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progressoid

(49,827 posts)
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 03:59 PM Mar 2016

With Feds' Blessing, Minnesota to Try Growing Hemp

The state just received a permit from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for an industrial hemp pilot project. Agriculture officials here say they'll soon begin looking for farmers and others who want to plant hemp test plots, the first legally planted hemp in the state in more than half a century.

The Minnesota Legislature last year ordered the state agriculture department to set up an industrial hemp pilot project. It's been a challenge because the federal government lists hemp as a controlled substance, an illegal drug.

The DEA permit was a "big step in the process," said Geir Friisoe, director of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's plant protection division.

Friisoe said he's working on a request for proposals so people can contract with the state to grow hemp test plots, although they'll still need a permit to import hemp seeds from Canada.

"My hope is that we will have a few acres planted in Minnesota in 2016," Friisoe said. "I think just given some of the challenges we've had I think that's a good start to getting this off the ground."

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/03/01/minnesota-gets-federal-ok-to-try-growing-hemp





The hemp industry is also closely regulated.

For example, the limit in hemp plants for THC, the chemical that causes the marijuana high, is 0.3 percent of the weight of leaves and flowers. By comparison, marijuana plants often have a THC level of 5 percent or higher
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With Feds' Blessing, Minnesota to Try Growing Hemp (Original Post) progressoid Mar 2016 OP
Too bad Hillary is against this revbones Mar 2016 #1
Minnesota was one of the leading producers of Hemp Wellstone ruled Mar 2016 #2
Great news...and a great crop to grow. Lodestar Mar 2016 #3
Wonder how many Minnesotians know about the Wellstone ruled Mar 2016 #4
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
2. Minnesota was one of the leading producers of Hemp
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 04:27 PM
Mar 2016

for Rope and Twine. Our Family raised Hemp in North Western Wisconsin and the harvest was sent to a Minnesota State owned Rope and Twin mill at the State Prison in Stillwater Minnesota. Believe it closed down around 1955 or shortly after. All the machinery was sent to Mexico after the shutdown.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
4. Wonder how many Minnesotians know about the
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 01:11 PM
Mar 2016

Bio-Mas Ethanol Plant in the Granite Falls Area? Believe their Feed Stock is Alfalfa,that is pricey. Hemp is dirt cheap and renewable,as well as it does not need fertilizer. And the down stream products from Hemp is off the wall. Clothing,body oils,medical additives,food additives,and like I say dirt cheap to produce. Irony,the THC level is so darn low you would have to smoke a truck load just to get a head ache.

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