Hemp, Inc. this morning highlighted ongoing hemp industry media coverage as the State of Pennsylvania shows favorable interest in legalizing industrial hemp and North Carolina awaits the signature of approval from Governor Pat McCrory to legalize industrial hemp. More states are recognizing the enormous environmental and economic benefits of industrial hemp, and in response, state officials are positioning their states to reap the economic rewards.

The buzz surrounding the legislation also provides an important measure of public education on how industrial hemp can boost the economy.

“As more people become educated on the myriad benefits of industrial hemp, including how it can help the economy, I believe many more states will vote in favor of legalizing hemp,” Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc., stated in the news release. “Our multipurpose hemp processing plant is the first and only commercial factory to be built in the United States in almost a century. We have been meticulously building the infrastructure to be able to vertically integrate growing, decortication, and milling and this is no small feat. We aim to spark a new clean green American Agricultural and Industrial Hemp Revolution for the American farmers and hemp product manufacturers.”

As the Richmond County Daily Journal pointed out in the article below, “Linking hemp and marijuana was a knee-jerk reaction based on misinformed public sentiment rather than science.” Thus, “Allowing industrial hemp cultivation corrects that mistake.”

If you missed the latest news covering the industrial hemp industry, read the re-prints below:

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives Loves Hemp Posted on October 9, 2015 by DJ Pangburn

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives loves hemp. Industrial hemp. In fact, they love it so much that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved the newly-introduced House Bill 967 within minutes of introduction, sending it to the house floor for debate and vote.

House Bill 967, introduced by Representative Russ Diamond on Tuesday (October 6), would allow industrial hemp to be grown or cultivated by special programs in Pennsylvania. Currently, American companies must import industrial hemp from countries such as Canada and China, blockading what has historically been one of America’s largest markets.

Pennsylvania’s move, which mirrors those taken by other states, could potentially open up a number of doors for commercial uses, which would benefit the planet given hemp’s low impact on the environment.

“The feds are catching on to the enormous environmental and economic benefits of the use of industrial hemp, and this pilot program anticipates the full legalization of hemp crops for industrial purposes in the future,” said Diamond in a statement. “My bill will put Pennsylvania in a position to reap the economic rewards that will come when further barriers are removed.”

Hemp, an incredibly resilient crop, can grow in a number of climate and soil types, and is largely pest-resistant. It can be used in everything from clothing and home installation to oils (including fuel), food items and paper production. In fact, paper products can be made with very few chemicals unlike with conventional paper mills, which use chlorine bleach to brighten products. A bit more obviously, hemp grows much faster than trees used in paper products, which would be a major coup for the environment. And these are just a small fraction of its existing and potential uses.

As with other states, Pennsylvania’s House Bill 967 grew out of an amendment to the 2014 federal Farm Bill. Signed into law by President Obama, this bill legally redefined industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana, opening the doors for states to pursue academic, state department and commercial research into its benefits as an agricultural crop.

If House Bill 967 passes the Pennsylvania house, the state will join 24 other states in industrial hemp research, including California, Hawaii, West Virginia and New York, amongst others.

OUR VIEW: Hemp holds promise for N.C. farmers Posted: October 9th, 2015 By: A Daily Journal Editorial

North Carolina lawmakers cooked up an appetizing bit of sausage in the closing days of their marathon regular session last month, though the process used to make it left us feeling a little queasy. Senate Bill 313, which is awaiting Gov. Pat McCrory’s signature, clears the way for farmers to grow industrial hemp after obtaining a permit from a state study commission. The bill also rewrites the N.C. Controlled Substances Act to distinguish hemp from marijuana.

The move is a leap forward for agriculture, already our state’s No. 1 industry. A versatile and sustainable crop, hemp is grown for its fibers, which are used to make paper, rope, building materials and clothing.

Hemp grows without the use of chemical pesticides and the plant even filters out toxins already in the soil, according to the North American Industrial Hemp Council, an advocacy group. The United States banned its cultivation “based on its biological connection to marijuana,” the council notes, a blunder that shows ignorance of plant science.

