HempTraders June2015

June 2015 Hemp News update

Every day, more and more Americans discover the benefits of hemp. This ever-expanding market includes healthy food and body care products, as well as eco-friendly textiles, clothing, auto parts, and building materials. Despite hemp's growing popularity, and the recent Farm Bill legislation that now permits hemp to be grown for research in states with hemp farming laws in place, the Federal policy for hemp farming - created in the 1930's is outdated and currently prevents U.S. farmers from widely growing this nutritious, versatile, and eco-friendly crop.

Federal policy on industrial hemp is beginning to reflect today's reality and ensure a better tomorrow for America's families and farmers, the economy and our planet. The 2014 Farm Bill was a first step, but we need to push Congress to pass legislation in 2015 that will allow commercial hemp farming.

June 1-7 is Hemp History Week


Hemp Seed On Its Way To Colorado, With A Federal Blessing

Following months of wrangling, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has secured a permit from federal drug enforcement officials to import industrial hemp seed from foreign countries...

Kentucky's 2015 Hemp Crop to Exceed 1,700 Acres; Up from 33 Acres in 2014  

Kentucky's hemp crop is expected to exceed 1,700 acres in 2015, up from just a 33 acres last year, state agriculture officials said this week...

First large-scale hemp processing plant begins in Colorado


A Fort Lupton plant is starting to test and process Colorado's hemp harvest, turning it into pulp that can be used to make paper, sugar -- even biofuels...

Nevada Lawmakers Unanimously Approve Hemp Bill

Lawmakers in Nevada have unanimously passed a bill to authorize hemp cultivation, sending the bill to Republican Governor Brian Sandoval for final approval...

Hemp industry is growing in Kentucky, attracting processors, investment

Kentucky's hemp crop is growing and attracting new investors to the state, according to Agriculture Commissioner James Comer...

Read More:
Hemp-Traders-June-2015-Newsletter.html

Chart Biodiesel savings vs Diesel

Biodiesel Savings Chart supplied by USAFreedomBioFuel

Look at the money saved at $3.00 compated to $4.00 per gal...that's some serious bank.

Cannabis Legal Fed News Jun2015

#HempWeek LEGISLATION update, June 01, 2015
Lawmakers brace for marijuana vote-a-rama BY TIM DEVANEY

(See website link below for full article)

Lawmakers are prepping for what could turn into a marijuana vote-a-rama Wednesday, sources say.

Pot advocates expect lawmakers to introduce at least half a dozen marijuana-related appropriations amendments that would roll back the Justice Department’s authority to enforce drug laws around the country.

The marijuana amendments would handicap the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its fight with states over the enforcement of local pot laws.

“The politics have continued to shift in favor of marijuana law reform,” said Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority.

"For a long time, lawmakers treated marijuana as a third-rail issue that was too dangerous to touch,” he added. "But now that polling shows a growing majority of voters supports ending prohibition, more and more elected officials are starting to realize that demonstrating leadership on this issue has political benefits instead of harms.”

The marijuana amendments come as part of the Justice Department’s funding bill, which dictates the terms in which the agency can use the money.

Pot advocates are making a big push in advance of the vote to rally lawmakers to their side.

The Justice Department would be prohibited from using federal funds to interfere with states’ medical marijuana laws under an amendment expected from the California delegation — Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R) and Sam Farr (D).

The measure was approved by Congress for the first time in 2014 but it must be renewed each year when the DOJ’s spending bill expires.

Some lawmakers hope to push the boundaries even further.

An amendment from Reps. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) would prohibit DOJ from using federal funds to interfere with any state marijuana law, including laws permitting the recreational use of pot.

"This amendment will not only protect critically ill medical marijuana patients from federal prosecution but, unlike previous versions, will also apply to adult [recreational] use of marijuana in states where it is legal, like Colorado and Washington,” wrote Dan Riffle, director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, in an email to supporters asking them to lobby their congressmen on the issue.

Another amendment, from Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), would protect state hemp laws from DOJ interference. This would pave the way for farmers to grow hemp in the U.S.

Hemp comes from the same plant as pot, but it does not have the same intoxicating effect, Angell said. Instead, hemp is used to make things like paper, rope and textiles.

"You don’t smoke hemp,” Angell said. "It wouldn’t get you high."

Several other pot amendments are still in the works, including one that would shift money in the Drug Enforcement Agency's budget away from enforcing marijuana laws toward solving the rape kit backlog and funding treatment programs for veterans, Riffle said....see full article at:http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/243632-lawmakers-pushing-for-marijuana-vote-a-rama

Industrial Hemp Biomass info via Pure Vision Technology

http://www.purevisiontechnology.com/pure-hemp.html

FAQ:

What is biomass?

