Belmont did notice that those who gave her hemp kombucha a try would often stand around and chat for a time.

“It may be the placebo effect, but there seemed to be a sense of well-being,” Belmont said. “People seemed to enjoy the taste and it felt like there was a change in attitude in a good way.”

RCEDA Director Julie Foster is encouraged with the local interest in creating a hemp cooperative.

“It’s very difficult in a rural area to do things by yourself,” Foster said. “There is a risk for someone interested in getting involved in the hemp industry. While there appears to be a lot of opportunity, it’s something new.”

At the November meeting, Foster was struck by the standing-room-only crowd that included farmers, lawyers, doctors and scientists. People spoke about research looking at the potential for using hemp to create everything from a cell phone battery to a building material that’s as strong as concrete and resilient to pests.

“Finding ways to bring a value-added product to market and overcoming the challenges is something where a cooperative can be beneficial,” she said. “When people band together, they can find ways to things that are difficult or even impossible to do alone.

“The group that gathered at the first meeting was very focused,” she said. “It was a room filled with thoughtful and smart people … My guess is they will get this cooperative up and going soon. It appeared to me that they wanted to move forward and get things done.”

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