How can industrial hemp benefit Northern Colorado?

That them will take center stage when Progressive 15 hosts an industrial hemp expo from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Events Center in Akron at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Industrial hemp was very prevalent in the United States from 1776 to 1937 and has started to make a comeback in several states including Colorado. At one time it was illegal not to grow hemp in the United States, but in the late 30s it became illegal. One acre of hemp will produce as much paper as 2 to 4 acres of trees and can be harvested every 120 days.

Much confusion surrounds the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp, but when you compare the TCH levels, which is the psychoactive ingredient, marijuana contains about 20-30 percent and industrial hemp less than 1 percent, according to a press release from Progressive 15.

It is currently grown and used in various products in Europe and Canada. Wild hemp still grows throughout the country and many states in addition to Colorado are looking into the possibilities.

The products that can be produced from hemp include biofuel, building materials, clothes, rope, oils, lotions, food, paper, bedding for horses, cosmetics and nutrition. It is believed that hemp takes less water to grow, requires no pesticides and herbicides and only moderate amounts of fertilizer. The product also helps in environmental sustainability by protecting forests and providing non-toxic diesel fuel, paint, detergent, ink and lubricating oil.

Progressive 15 is bringing together a wide range of speakers to cover all aspects of growing hemp in our region. Sorting out fiction from the facts will be a major focus of the expo as will identifying both the rewards and the barriers to growing industrial hemp. Among the topics to be covered will be banking, crop insurance, water usage, equipment to farm and harvest hemp, products that can be made, manufacturing possibilities in the region, law enforcement, research and farmers’ currently growing hemp.

Barry Gore, chairman of the board of Progressive 15, believes industrial hemp has the potential to provide a major economic boost to our region, from the growing process to the manufacturing and finally selling a wide variety of products.

“As an advocacy group for our region, this is a perfect subject to bring forward as the state and federal government look at policies and expanding legislation on hemp,” he said.

Lunch will be served and there is a registration fee of $25. If interested, you can register in advance at www.progressive15.org.