HEMP NEWS - JUNE/JULY, 1998

WWW.KENEX.ORG = CANADA'S HEMP INFO SOURCE

Anyone with Internet access can keep up to date on how Canada's hemp is growing. Just point your browser to www.kenex.org for the latest growing, harvesting and processing information. Here are some of the highlights from the last month:

May 11, 1998: We have received notification from Health Canada that the Kenex hemp seed import permits have been issued.

May 16th: The first container of hemp seed was unloaded at our warehouse.

May 22: The Kenex growers began seeding the first commercial crop of industrial hemp in Canada in several decades on May 21, 1998. There's one for the History Book!

June 5: Kenex growers finished the last of the hemp seeding for 1998 this past week. Even though a few growers canceled their contracts due to licensing delays and the excessively late planting, Kenex manage to reach its target of approximately 2000 acres. The average grower contracted 40 acres.

Information about Kenex's new processing facility as well as their production of hemp based automotive parts can also be found at www.kenex.org. Keep up the great work and the great web site!

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N.H. JUDGE DENIES FARMERS REQUEST TO GROW HEMP - RULING APPEALED

In June, a New Hampshire federal judge dismissed a suit seeking to prevent Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials from prosecuting farmers who cultivate hemp. The suit, filed by the New Hampshire Hemp Council and state representative Derek Owen, seeks to keep the DEA from using federal anti-marijuana laws to prohibit hemp cultivation. The judge ruled that the court lacked "subject matter jurisdiction" to hear the case because state law also forbids the cultivation of hemp. For more information, please contact Attorney Gordon Blakeney @ 603-225-2310

A few days after the ruling, the following statement was issued by the New Hampshire Hemp Council.
To All:
We appreciate the condolence letters but we are far from DEAD. We are going to appeal this ruling and we will not give up until we get what we want, and that is to enable our farmers to grow hemp. Instead of sending us condolences please send us information that may help us, send letters to OUR government officials, and educate anyone and everyone you can. We at the NH Hemp Council are very strong willed and we will not give in to the DEA and their scare tactics.

Kindest Regards,
Mark Lathrop & Karl Bond
NH Hemp Council
603-859-3866
thnkhemp@worldpath.net

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FIRST AMERICAN MADE HEMP FABRICS

American Hemp Mills recently debuted the first hemp fabrics to be woven in the United States in the last fifty years. On display were thirty U.S. woven fabrics, called the "Fairhaven Collection". These fabrics use design elements unseen in hemp before. Using Cantiva™ true hemp fibers bought from farmer collectives in China and Poland, the collection makes use of the many natural colors (from blonde to brown, and gray) and textures (from rustic to silky and refined) of hemp. The fabrics, ranging from 9 to 13 ounces, also make use of subtle colors of yarn dyed cotton, and intricate dobby patterns.

"Clothing, accessory, and home furnishing designers are actively seeking to work with hemp for its ecological appeal, durability , and natural fiber comfort but have been often disappointed with the imports available on the market." says Yitzac Goldstein, President of American Hemp Mills. "Before, only natural color fabrics were available with very little pattern variation or surface interest. By working domestically, we are able to design and manufacture hemp fabrics with a sophistication that designers demand."

"We would like to also use hemp fibers grown in the US," says Goldstein. "Our fabrics symbolize the bitter irony of the current politics. Where else in the world can you import and process a crop that is illegal to grow?" American Hemp Mills is owned by Hemp Textiles International, of Bellingham, Washington, manufacturer of Cantiva™ true hemp fibers.

For further information contact:
Hemp Textiles International Corp.
Yitzac Goldstein
3200 30th Street Bellingham, WA 98225
360-650-1684, Fax: 360-650-0523
www.cantiva.com

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CHRIS CONRAD TO TEACH AT OMEGA INSTITUTE IN OCTOBER, 1998

Chris Conrad, an internationally recognized expert on the topics of industrial hemp, hemp seed oil, and medicinal marijuana, will be teaching a workshop at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in October. Offering a comprehensive overview of cannabis hemp, the workshop topics will include industrial uses and environmental value of hemp, the nutritional importance and topical applications of hemp seed, and an overview on the medical use of marijuana. The workshop is designed for a broad range of people including ecologists, potential owners of hemp-based businesses, and health-care professionals. Technical terms are fully explained. Be sure to register early for what promises to be an enlightening and educational experience.

Chris Conrad's "Hemp: Lifeline to the Future" workshop will be held October 23-25, 1998. The cost is $175 (Friends of Omega price is $160). The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, nestled on 80 acres in New York's Hudson Valley, sponsors workshops, spiritual retreats, conferences and other activities. October at Omega is a season of bright days and cool nights. The Hudson Valley is renowned for its glorious fall foliage, and the Omega gardens and campus are particularly serene and beautiful this time of year.

