Vote Hemp: Hemp Sales Double Since 2004

Vote Hemp: Hemp Sales Double Since 2004

WASHINGTONSales of hemp foodshave almost doubled since the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) stymied the DrugEnforcement Administrations (DEA) attempt to ban hemp foods in 2004,according to Vote Hemp. Data collected by market research firm SPINS indicatessales of products containing the controversial plant grew by at least $1.47million to a total of $4.57 million from July 2004 to July 2005, an increase ofat least 47 percent, Vote Hemp said.

Walk into any health food store and youll find anincreasing variety of hemp foods, said Alexis Baden- Mayer, director ofgovernment affairs for Vote Hemp. Americans are looking for healthy alternative sources ofomega-3 [fats] to supplement their diets due to concerns regarding trace mercuryin fish and fish oil supplements. Right now the U.S. marketplace is supplied by hemp seed grownand processed in Canada and Europe, but some members of Congress want to bringhemp farming back to the United States. The increase in hemp food sales willonly help our view that U.S. farmers should be able to supply the surgingdemand.

According to the HIA, levels of naturally occurring THC(tetrahydrocannabinol, the predominant psychoactive compound in cannabis) foundin hemp are not high enough to warrant a ban on commercial use of the plant,contrary to beliefs held by the DEA.

Removing the cloud the DEA put on the hemp food marketplacespurred a surge in the supply and consumption of healthy omega-3-rich hemp seedin America, said David Bronner, chair of the HIAs Food and Oil Committeeand president of Alpsnack/Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps. By protecting the U.S.market for hemp foods weve experienced strong growth.