Applications to grow industrial hemp in Colorado are due in to the state’s Department of agriculture by May 1st. Based on attendance at last night’s Hemp Farming Symposium in Adams County Colorado, it seems that dozens of farmers are interested despite the fact that hemp farming is still illegal under federal law.
More than 100 farmers and hemp-related entrepreneurs attended the three-hour symposium which was produced by the Hemp Industries Association. San Luis Valley farmer Dick Blumenhein explained to a reporter, “We’ve had a drought. Alfalfa takes a fair amount of water and hemp takes significantly less.”
Unlike medical marijuana and recreational cannabis products, hemp can be shipped across state lines as long as its fully processed first. This allows Colorado hemp farmers a wider potential market. The state warns, however, that farmers growing hemp may have similar banking problems to THC-cannabis growers. Also worth noting: Colorado farmers will have to buy their seed locally as interstate industrial hemp seed transport is against federal law.
Applications for Colorado’s industrial hemp growing program can be found online.