Omega Institute
260 Lake Drive
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
800-944-1001
http://omega-inst.org

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HELP NEEDED FOR A HEMPEN WEDDING

We are currently in the planning stages of a hemp-themed wedding set for the summer of 1999 in California. Suppliers, manufacturers and/or designers of everything from shoes to invitation stationary to table cloths, please send photos, catalogues, hemp fabric samples (especially silks) to the address below. Anyone who has experience in making gowns, veils, Jewish ceremonial items (chuppah, kipot, etc.) or anything wedding-related should contact us ASAP. We welcome decorating and gift ideas for the ceremony and the reception, which will be held in a private back yard. Hemp-seed snacks and hors-d'oeuvres are a possibility, and we certainly are looking for brewers of hemp beers. Lastly, if any Conservative or Reconstructionist rabbis from Marin to Monterey find this to be an intriguing concept, we are still looking for an officiant. Send all materials care of NORCAL Homeland, 1388 Haight Street, #90, San Francisco, CA 94117. Or leave messages at 415-263-5983; legalherb@aol.com.

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INVESTING IN THE "STALK" MARKET

There are at least four companies listed on American stock exchanges that sell cannabis hemp related products. They are:

COMPANY SYMBOL 6/12/98 CLOSE 52 WEEK RANGE ADDT'L INFO
Frederick Brewing BLUE 1 1/16 25/32 - 4 Makers of Hempen Ale
Read Goods Trading RGTC 5 4 1/8 -
6 3/4 Mail Order Hemp
Consolidated Growers & Processors CGPR 4 3/4 2 -
4 3/4 Venture Capital
Atlantic Pharm. ATLC 5 4 9/16 -
10 3/8 Synthetic Cannabinoids

These stocks have been set up on Yahoo's Internet Finance section. The current quotes for the above listed stocks can be found there as can a lot of other company specific information. Follow this link:
http://edit.my.yahoo.com/config/login?.src=quote&.done=http://quote.yahoo.com/?u
and log in to the Yahoo Finance section with this information:
YAHOO ID: hempstocks
PASSWORD: hemp
PORTFOLIO NAME: hempstocks

Please send information about any other hemp stocks to boston.hemp@pobox.com and they will be added to the list.

Deep E Co., makers of several types of hemp shoes, is also holding a direct public offering for their stock. Contact Julie Lewis for more information: 503-299-6647, 888-530-3337, deep1pdx@aol.com, www.deepeco.com.

NOTE: Anyone purchasing stock in the above companies does so at their own risk. The stock market has been equated by some to "Las Vegas without the airfare".

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MARIJUANA REFORM PARTY: NEW YORKERS FINALLY HAVE A REAL CHOICE

Thomas Leighton, the founder of the Marijuana Reform Party, is running for Governor of the State of New York. He is seeking the 50,000 votes required to transform his organization into a permanent political party in New York with a guaranteed spot on future ballots. Leighton's website (www.marijuanareform.org) includes the following statements:

Why concentrate on marijuana? Marijuana is an issue that has many dimensions. For example, it is useful as a medicine and can help preserve the environment when used as a substitute for making paper from trees. In addition, by using it as a source for fabric, we would not have to use the millions of pounds of pesticides that are sprayed on cotton. There is also great nutritional value in the seeds. Marijuana is a remarkable plant with many potential uses.

A major reason for ending marijuana prohibition is to protect children and public health. It is the black market dealer that offers dangerous drugs to children. Separating marijuana from the market for hard drugs will help reduce drug abuse. One of the reasons why drug education programs are not successful is that young people know that they are not being told the truth. They can see through the lies and propaganda. The result is that young people have less respect for the law and for authority.

Getting on the ballot is the most important aspect to the campaign! There are two main ways to help. The first is to volunteer to help collect signatures in July and early August. PETITIONING BEGINS ON TUESDAY, JULY 7 AND ENDS ABOUT AUGUST 12. We need to gather at least 30,000 signatures in a five week period.

The second way you can help is to donate money to help cover the cost of petitioning and a legal team. To make a donation, make your check or money order payable to "Leighton for Governor" and send it to the following address:
Leighton for Governor Marijuana Reform Party
P.O. Box 20420 DHCC
New York, NY 10017

IN ORDER TO PROCESS YOUR DONATION WE MUST HAVE YOUR NAME & ADDRESS.

Hemp Magazine wishes Tom Leighton good luck with his endeavor. More people like Tom are needed to stand up and run for office on an anti-prohibition platform.

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