The haunting specter of the fire that razed Lahaina is a grim reminder of the devastation that can arise from the intersection of drought, neglect, and climate change. The toll it took — 114 lives lost and counting, 2,000 homes and businesses reduced to ash — is a stark testament to the urgent need for action. As the community grapples with the magnitude of this tragedy, a multifaceted recovery and rebuilding plan will begin to emerge, with, I hope, industrial hemp potentially playing a part. The fires that consumed Lahaina were fueled, in part, by the dry grasslands of abandoned former pineap ..read more

There are quite a few US-based hemp groups out there. With no effective oversight governing the veracity of claims or the responsibilities of the organizations themselves, it’s debatable how much impact each one really has, or who’s making their voice heard over the din. Despite some confusion at ground level, there is fundamentally no question which hemp organization is quietly, consistently achieving measurable results. The National Hemp Association (NHA), based in Washington, DC, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. From nutrition to construction, hemp has become the jack-of-all ..read more

Nike has officially filed a lawsuit against a hemp company from Texas for riffing off the sportswear’s famous phrase. The hemp company’s slogan is “Just Hemp It,” which is clearly a play on Nike’s trademarked saying. The company is Revive Farming Technologies. The owners initially filed a trademark application for “Just Hemp It” back in 2019. And although the company filled out the application and requested that the US Patent and Trademark Office give them exclusive rights to use this phrase on CBD vape carts, hemp clothing, paper products, and a variety of merch, the patent office never grant ..read more

The US Federal Drug Administration said last Thursday that it won’t be regulating CBD as supplements — despite them currently being sold on the market as such — because there isn’t enough evidence on the safety of CBD. The Agency also called on Congress to not only create rules, but a new framework, for the industry that’s formed around this cannabinoid, USA Today reports. “The use of CBD raises various safety concerns, especially with long-term use,” FDA Deputy Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement. “Studies have shown the potential for harm to the liver, interactions with certa ..read more

Hemp businesses have not had it easy. Between a lack of regulations and supply chain infrastructure, and plummeting wholesale pricing, most hemp companies have had to pivot to break even. Making delta-8-THC, a compound derived from hemp, was the shift many business owners decided to make. In a new white paper report by cannabis analytics firm Brightfield Group, hemp companies have cumulatively sold more than $2 billion worth of delta-8-THC products since 2020, according to Forbes. The delta-8-THC boom occurred after hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill. But unlike naturally occurring delta ..read more

John C. Austin is the man who built LA’s City Hall, the Shrine Auditorium, and the Griffith Observatory. He also constructed one of LA’s most famous homes: the “Beckett Mansion,” which was built in 1905 for Dr. Wesley W. Beckett and his wife in West Adams. Now, the Beckett mansion is being restored—using hemp, according to MSN.  The drywall and insulation in the walls of the two-story Colonial Revival-style home are set to be replaced with hempcrete. “It has multiple industrious uses, over 25,000 and one of them is actually for hemp construction, particularly insulation. once the green pa ..read more

In December 2021, the French government legalized the sale of CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC. It all seemed great until they also banned the sale of hemp flowers and leaves, ultimately leaving oil, edibles, and topicals (processed hemp) legal for sale. On Thursday, December 30th, the Council of State – the body that advises the government on legislation and acts as a supreme court for administrative justice – ruled that a general and absolute ban on the marketing of the substance in its raw state was “disproportionate,” RFI reports. CBD flowers and leaves are presented l ..read more

Google Ads is about to allow CBD brands to advertise products containing low-THC levels in California, Colorado, and Puerto Rico starting January 20, 2023, according to a blog post published on December 22 by Google Ads, Forbes reported. “On January 20, 2023, the Dangerous Products and Services and Healthcare and Medicines Google Ads policies will be updated to allow for the promotion of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals containing cannabidiol (CBD) and topical, hemp-derived CBD products with a THC content of 0.3% or less in California, Colorado, and Puerto Rico,” the Google blog-post reads. It all ..read more

Sergiy Kovalenkov was already building hempcrete spaces in Ukraine before Putin started a war against the Ukrainians. Kovalenkov is more impassioned than ever to build hempcrete living spaces for people, as the war has destroyed homes throughout the country, leaving many Ukrainians displaced, Hemp Today reports. Kovalenkov is still building, despite bombs going off. Since the start of the war, he launched “Hemp. Ukraine. Recover.”, a non-profit fund aiming to provide sustainable hemp housing solutions and psychological help for citizens and veterans affected by the ongoing war. Hemp. Ukraine ..read more

Singer, rapper, flutist, and overall fucking badass Lizzo started a new beauty trend at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards: Biodegradable false eyelashes made from hemp-derived fiber. This isn’t just an incredible fashion statement made by the body-positive queen, but it also sheds light on the fact that falsies are often made from animal products, such as mink fur. So, these new hemp lashes are fully welcomed. Lizzo’s use of hemp-derived lashes garnered the most attention, despite boasting flawless makeup and glistening accessories at the Emmys, and people want to know how they can get some, too ..read more