American Chemical Society AMA: We’re Melody Bomgardner of Chemical &
Engineering News and Anndrea Hermann of Hemp Technologies and The Ridge
International Cannabis Consulting here to discuss the chemis
Abstract
Hi! I’m Melody Bomgardner, Senior Business Editor for C&EN. I write
about food and agriculture for the magazine, in addition to other topics
like advanced biofuels and other environmentally-friendly technologies.
Earlier this year I wrote an extensive cover story about plant-based
protein sources [link “plant-based protein sources” to
http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i6/Calling-Plants-Fulfill-Proteins-Promise.html]
and got the idea to write about hemp. Before I began research for the
hemp feature, I didn’t know very much about this crop, but I ended up
learning much more than would fit in the story. I look forward to your
questions. Hi, I’m Anndrea Hermann, M.Sc, B.GS, P.Ag., and I’m the
President of Hemp Technologies, Sales and Business Development Officer
of Hemp Production Services, Principle The Ridge International Cannabis
Consulting and Founder/Host iHempRadio. I am the lead instructor of
Oregon State University’s course on Industrial Hemp, as well as a Health
Canada Authorized Hemp THC Sampler and Canadian Hemp Licensee who has
advised Health Canada on a wide spectrum of Cannabis projects (from 2001
to the present). I am a current board member of the Canadian Hemp Trade
Alliance, President Emeritus and current board of the National Hemp
Industries Association and special committee member for the European
Industrial Hemp Association. I have assisted with creating and reviewing
hemp regulations in Canada, the European Union, South Africa, Uruguay,
Australia, New Zealand, India, Vermont, Virginia, Tennessee, North
Dakota, Missouri, Colorado, California, Oregon and Michigan, for
example. These regulations govern the hemp industry. While state
initiatives have legalized two main types of Cannabis, marijuana for
medical or recreational uses has gotten a lot of attention lately while
the effort to revive industrial hemp production in the U.S. is much less
well known. This ancient crop traveled with the colonists to North
America and was a staple of agricultural production in the U.S. up to
the 1930s. Since then it has been largely illegal to grow hemp in the
U.S., though it was legalized in Canada in 1998. Now, though, the 2014
Farm Bill allows some controlled plantings of hemp in any state that has
an agriculture department willing to oversee production for research
purposes. Many vegetarians and vegans know the hemp seed – called grain
– is rich in essential amino acids and fatty acids. For more about the
potential for a hemp resurgence in the U.S., check out: Hemp, No Longer
Illegal, Is Poised For A Comeback In The U.S.
[http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i46/Hemp-Longer-Illegal-Poised-Comeback.html]
Update! I’m pleased to report that analytical chemist and hemp variety
expert Jace Callaway will also be joining us today. We’ll be back at 11
am EST (8 am PST, 4 pm UTC) to answer your questions, ask us anything!
Hey all - it’s now 12:07 and our official live hour is over. But I
invite our experts to continue answering questions as they have time
available. Please give a hemp-hearty thank you to Anndrea and Jace!