Though the crops are cannabis cousins, hemp contains only infinitesimal amounts of the THC found in marijuana that creates the drug’s psychoactive effect. Smoking hemp will not produce a “high.” It is grown by farmers for commercial use, not by users of medicinal or recreational marijuana.

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which marked the U.S. government’s first step to regulate the drug, lumped hemp in with marijuana for no good reason. The feds followed suit with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and state legislatures largely mirrored the congressional template in their own drug laws.

Hemp is not, as some would suggest, a Trojan horse that will inevitably lead to the wholesale legalization of marijuana. It is a cash crop grown throughout the world, and struggling farmers in Richmond County and throughout North Carolina deserve the opportunity to see it sprout in their fields.

Linking hemp and marijuana was a knee-jerk reaction based on misinformed public sentiment rather than science. Allowing industrial hemp cultivation corrects that mistake.

In its first iteration, SB 313 was an innocuous bill introduced to add five more specialty license plates to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles’ already long list of customized tags. The full text was replaced with the unrelated hemp bill as a House Rules Committee substitute on Sept. 28.

Rules Chairman David Lewis, R-Harnett, is a farmer and farm equipment dealer. We’re sure he understands the value and importance of industrial hemp. A stand-alone bill would have been preferable, but the end may yet justify the means.

Though the practice of hollowing out a bland bill and using it to pass legislation that might not survive full debate is common in the General Assembly, this legislative legerdemain undermines the function of representative government and deprives residents of the chance to weigh in.

The sausage-making isn’t pretty, but the end result in this case is palatable. We urge McCrory to sign the bill and add hemp to North Carolina’s agricultural roster.

2016 Industrial Hemp Project Applications Sought Posted: Oct 09, 2015 By: WBKO.com

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) – Farmers, processors, universities, and others interested in conducting an industrial hemp pilot project in 2016, are invited to apply, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has announced.

“The industrial hemp pilot projects have yielded valuable information the past two years,” Commissioner Comer said. “We look forward to another successful round of projects and encourage applicants to submit proposals to research hemp production, processing, manufacturing, and marketing. This work will help establish Kentucky as the epicenter of America’s industrial hemp industry once the remaining legal barriers to hemp production are removed.”

Applicants must complete an application and submit it to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture no later than Nov. 5, 2015. Applications and instructions are available on the KDA’s website at www.kyagr.com/hemp.

The department received 326 applications and approved 121 in 2015.

This year’s planting intentions totaled more than 1,700 acres, of which more than 922 acres were planted. In 2014, the first year of industrial hemp pilot projects, projects totaled just over 30 acres. The 2014 federal farm bill permits industrial hemp pilot programs in states where hemp production is permitted by state law. Legislation passed in the 2013 Kentucky General Assembly established a regulatory framework for industrial hemp production in Kentucky. Commissioner Comer led a bipartisan effort in support of the legislation, known as Senate Bill 50.

For more information, contact the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Program at (502) 573-0282, Option 1, or hemp@ky.gov.

Hemp Harvest Posted: Oct. 9, 2015 By: Bette McFarren (bmcfarren@ljtdmail.com)

On 30 acres of land just south of Swink, David Williams and Billy Seamons are harvesting hemp, first the seeds and later the stalks, to be used in a variety of ways.

“I have 30 acres in hemp. We are all clear with the state inspection, which means we can sell our seeds,” said David Williams, a farmer just south of Swink. Hemp has to have less than .3 percent of THC (the intoxicating element in marijuana) to be legal in Colorado. Hemp cultivation is now legal in Colorado, California, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia, for the purposes of academic research and marketing. “We would have had to plow it under if it didn’t pass,” said Williams. Williams’ partner in the venture is Billy Seamons, and he is also good friends with the folks at Whole Hemp in La Junta, although their cultivation methods differ.

