American Chemical Society AMA: We’re Melody Bomgardner of Chemical & Engineering News and Anndrea Hermann of Hemp Technologies and The Ridge International Cannabis Consulting here to discuss the chemis

Abstract

Hi! I’m Melody Bomgardner, Senior Business Editor for C&EN. I write about food and agriculture for the magazine, in addition to other topics like advanced biofuels and other environmentally-friendly technologies. Earlier this year I wrote an extensive cover story about plant-based protein sources [link “plant-based protein sources” to http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i6/Calling-Plants-Fulfill-Proteins-Promise.html] and got the idea to write about hemp. Before I began research for the hemp feature, I didn’t know very much about this crop, but I ended up learning much more than would fit in the story. I look forward to your questions. Hi, I’m Anndrea Hermann, M.Sc, B.GS, P.Ag., and I’m the President of Hemp Technologies, Sales and Business Development Officer of Hemp Production Services, Principle The Ridge International Cannabis Consulting and Founder/Host iHempRadio. I am the lead instructor of Oregon State University’s course on Industrial Hemp, as well as a Health Canada Authorized Hemp THC Sampler and Canadian Hemp Licensee who has advised Health Canada on a wide spectrum of Cannabis projects (from 2001 to the present). I am a current board member of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, President Emeritus and current board of the National Hemp Industries Association and special committee member for the European Industrial Hemp Association. I have assisted with creating and reviewing hemp regulations in Canada, the European Union, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, India, Vermont, Virginia, Tennessee, North Dakota, Missouri, Colorado, California, Oregon and Michigan, for example. These regulations govern the hemp industry. While state initiatives have legalized two main types of Cannabis, marijuana for medical or recreational uses has gotten a lot of attention lately while the effort to revive industrial hemp production in the U.S. is much less well known. This ancient crop traveled with the colonists to North America and was a staple of agricultural production in the U.S. up to the 1930s. Since then it has been largely illegal to grow hemp in the U.S., though it was legalized in Canada in 1998. Now, though, the 2014 Farm Bill allows some controlled plantings of hemp in any state that has an agriculture department willing to oversee production for research purposes. Many vegetarians and vegans know the hemp seed – called grain – is rich in essential amino acids and fatty acids. For more about the potential for a hemp resurgence in the U.S., check out: Hemp, No Longer Illegal, Is Poised For A Comeback In The U.S. [http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i46/Hemp-Longer-Illegal-Poised-Comeback.html] Update! I'm pleased to report that analytical chemist and hemp variety expert Jace Callaway will also be joining us today. We'll be back at 11 am EST (8 am PST, 4 pm UTC) to answer your questions, ask us anything! Hey all - it's now 12:07 and our official live hour is over. But I invite our experts to continue answering questions as they have time available. Please give a hemp-hearty thank you to Anndrea and Jace!