______________________________________________________________________

"Operation Ditchweed" Thanks to all HCRF readers  who sent leads where to find wild hemp.Wonderful field work by many thoughtful people  has produced some dazzling results fit for science and society, This valuable data has been passed on to the proper channels and all is cool. Let's have lots more please! This wild gene pool may be  very important for future breeding of far north adaptable varities. Each wild hemp location is different- we want them all to learn just how these diverse hemps thrive so well in such adverse conditions. If you know where authentic wild hemp grows, with all discretion please contact our civilian response team to arrange ripe seed  collection . Every patch of ditchweed is a winner- Any more news or rumours of wild hemp in Quebec, Belleville, Trenton, the Kawarthas, islands of the Grand River is welcome. And no, we don't sell wild hempseed but yes, we will pay for the real thing. For more information about the  autumn 2000 wild hempseed collection project contact Dr. Sumach, Hemp Futures Study Group, PO Box 1680, Niagara on the Lake Ontario, Canada, LOS IJO, 905 468 3928 rheading@becon.org or please leave an inquiry at the HFCR arthurhanks@hotmail.com
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Feed the world with a click of the mouse. Visit the Hunger Site at www.thehungersite.com ______________________________________________________________________

Shedding light on all things cannabis: www.chrisconrad.com
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REACH A WIDE QUALIFIED AUDIENCE THROUGH ADVERTISING IN THE HCFR. Sponsorship and Supporting positions also available. Marketplace special! Have your link here for as low as $20 per issue. For more information, please email: jfreeman@ssm.net _________________________________________________________________________________

Get your website up and going already…
Online but not on the web? Need to give your non-profit group an Internet presence? Too busy to get around to setting up … still? ? Terry Lefebvre of Hemptrade is offering FREE web page hosting for industrial hemp-related sites, as well as layout, set up and administration for all sites at fairly reasonable rates. Contact Terry at hempmaster@hemptrade.com for more info.

READER'S FEEDBACK: Keep us honest and write us. Let us know what you think about our formats, articles, coverage, tone, delivery, coverage and everything we are doing. We appreciate all letters and emails, though we can't reply to them all. Make the HCFR the reader's choice! _________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRIBUTION: The HCFR is available for free to interested parties only on the Internet. Direct subscription for this issue is 1,300+. We encourage associations working in the industry to circulate the HCFR to their members (note: we regret that we are temporarily discontinuing the *.txt mailout of the newsletter). Other non-profit use is encouraged.

THE HCFR ON THE WWW: Back issues of the HCFR are posted on the following industrial hemp websites: Natural Hemphasis, Hemptrade, Hemppages, Global Hemp and Hemp Cyberfarm. Check us out at:

www.hemphasis.com/hcfr
www.hemptrade.com/hcfr
www.hemppages.com
www.globalhemp.com/Media/Magazines/HCFR/
www.hempcyberfarm.com

Thanks to David Marcus, Terry Lefebvre, Mari Kane, Eric Pollit and Matthew Huijgen for their continuing good work on making needed information available.

SUBSCRIPTION INFO: To subscribe directly to the HCFR, please email jfreeman@ssm.net with SUBSCRIBE in your message line. We will keep you posted about the latest news, alerts and special offers. If you no longer want to receive email about Canada’s hemp industry, please email us at the same address, message line UNSUBSCRIBE.
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NEXT ISSUE: Issue will be out Feb 27th: Ads will close Feb 20th .

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© 1999 AHEM, ARTHUR HANKS. INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR (S). NOT TO BE DUPLICATED FOR FINANCIAL OR PERSONAL GAIN. CONTACT US ABOUT REPRODUCTION RIGHTS.