Whole Hemp’s seeds are being used to extract the medicinal oil, which is high in cannabidiol, an ingredient in many drugs used to treat such conditions as epilepsy, multiple scleroses and skin cancer (experimentally).

Leading the movement to legalize hemp cultivation is Ryan Loflin of Springfield, son of Sheila LeRoy of La Junta. “He has been planting hemp for five years now,” said LeRoy. Loflin has attracted the attention of national media for his experimental work. He believes hemp could be the financial boon to take southeastern Colorado out of its economic slump.

“Hemp is the new superfood,” said Hal Holder, retired farmer and wholesaler, who is helping Williams and Seamons with the farming operation. “Hemp seed is 28 percent protein. It is higher in omega oils than fish.” The Williams/Seamons crop now being harvested will be dried and separated in Rocky Ford with equipment manufactured by Oliver. This seed is destined primarily for planting.

Hemp seed is still expensive because its transport among the states is difficult due to federal regulations. Dwayne Sims, who did the testing on these fields for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, likes this operation because it is real farming, said Williams.

The seed being harvested in the Swink fields now is just the first crop. Inside the stalks, now drying in the fields, is a white substance called hurd. It will be chopped and marketed to high-end automobile manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes Benz for use in dashboards. “They are working on an all-hemp car,” said Williams. It is mixed with an adhesive and becomes an extremely hard and durable substance after it has been molded into the desired shapes.

Hurd is also used to plug fracking wells that are producing too much oil and running over. “They like to use it,” said Williams, “because it is a natural substance which will not harm the soil around it.” It expands naturally to form the plug. Hemp fibers are used to make rope, which is durable, flexible and resistant to salt water damage. Hemp may also be used to manufacture durable cloth, building materials of all sorts and paper.

The planting season begins traditionally on Mother’s Day, which is the day on which George Washington planted his hemp fields. “Probably Thomas Jefferson, too,” said LeRoy. Here’s hoping a lot of seed from Otero County will be going into the ground next May. Williams expressed his gratitude to the Otero County Commissioners (Kevin Karney, Keith Goodwin and Jim Baldwin) for their encouragement in getting the industry started here.

For more information visit www.hempinc.com

Let us hear your thoughts: Hemp, Inc. Message Board

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, developer and manufacturer of energy storage products, was the center of attention when Florida Governor Rick Scott held a press conference at the company’s new corporate headquarters and manufacturing center to celebrate its upcoming expansion plans and their positive impact on the local community.

The event took place October 6 when Governor Scott, along with Space Coast Economic Development Commission CEO Lynda Weatherman, City of Palm Bay Mayor William Capote, and several local dignitaries and business entrepreneurs, visited Oakridge’s new facility in Palm Bay, Florida, to highlight the company’s expansion and subsequent creation of 1,000 new jobs in the community.

The expansion is part of Oakridge’s existing and ongoing $270 million investment in its Brevard County lithium ion battery development and sprawling new 68,718-square-foot facility – a necessary upgrade from the company’s previous 12,500-square-foot building.

After his tour of the new facility, Governor Scott addressed the throng of major media outlets from Central Florida, stating, “Oakridge Global Energy Solutions could have moved their headquarters anywhere in the world and I am proud to announce that they chose to remain in Florida and create 1,000 new jobs. Growing businesses like Oakridge…create opportunities for Floridians to provide for their families and build great careers, and that is why we will work with the Legislature to fully fund Enterprise Florida so more businesses have the opportunity to grow in Florida.”

The governor also bestowed the prestigious “Governor’s Business Ambassador” Medal to Oakridge executive chairman and CEO Steve Barber, who commented, “I am excited to receive such a distinction from Governor Scott and his strong backing for what we are doing at Oakridge on the Space Coast. In Governor Scott, the State of Florida has a great leader committed to job creation, and I know that we have made the right decision to continue our growth strategy for Oakridge by staying in Florida, especially on the Space Coast and in Palm Bay. Few things matter more to families than well-paying jobs. This celebration today is really about 1,000 Florida families who are now going to have good jobs in the future for the long term at Oakridge. The ‘Governor’s Business Ambassador’ medal will hang proudly in my office as we create those jobs.

