Hemp cultivation still presents a challenge due to its close ties to marijuana. However, farmers are looking for ways to get it done since the interest for organic hemp products is reaching an all-time high.
According to Alamosa News, more than a hundred people attended the 2018 Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference and Trade Fair in Monte Vista, Colorado to get the latest updates and happenings in the industry and to learn more about cultivating the plant.
Optimistic outlook
In the event, presenters expressed their optimism about the hemp production in the area because the Valley climate is appropriate for the plant.
However, they admit the road to acceptance is still far.
For one, hemp products must secure an organic certification before producers can make them suitable for humans and animals’ consumption. In 2012, Colorado allowed recreational cannabis use and hemp production. Two years later, a legislation authorizing hemp production in areas that have a hemp program was passed.
The same law limits the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit in hemp at 0.3 percent, leading to the prevention of hallucinations. Setting this limit is important because it spells the difference between what is allowed and what is not when it comes to hemp products.
Slow but steady
While the use of hemp as livestock feed has yet to be certified, the industry for organic hemp is slowly gaining a steady footing.
It can now be used in craft brewing and in making granola bars, cooking oils, and skin care and beauty products. The applications seem limitless at the moment, and more will surely come once there is an increased understanding and acceptance of hemp and its difference from marijuana.
Farmers love hemp cultivation simply because it is a strong plant.
It can withstand diseases and molds and does not require a lot of fertilizers. However, the challenge lies in the harvesting part as they need to have drying equipment for hemp.
Despite it being a super plant, production remains low because of the amount of land it is permitted to use. Colorado Hemp Works’ Matt Birkholz says organic hemp is a hot commodity right now.
“Organic hemp is high demand and short supply,” he admits.
In the skincare industry, one of the companies that use hemp derivatives in their beauty products is Saavy Naturals. What makes it different is that the owners are former chefs who insist on producing food-grade products, the type of skincare products that are good enough to eat because they are organic and clean.
Trimax Corporation (OTCMKTS:TMXN) owns Saavy Naturals, and recently, Trimax signed a deal to buy 100 percent of the assets of Omega Tech Inc. As a result, Omega Tech is now called Recreational Dispensary.
Recreational Dispensary makes it easier for everyone to buy cannabis items wherever they are. The online portal connects consumers to certified and top-rated dispensaries and then gives them the option to have their products delivered in the comfort of their own homes.
All consumers have to do is create an account on the website. Only people at age 21 and above are allowed to register. Aside from dispensary and product locator, the online platform also offers a forum, mobile app, delivery and discounts among others.
Once Recreational Dispensary gets traction, the cannabis can only reach new growth levels. With heightened appreciation for cannabis products, expect supplies to become even tighter. Limited supplies will eventually lead to more clamor from the public to legalize marijuana in more states across the U.S.
