Hempin’ ain’t easy

Or maybe it is. We’ll find out through S.C.’s new pilot program.

ICYMI: Industrial hemp farming in S.C. was signed into law last May (bill H-3559 ; Act No. 37 ), joining 36 other states that have legalized it, + creating the 2018 S.C. Industrial Hemp Pilot Program – allowing 20 farmers to grow up to 20 acres each of industrial hemp for research (working with S.C.’s ag dept. + five universities , including MUSC).

I know what you’re thinking. No, industrial hemp can’t get you high. Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa that comes from the same plant as marijuana – but marijuana is the flower 🌺 + hemp is the fibers 🌱. The two are genetically different: hemp is low in THC (the chemical that causes marijuana’s buzz: <0.3% in hemp; <40% in marijuana) + is primarily grown for agricultural purposes .

It’s used in a ton of different products ($580 million worth of sales in the U.S. annually) – so many that we made our own game: You’ll Never Guess Which Products Are Made With Hemp (can’t you just see the Facebook headline now?). Make your guesses then scroll down for the answers. 👇

Why was it illegal, if hemp ≠ weed?
Stigma. The DEA classifies hemp as a Schedule I drug (along with marijuana and heroin). Those against hemp farming say large fields of hemp could hide marijuana plants . Not so fast: S.C.’s hemp crops will be subject to random testing.

But back in the day, it was much more chill. Hemp was farmed in the 16-1700s in American colonies + sent to England so they could make all sorts of things , including supplies for the Revolutionary War.

Then the Marijuana Tax Act passed in 1937, making it more expensive to produce + sell. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act passed, classifying all forms of cannabis (including measly hemp) as Schedule I drugs. American hemp production pretty much halted.

Why is it legal now?
The 2014 Farm Bill passed + ag departments started growing hemp again for research. Since then, 30+ states have legalized industrial hemp farming.

But it may be tough. Farmers see a shortage of seeds (90% of seeds have to be imported from China) and S.C. is tricky because it’s illegal for unprocessed seeds to cross state lines. A company named Tucker Naturals may save the day by building a hemp processing facility in Lake City, to open this year.

This could do major things for S.C., money-wise. Some say it could be as major of a cash crop for our state as cotton, rice, or indigo has been. 💰

Seeds + Stems 101
The five schools doing the research for the pilot program are:
🎓 UofSC
🎓 MUSC
🎓 S.C. State
🎓 Clemson
🎓 USC-Beaufort
They’ll collab with ag officials to see where in S.C. hemp grows best, test the progress of the crops + develop hemp products.

Of the 20 farmers chosen from 131 applicants, 2 are here in the Lowcountry:
David Bulick | Charleston | growing 20 acres
Kevin R. Dean | Charleston + Williamsburg | growing 20 acres

Farmers will plant the hemp this Spring + harvest it in October. S.C.’s ag department will expand the program in its second + third years to 40 farmers growing 40 acres each. After that, research will determine the number of growers + acreage. (Comparatively, Kentucky grows ~12,800 acres of hemp, vs. S.C.’s pilot year total of 400 acres.)

Now for the answers…
All 5 products can be made with hemp. Gotcha.

Hemp is used in clothing and sandals (ever had a pair of hemp Rainbows? ), rope (often used on cat scratching rugs, pads + posts ), food (like one of my favorite granolas ), paper (like toilet paper, which some genius patented back in 1996 ) building materials (like insulation + particle board ) textiles +plastics, car parts (like the door panels of BMWs ) and even biofuel for a more sustainable energy source (can’t wait ‘til my car runs on hemp and agave ). While not FDA-approved, some say hemp oil has medicinal purposes like helping control seizures .

So, how did you do?

Let’s hope our 20 farmers also kill the hemp game. 🤘

– Nicole , Engagement Editor