“We really appreciate the support of Governor Scott, Enterprise Florida, the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast, and our local partners at the City of Palm Bay, especially Major Capote, as we begin this great expansion. Oakridge is proud to be a Florida business that offers high quality, ‘Made in America’ products to customers across the world.”

Bill Johnson, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, also attended the event and noted the significance of new job creation to the local economy.

“Oakridge Global Energy Solutions’ expansion and creation of 1,000 new jobs is exciting news for our state. As we continue to diversify our economy and market, Florida is the best state for business. Projects like Oakridge are great examples of what we can accomplish as a state,” he said.

Oakridge’s planned jobs growth and corporate expansion will start immediately and continue to roll-out throughout the course of approximately three years.

For more information visit www.oakg.net

Let us hear your thoughts: Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. Message Board

There’s a barrage of financial information available at any given moment – while it initially sounds great, investors need a quick, clear-cut method to dig through the madness to find their next great investment opportunity. QualityStocks keeps investors up-to-date on everything related to the small-cap and micro-cap markets by offering several ways to filter through the information to easily find the material needed.

The QualityStocks Blog is updated daily; investors can read about leading players in the small-cap and micro-cap markets and discover emerging companies flying under the radar along the way. We’re not just committed to the highlighting rising stocks; we’re also going to tip you off to ones you may not have noticed before.

With all the “hottest” picks and recommendations available in the investment world, how do you decide which stocks are worth a second look and which ones you need to avoid? At QualityStocks, we collate hundreds of investment newsletters into ONE daily newsletter, “The QualityStocks Daily,” which lists all the latest and most talked about stock picks of the day. We organize the data so you have the most up-to-date information delivered right to your inbox.

The QualityStocks Message Board is one of the most highly regulated, no-nonsense forums online today; an uncommon haven of highly relevant, SPAM-free investor interaction. Avoid the typical message board pumping, bashing, advertising or malicious posts – the QualityStocks Message Board is market interaction at its finest.

With QualityStocks you will:

• Stay on top of momentum trading opportunities!
• Discover high-performance winning stock picks from ONE newsletter source!
• Watch investment newsletters to see who is making the best recommendations!
• Keep track of new investment newsletter sources as they are published!
• Track stock picks by exchange and by price trading point!
• Protect your e-mail inbox from unwanted spam by unsolicited commercial offers!

For more information, visit www.QualityStocks.net

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: OGES) is leveraging a portfolio of intellectual property, a history of innovation and a system-level view of the current market landscape to deliver the next generation of energy storage solutions. The company’s strategy is to simultaneously deliver groundbreaking technologies while building an industrial-scale platform that includes multiple lithium battery chemistries and form factors optimized to address a collection of key markets – including stationary energy storage, as well as mobile, government, consumer and specialty applications.

In August, Oakridge’s proven strategy took center stage as the company announced that it was to be featured on “New to the Street”, a news program highlighting some of the most promising publically-traded businesses. The show, which is produced by FMW Media Works Corp., airs as paid-programming on select nationwide stations – including The History Channel and A&E – and reaches more than 95 million homes. By securing a spot on “New to the Street”, Oakridge gained national exposure and an opportunity to build upon its brand recognition and increase its market share.

Oakridge’s efforts to expand its market share also include operation in a collection of viable markets. In the United States, the company owns and operates two manufacturing facilities producing its cutting-edge large format Pro Series golf car batteries and its small format Patriot Series RC batteries. On the international stage, Oakridge operates through wholly-owned subsidiary Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Limited, Hong Kong while maintaining a substantial interest in Leclanche S.A., a Swiss developer and manufacturer of large-sized lithium ion batteries. Through these operations, Oakridge, under the guidance of its leadership team, is working to establish a sizable footprint in both the domestic and global energy storage markets.

