Hemp X Asheville comes to Highland this weekend

Hemp: It's no longer just for ropes and '90s-era hippie jewelry. One of the oldest domesticated crops, hemp is distinguished from its cousin, psychoactive cannabis, by its use and distinct lack of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

Its use in rope and clothing is well-documented in human history. More recently, it's also been touted as a health food and dietary supplement, a base for cosmetics and body-care products, a renewable building material, a source for bio-fuel and more.

Learn more about the hemp industry and the plant's benefits to both health and the local economy this weekend at HempX Asheville, a family-friendly, free educational event.

HempX takes place at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Highway. All proceeds from HempX will benefit Accelerating Appalachia and, with the exception of "A Taste of Hemp Seed," all the events of HempX are free.

Here's the schedule thus far. Check the Facebook page for updates.

SEPT. 18

12-1:00 p.m. A Taste of Hempseed, Highland Tasting Room: Featuring the culinary creations of Jason Sellers, co-owner/chef of Plant restaurant in Asheville. Tickets are $20/per person and are available online at Plant,165 Merrimon Ave.

1:30-3 p.m. Hemp/Future of the Family Farm, Highland Tasting Room: Moderator, Preston Whitfield, American Hemp Association. Panelists:

Mike Lewis, Founder of Growing Warriors, the first US citizen permitted to grow hemp again. Sara Day Evans, executive director, Accelerating Appalachia

David Schmitt, COO, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC.

5-9:30 p.m. Hemp X the Music, Highland Meadow: Entertainment includes Red Honey, Brushfire Stankgrass and more TBD.

SEPT. 19

12-9:30 p.m. Food/Fiber/Fuel expo, Highland Meadow: Featuring over 20 hemp-friendly businesses/organizations and a full schedule of music and

speakers on the outdoor stage.

1:00-2:30 p.m. HempUSA-Construction/Clothing/Consumer, Highland Tasting Room: Moderator, Preston Whitfield, board member, American Hemp Association; Panelists: Tim Callahan, chief designer, Alembic Studio; Stephanie Trippe, owner, Pretty Birdie; Leah McGrath, Corporate Dietitian, Ingles Markets. (Pretty Birdie will also stage a Hemp fashion show for a portion of the presentation.)

3-4:30 p.m. Emerging Technologies of Hemp, Highland Tasting Room: Presentation by Richard Rose, founder of the Medicinal Hemp Assoc, author of the HempNut Cookbook, and one of the acknowledged fathers of the hemp movement in the United States.

2-10 p.m. Hemp X the music, Highland Meadow: Entertainment includes Devils and Dust, Count Clovis & Friends and more TBD.

More information here.