Hemp.com wants you to support Hemp History week! Help get the word out about hemp!
Hemp History Week
“Hemp was an important crop for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and thousands of American farmers until it was outlawed completely in 1970 by the Controlled Substances Act. I know many farmers in my district could benefit greatly from the renewed freedom to rotate industrial hemp into their growing seasons. Hemp History Week will help other elected officials learn about America’s rich hemp heritage along with the tremendous benefits of growing hemp in America once again,” explains Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
Hemp History Week volunteers are being asked to visit libraries and historical societies to find old newspaper articles and other documents about local hemp farming and manufacturing before the crop was banned. The newly discovered research will be presented at scheduled public events in May. Details about planned events will be announced in early April.
Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are already used in nutritious food, textiles, body care and even auto-parts. Companies like Ford Motors, Patagonia, and The Body Shop, in addition to Hemp Industries Association members are using imported hemp in their products today.
“Supporting the hemp industry is something that is very close to our hearts at Nature’s Path,” said Arjan Stephens, Vice President of Marketing and Product Innovation for Nature’s Path Organic Foods. My father and founder of Nature’s Path, Arran Stephens, successfully fought in the three-year battle with the United States DEA to overturn its ban on the sale of healthy hemp foods and I’m proud to follow in his footsteps by supporting Hemp History Week.”
For the last four growing seasons, farmers in North Dakota have received licenses from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp. Despite the state’s authorization to grow hemp, these farmers risk raids by federal agents if they try to grow the crop due to the failure of the Drug Enforcement Administration to distinguish non-drug industrial hemp from drug types of Cannabis.
“Despite the ban, consumers still want nutritious hemp foods–and we do not want to deny the goodness of hemp to anyone,” explains Hans Fastre, CEO of Living Harvest Foods, the global leader in hemp food products, including Tempt(TM) hemp milk, frozen dessert and protein powder. “By allowing U.S. farmers to sell hemp seed, we’ll be better able to manage costs, including the cost of product at retail. Moreover, we’ll be able to better promote sustainable agriculture in the U.S., support local farming and fuel the economy.”
Due to its many benefits – a reusable resource in every aspect and offering a long list of health and nutritional benefits, hemp is one of the fastest growing industries in natural foods. Hemp is a rich source of Omega-3 & 6 essential fatty acids with Super Omega Stearidonic Acid (SDA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), digestible protein, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and iron, while being a good source of dietary fiber. It is second only to soybeans in complete protein containing all 10 essential amino acids, with no enzyme inhibitors, making it more digestible by humans. Hemp seeds are also gluten-free.