The company is led by a seasoned management team featuring over a century of combined industry experience. Steve Barber, chief executive officer of Oakridge, has over 30 years of experience in the international business sector with dual qualifications in science and law. His unique entrepreneurial approach and strength in building long-term strategic alliances will play a pivotal role in the company’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable financial growth for the foreseeable future.

For more information, visit www.oakg.net

Let us hear your thoughts: Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. Message Board

Limoneira Company (NASDAQ: LMNR) is one of the world’s premier integrated agribusinesses. Founded in Ventura County, California, in 1893, the company’s dedication to innovation in the agricultural industry has helped it grow into a leading producer of lemons, avocados, oranges, specialty citrus and other crops that are enjoyed around the planet. Limoneira currently maintains just under 11,000 acres of agricultural production – including 3,010 acres of lemons, 1,169 acres of avocados and 1,654 acres of oranges in California and Arizona. In September, the company announced plans to increase its production capacity through the purchase of more than 750 acres of orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

According to a report by IBISWorld, the domestic orange and citrus groves market is expected to experience steady growth in the years to come. In particular, the report highlights government-sponsored programs as a driver of increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Because of the capital investment requirements and significant lead times for commercial harvesting, the company’s established presence in the agricultural market places it into a strong strategic position to benefit from this increased demand.

In addition to its agricultural investments, Limoneira has a long history of community building through its real estate and community development division. From sustainable, ‘live-walk-work’ communities to commercial rental units, this division provides diversification to the company’s agricultural operations. Last month, Limoneira announced a joint venture with The Lewis Group of Companies, a leading residential real estate investment firm, for the planned development of roughly 1,500 residential units comprising a 500-acre community in Santa Paula, California. Limoneira expects to receive approximately $100 million of net cash flow from the Santa Paula Gateway project over its 10-year duration.

“The Gateway Project is a great example of Limoneira unlocking the value of its extensive real estate assets,” Harold Edwards, president and chief executive officer of Limoneira, stated in a news release. “We believe that over time, this project this will result in significant cash flows, which will allow us to significantly increase the operating results of our global agribusiness. We are confident this will enhance the long-term value of our company for our shareholders and deliver on our stated goal of becoming one of the leading citrus agribusinesses in the world.”

In April, Limoniera’s innovative approach to the agribusiness sector was recognized by Grocery Headquarters with the ‘Grocery Headquarters Annual Produce Trailblazer Award’. Receiving this award underscored the company’s commitment to best-in-class practices while serving as a testament to the dedication of its employees. Through its recent efforts to build on this success in both its agribusiness and real estate segments, Limoneira is strategically positioned to promote sustainable growth and maximized shareholder value for the foreseeable future.

For more information, visit www.limoneira.com

Bollente Companies is growing a diverse portfolio of companies with an interest in disruptive technologies that positively impact the environment, consumer lifestyles and emerging economies. The company’s flagship brand, trutankless®, manufactures and distributes tankless water heaters that leverage proprietary technology in order to outperform and outlast both their tank and tankless predecessors – including those produced by industry giants such as AO Smith (NYSE: AOS) and General Electric (NYSE: GE) – in terms of energy efficiency, output and durability.

trutankless achieves this industry-leading performance by integrating its products with existing home automation systems through an intuitive online control panel, allowing homeowners to easily control water temperature to within one degree and monitor usage directly from their computer or mobile devices. These groundbreaking features helped trutankless claim the ‘Best Home Technology Product’ award at the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show and the ‘Governor’s Award of Merit for Energy and Technology Innovation’ at Arizona Forward’s Environmental Excellence Awards.

By targeting the home automation market, Bollente is in a strong position to capitalize on rapid industry growth. According to a report by ABI Research, the U.S. home automation market will exceed $5.5 billion in 2016, and more than 500 million wireless smart home monitoring devices will be installed worldwide by 2018. This market performance, in addition to new Department of Energy guidelines for water heater efficiency, should provide a solid platform upon which to promote sustainable financial growth in the months to come.

