Photo courtesy HempFlax This is the first of a two-part series on the prospects for hemp-derived construction materials in the post-Covid-19 era. Europe’s largest independent hemp grower and processor doubled down on the crop’s potential in the EU construction sector last month when it bought an insulation manufacturer in... Read more
Juice and snack giant Ocean Spray is testing a line of sparkling CBD water in Colorado. The Middleborough, Massachusetts, company says the sparkling CBD water was developed by Ocean Spray’s new CarryOn brand, Food Business News reported. The flavors are called Elevate and Descend, one with 10 milligrams of CBD... Read more
A third-party consumer research study looking at CBD’s effects on humans, meant to help gather liver safety data that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to move forward with regulation, is set to begin in July. The protocol for the study, sponsored and led by ValidCare, a Colorado-based... Read more
An investment firm is providing $2 million to a Georgia-based industrial hemp company to use for working capital and buying new equipment. The firm, Advantage Capital, said the money will also allow GAXtracts to hire 30 people as the company expands. GAXtracts CEO Don Barden said the investment will... Read more
A Davis, California-based agricultural biotech company has entered a binding agreement to acquire a hemp breeding and seed company based in Oregon. Arcadia Biosciences Inc. will purchase the commercial and genetic assets of Industrial Seed Innovations, including its seed varieties, germplasm library and intellectual property. According to the deal,... Read more
Montana has become the first state to establish a checkoff program for hemp producers, giving the industry there a path to raise money for research, education and marketing efforts like the famed “Got Milk?” campaign. The launch of a checkoff program in Montana comes as the hemp industry debates... Read more
Illicit hemp production and processing by three Oregon marijuana producers was cited by authorities last month in sanctioning the companies. The companies — TKO Reserves, Tap-Reloop and AJ’s Nirvana Farm — were cited for growing or processing hemp without the required license. AJ’s Nirvana Farm had its marijuana license... Read more
Texas hemp farmers and businesses are fighting back against the state’s proposed ban on growing and selling smokable hemp. The Texas Hemp Industries Association is asking the Texas Department of State Health Services to change a proposed rule that would prohibit smokable hemp sales, saying it goes beyond state... Read more
NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas was installed as CEO of One World Pharma, a U.S.-based company that grows hemp and marijuana in Colombia. Thomas, who played 13 seasons for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, is replacing CEO Craig Ellins, who founded the company and is retiring. The company said Thomas... Read more
Hemp got a big makeover recently in U.S. law. Now an annual summertime event to promote the plant is getting a makeover, too. The longtime Hemp History Week has been rebranded as Hemp Week, observed this year June 6-12, in a move to revitalize an advocacy campaign recently acquired... Read more
