The passing of Amendment 64 in 2012, which legalized hemp and marijuana in Colorado, brought hemp growers and entrepreneurs out of the shadows — where they may have already been experimenting with growing hemp — and into the experimental phase of growing industrial hemp in the state.

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., who has been at the forefront of hemp and marijuana legislation in Colorado, hosted the second annual hemp symposium Tuesday at the Loveland Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Design, to bring together like-minded people already experimenting with the crop and those interested in pursuing a career in industrial hemp.

Three panels talked about innovation and entrepreneurship, federal and state legislation and important developments in research.

The companies on the panel grow various strains of hemp for use in textiles, soaps, food, plastics, medicine and more.

“Colorado, we’re doing it. We’re making it happen,” said Ed Lehrburger with PureVision Technology as he talked about the innovations happening in industrial hemp. “A lot of growers, a lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of business people, a lot of speculators are here and we’re trying to prove that we can do it. We were one of the first states to legalize it and there are challenges with the way Colorado is rolling this out versus Kentucky.”

People such as Bill Althouse with CannaTech explored the endocannabinoid system well before he could grow it in the state, where he learned about the health benefits of hemp.

Morris Beegle in Loveland started the Colorado Hemp Co. with his partner Elizabeth Knight, immediately after the amendment was passed.

David Bonvillian with Elite Botanicals went on “the warpath” to learn about CBD or cannabinoid genetics, and grow as much as he could.

Rick Trojan with Moonrise Extracts has 300 acres in eastern Colorado where they grow 28 different “cultivares” and are preparing for large …read more

Source:: Weed Feed