“The new Department of Energy guidelines for water heaters are going to impact the majority of homes that currently use traditional tank water heaters,” Michael Stebbins, president of trutankless, stated in a news release. “Tanks will become larger and costlier to install, and homes requiring tank heaters that hold 55 or more gallons will have to upgrade to a heat pump for twice the cost, or go tankless. We are pleased to offer whole-home electric tankless solutions that already exceed the new Energy Factor guidelines.”

In the first three quarters of 2015, Bollente has made considerable progress toward improving its position in the home automation market through the introduction of two innovative products. In January, the company introduced truCirc, a state-of-the-art smart-home water circulation pump that limits energy consumption by tracking water usage and predicting hot water demand. In April, Bollente announced the release of Vero™, a new line of electric tankless water heaters geared toward budget-driven customers. These inventive products are expected to play a key role in the company’s ongoing efforts to increase its market share.

Moving forward, Bollente will look to capitalize on the established industry position of its trutankless brand while continuing to evaluate additional acquisition opportunities that can achieve strong profitability and generate lasting returns for its shareholders.

For more information, visit www.bollentecompanies.com

Despite a downturn in the oil and gas industry, Galenfeha, Inc. (OTC PINK: GLFH) is promoting strong financial growth by providing innovative solutions that help oil and gas producers increase efficiency and limit costs. Last month, the company introduced its proprietary iWaV intelligent injection control system, which seamlessly interfaces with existing SCADA infrastructure, enabling operators to remotely automate all aspects of chemical titration at well sites. In addition to demonstrating Galenfeha’s ongoing commitment to the oil and gas industry, the iWaV system provides the means for substantial cost savings by minimizing the need for labor-intensive, potentially dangerous onsite maintenance activities.

Earlier today, the company took a major step toward capitalizing on the marketability of its revolutionary system and increasing its presence in the oil and gas industry by announcing an exclusive distribution agreement with Oil and Gas Equipment, Inc. This agreement – which followed Galenfeha’s August announcement of a separate distribution agreement for the West Texas region – is expected to greatly improve the national presence and availability of the company’s products moving forward.

“We are delighted that Oil and Gas Equipment will represent our brand in new regions,” Lucien Marioneaux, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Galenfeha, stated in a news release. “We look forward to a successful partnership with incredible growth opportunities.”

Oil and Gas Equipment, Inc. has serviced the oil and gas industries in New Mexico, Utah and Colorado for nearly six decades. In this time, it has become known among industry experts as the premier ‘one-stop-shop’ for oil and gas production services and equipment.

In recent weeks, Galenfeha’s expanded product line has helped it achieve considerable financial growth. During the second quarter of 2015, the company recorded revenues of over $242,000 on its way to a gross profit of $132,000. The new relationships and payment terms associated with this growth are expected to spur a significant increase in cash flow in the months to come, allowing Galenfeha to explore opportunities to expand its manufacturing operations while continuing to promote maximized shareholder value.

Take a closer look at the company by visiting www.galenfeha.com

Let us hear your thoughts: Galenfeha, Inc. Message Board

The commercial real estate market in Colorado is benefitting from growing demand. Marijuana merchants are struggling to find adequate warehouse space to hold their lawful cannabis cultivation and their demand for grow space is quickly surpassing the amount of vacant space available, which is causing leasing rates to rise significantly. Cherubim Interests plans to take advantage of this environment of rising demand and rates by leasing secured square footage to individuals and corporations who need it.

The company recently entered into the controlled environment agriculture sector through the acquisition of an exclusive global license for the deployment of a proprietary plant cultivation technology. BudCube Cultivation Systems, a Cherubim Interests subsidiary, designed the fully portable and scalable technology so that it would offer a turnkey solution for cultivators of legal medical and recreational cannabis and other plant species.

