The Hemp Report

     Since the last issue of The Hemp News Update came out, I flew to California and joined up with my family, who are all on a driving vacation of the United States. If you have never taken a cross-country road trip, and you ever get the opportunity to do so, please take it, especially if you live in a city. It really is amazing to realize how huge this country is and — after a drive through Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana — how much we are still an agricultural and industrial country.

     Thankfully, hemp news continues to come out, vacation or not. The New York Times Blogs covered the Reason Foundation's new policy study entitled "Illegally Green: Environmental Costs of Hemp Prohibition." I have read the summary, and author Skaidra Smith-Heisters seems to have put together a very realistic and balanced look at hemp. Anyone who works on industrial hemp legislation or wants to reinforce and expand their knowledge of hemp would do well to read this policy paper.

     If you haven't seen it yet, do also check out Robbie Anderman and Errol Francis' YouTube video "Hemp Education 101." I am reminded of it because of this in-depth background story by the same name in Barry's Bay This Week by Kate Weldon.

     Education on all levels, from producers to consumers and legislators to voters, continues to be the key to all of this, but it is surprisingly time-consuming and expensive. Ignorance and misunderstanding are more expensive still, so it really is worth the investment for all of our futures.

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