Hemp expo kicks off April 6 in Loveland

LOVELAND — Hemp producers will ride the wave of positive industry news as they gather in Loveland April 6-7 at the Ranch Event Complex for the fifth annual NoCo Hemp Expo.

The news they’ll celebrate:

• A majority of states have eased regulations on the formerly controlled crop.
• U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will introduce The Hemp Farming Act, which will legalize hemp production from a federal perspective.
• Demand for hemp products is growing in the U.S.

Industrial hemp, the non-psychoactive relative of marijuana, is used in food, fiber, cosmetics, textiles, paper, animal feed and construction materials. Industrial hemp sales totaled $688 million in 2016, led by hemp food, body care and hemp extract rich in cannabinoid compounds, or “CBD” products.

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“The timing of this announcement (from Congress) couldn’t be better for Colorado hemp,” said Hunter Buffington, executive director of the Colorado Hemp Industries Association. “National recognition of hemp as an agricultural commodity will allow Colorado farmers to continue to expand production and support the development of new markets and technologies. Many of these are being led by farmers and innovators who will be featured at the NoCo Hemp Expo.”

Morris Beegle, co-founder and co-producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and owner of Colorado Hemp Co. based in Loveland, is optimistic about the pending legislation. “I’m waiting to read the final language and make sure that the DEA, DOJ and FDA are out of the equation and this proposed legislation actually legalizes all parts of the plant and puts it squarely under the USDA like corn and soy,” Beegle said in a prepared statement. “If that’s the case, it’s a win for states, a win for the country, a win for the plant, and a win for planet earth.”

NoCo Hemp Expo presents an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the industry through exhibits, networking opportunities, presentations and workshops by pioneers, business leaders, and activists.

Keynote speakers include Nature’s Path Foods co-founder Arran Stephens, who will discuss why he’s been investing in organic farmland to cultivate hemp; Nutiva founder John Roulac, who will explore the benefits of hemp foods and the plant’s potential as a regenerative crop; and Native American activist and hemp entrepreneur Winona LaDuke, who’s helping to create a new economy for rural and Native American communities.

“There’s never been a more exciting time in the hemp industry,” Beegle said, “and the energy and momentum leading into the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo event is palpable.”

Tickets for the NoCo Hemp Expo are available at http://nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/.