In early October 2015, Cherubim Interests and BCS joined forces with Dgrass Enterprises, an Oregon-based consultation and research and development firm, in order to create the operating procedures for the BCS technology and to add key personnel to ensure that they can execute their growth strategies. Dominic Grasseth, CEO of Dgrass Enterprises, is one of those key team members. A skilled and popular entrepreneur, consultant, master gardener and horticultural expert, Grasseth has over 16 years of indoor and outdoor growing experience. With specializations in cultivation, production, extraction, grow room design, consultation, and industry wide retail and wholesale equipment sales, he brings a decidedly focused, comprehensive and exceptional amount of hands-on experience to the partnership. Together, Cherubim Interests, BCS and Dgrass Enterprises intend to answer some of the needs of the swiftly-evolving recreational and medical marijuana industry.

A hybrid business model coupled with an inventive market strategy makes Cherubim Interests an uncommon operator within the alternative construction, real estate development and controlled environment agriculture sectors.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.cherubiminterests.com

Let us hear your thoughts: Cherubim Interests, Inc. Message Board

An increasing number of states are beginning to realize the enormous environmental and economic benefits of growing, rather than importing, industrial hemp. As the movement toward industrial hemp cultivation continues, more state officials are positioning their states to cash-in on the economic rewards.

Hemp, Inc. this morning reported that House Bill 967, which would allow industrial hemp to be grown or cultivated through special programs in the state of Pennsylvania, has advanced to the state’s House floor – and it didn’t take long. As reported in the article below, “the vote in the House Agriculture committee this week took just 10 minutes.”

Chris Goldstein of Philly.com, and associate editor of Freedom Leaf magazine reports…

William Penn is smiling. One of his favorite crops is on the way to a comeback in Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Hershey) the bill seeks to bring back a crop that was a staple in the Keystone State for hundreds of years. Hemp is a cousin of marijuana that has been prohibited since the end of World War II.

“The feds are catching on to the enormous environmental and economic benefits of the use of industrial hemp, and this pilot program anticipates the full legalization of hemp crops for industrial purposes in the future,” said Diamond in a statement. “My bill will put Pennsylvania in position to reap the economic rewards that will come when further barriers are removed.”

Almost all of the hemp used in the United States for fiber and food is imported from Canada and Europe. China has been making inroads into hemp production in recent years as well. According to a Congressional Research Service report from earlier this year, the current U.S. market for hemp products is $580 million annually.

Traditionally hemp was used to make rope. Think of the miles of the stuff needed on the sailing ships of yesteryear. Hemp is versatile. Cables on ski lifts are hemp cordage wrapped in woven steel. Its fibers can be refined and made into soft cloth.

Hemp seeds are a valuable food source that have become available in mainstream grocery stores. The seeds can be roasted and eaten on their own or milled into a protein-packed flour that is completely gluten-free.

In Canada, Motive Inc. is making a car called the Kestrel from hemp. The body panels, seat covers and pretty much everything but the engine are hemp. Several Canadian companies are even making hemp guitars.

In Germany, thousands of acres of hemp are farmed every year. According to a report from the U.S. Congress we are the only industrialized nation on the planet that doesn’t farm this crop.

This year industrial hemp was harvested in Colorado, Kentucky and a handful of other states. Still there are only a few hundred acres being farmed in these nascent programs in the US. If hemp could be brought back in force it could be a real boon to family farmers. Remarkably resilient and low maintenance it is far less costly to produce than other fiber or food crops such as cotton or soybeans.

Rep. Diamond pointed out that the federal government has eased the way for states to begin allowing hemp. The U.S. Farm Act of 2014 made it official with language that allows states to pass such laws. This makes it easy for Pa. to green light production. Under the Pa. hemp bills, university programs and some farms, under a special license, will begin to produce research crops to prove the viability of the resource. Down the road full production can be ramped up.

The vote in the House Agriculture committee this week took just 10 minutes. There were no amendments. A companion bill in the Senate sponsored by Senator Judy Schwank (D- Fleetwood) is expected to be voted through the corresponding Senate committee in the next few weeks. They will then go to floor votes in both chambers.