Also called lignocellulosic biomass and cellulosic biomass, biomass is green plant matter or biological mass (biomass) that is primarily made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. It is generally the “non-food” portion of plants. For example, using the corn plant, the kernels are starch (food), while the leaves, stalks and cobs are the biomass portion. In hemp, everything but the seed oil is considered to be biomass.

What are the intermediate products from biorefining of industrial hemp?

The three primary primary components of biomass are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The four dominant output product streams from PureHemp biorefineries are (1) glucose sugar and (2) pulp from cellulose; (3) xylose sugar from hemicellulose; and (4) lignin. These four intermediates are the foundation for producing a myriad of bioproducts including pulp-based products (tissues, toilet paper, etc.) alcohols, chemicals, fuels, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, binders, coatings, adhesives, and other precursors for manufacturing plastics and composites.

Article continues:

http://www.purehemptech.com/FAQ/

HEMP as Biomass

Hemp biomass as a source of fuel is the most under-exploited use of hemp, mostly because it is not economically feasible at the present time. The use of any biomass to produce energy is called 'chemurgy' – derived from 'chemicals' and 'energy' – as opposed to petrochemical products. Almost any biomass material can be converted to create methanol or ethanol, and these fuels burn cleanly with less carbon monoxide and higher octane. Hemp is a valuable, viable source of woody biomass. One acre of hemp is approximately 75 percent cellulose, whereas one acre of trees is only 60 percent – hemp can give two crops per year whereas trees give one crop every 20-30 years. Hemp stalk can be converted into 500 gallons of methanol/acre.

Did you know: The diesel engine was invented to burn fuel from agricultural waste, yet ended up burning unrefined petroleum.

Other interesting factors to support biofuel production and use:

Particulate Matter. The exhaust emissions of particulate matter from biodiesel were 30 percent lower than overall particulate matter emissions from diesel. Breathing particulate has been shown to be a human health hazard.

Carbon Monoxide. The exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) from biodiesel are 50 percent lower than carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.
Sulphur. Sulphur emissions are essentially eliminated with pure biodiesel. Ethanol contains no sulphur.

Hydrocarbons. The exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons (a contributing factor in the localised formation of smog and ozone) are 93 percent lower for biodiesel and diesel.
Biodegradability. Biodiesel degrades about four times faster than petroleum diesel. Within 28 days, pure biodiesel degrades 85-88 percent in water.

Flash Point. The flash point of a fuel is defined as the temperature at which it will ignite when exposed to a spark or flame. Biodiesel's flash point is over 300 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas petroleum based diesel fuel's flash point is around 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Acute Oral Toxicity. Biodiesel is non-toxic. The acute oral LD50 (lethal dose) is greater than 17.4 gm/kg body weight. Table salt is nearly 10 times more toxic.

http://www.harbay.net/biomass.html

Stonehedge Bio-Resources to build hemp processing facility | Biomassmagazine.com

Stonehedge Bio-Resources to build hemp processing facility | Biomassmagazine.com



Stonehedge Bio-Resources to build hemp processing facility

By Bryan Sims



Stonehedge Bio-Resources Inc. is using hemp to produce this replacement to pink fiberglass insulation./PHOTO: STONEHEDGE BIO-RESOURCES INC.

Stonehedge Bio-Resources Inc. is looking to convert hemp into a viable biomass energy crop. In January, the Ontario-based company received $2 million from U.K. investors to construct an industrial hemp processing facility in Northumberland County, Ontario.



According to John Baker, founder and chairman of Stonehedge Bio-Resources, the company has been involved in the plant genetics and breeding of various hemp species for more than a decade, and has been commercializing the crop for myriad industrial uses for the past three years. "We have found that hemp has multiple uses as a biomass crop," he said. "It can also sequester carbon and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions."



Baker anticipates breaking ground for the facility in April or May. Commissioning and start-up could begin within 12 to 15 months after that. The plant may employ up to 27 people within the next two years, he added.



Hemp straw would be sourced from an area of 15,000 to 20,000 acres within a 60-mile radius of the processing facility. The company's equipment would be capable of processing approximately seven dry tons per hour, depending on the amount of shifts and downtime needed during its first year of operation. "We are aiming at an output of about 40,000 to 50,000 tons of hemp derived from 17,000 acres in our first year of operation, but it will take time to ramp up," Baker said.



According to Baker, hemp is a desirable biomass feedstock due to its variety of applications in different industries. It could serve as a replacement for pink fiberglass insulation in houses; it could be used to produce "hemcrete," a biobased masonry composite containing hemp and concrete; and it could be a biodegradable and recyclable fiber-based composite in automobile door panels.



Baker said the company will initially market hemp in Canada as a pelletized fuel that could be implemented at coal-fired plants looking to reduce their carbon footprints.



Stonehedge Bio-Resources may also look into hemp as a cellulosic ethanol feedstock due to the plant's inherently high cellulosic value.