Amazing how swift and smooth things can work in Harrisburg. Yet the polar opposite process is happening for medical cannabis. Last week a task force of House Representatives released a long-awaited set of recommendations for a compassionate use bill. The Senate passed a limited medical marijuana bill last May. Since then the House has done nothing but stall.

The bi-partisan group of thirteen reps was formed at the behest of House Majority Leader Dave Reed. The group met frequently over the summer. But the result was more legislative theater than forward momentum.

The task force considered everything from delivery methods to the number of dispensaries. In the end they agreed with the Senate that no smoking of medical marijuana should be allowed. Only pills, oils, tinctures and liquids for vaporizers should be permitted. They seemed to agree with SB3 on most points, including that there should be about 65 locations for medical marijuana dispensaries across the state.

Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) has already introduced a competing bill that would cut the number of dispensaries to less than a dozen. The House now seems poised to amend SB3 rather than go with a new, separate bill. But that is not set in stone. There have been active medical marijuana bills in the Pa. House since 2009. Dozens of “information gathering” hearings have been held over the years but not a single House committee has actually voted on a bill.

Patients who already use underground cannabis and those who are hoping for something legal have been left in a terminal holding pattern. Some families have already relocated from Pennsylvania to Maine, Colorado and other states.

The current excuse from House leadership is the ongoing trench warfare over the budget between the GOP and Gov. Wolf. Because Wolf is supportive of the issue it is being held hostage. There was significant momentum to medical marijuana in the last 24 months. But the prospect of having a true, working program has dwindled. By all but assuring that patients will get only processed products and no whole plant cannabis, there will be little incentive for most patients to register. Even if a bill is signed into law sometime in 2016 it could take 2 to 3 years for a program to be regulated and put into place.

By that time Pa. residents might be able to take a short drive to Ohio or even New Jersey and buy some fully legal buds. We could legalize marijuana for medical and personal use as well as allow large scale hemp farming all at once. The combination would help severely ill Pennsylvanians, stop more than 17,500 arrests per year and net more than $500 million in new tax revenue. Such a move could reform criminal justice, revitalize agriculture and provide real compassion. Far from a pipe dream, we are watching this strategy work in other states.

The continued momentum in several U.S. states also emphasizes the value of Hemp, Inc’s operations. Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc., noted how his company’s 70,000-square-foot processing plant is in the prime position to contribute to, and reap, the economic rewards of what it calls the Industrial Hemp Revolution.

“As more people become educated on the myriad benefits of industrial hemp, including how it can help the economy, I believe many more states will vote in favor of legalizing hemp. Our multipurpose hemp processing plant is the first and only commercial factory to be built in the United States in almost a century. We have been meticulously building the infrastructure to be able to vertically integrate growing, decortication, and milling and this is no small feat. We aim to spark a new clean green American Agricultural and Industrial Hemp Revolution for the American farmers and hemp product manufacturers,” he stated in this morning’s press release.

For more information, visit www.hempinc.com

Let us hear your thoughts: Hemp, Inc. Message Board

Today, On the Move Systems issued a press release highlighting the “spending binge” our nation’s trucking and logistics industry is currently on. With no signs of slowing down, the company believes this binge could mean a favorable market debut for its upcoming “Uber-for-Trucking” platform that is now under development.

Multiple annual surveys indicate trucking firms believe technology is the best way for them to keep doing well, as the industry is currently enjoying record revenues. As a result, companies large and small are pouring money into new technologies designed to help them maximize profits, reduce costs, optimize pricing, plan routes, track shipments, schedule maintenance and find new drivers to meet surging demand.

In 2014 alone, trucking companies invested nearly $100 million in new technologies to improve their businesses.

“We’re not talking nickels and dimes; truckers are spending serious money in order to gain a competitive advantage and OMVS is going after its share of that,” stated CEO Robert Wilson. “We have a tool now under development that can meet the industry’s demand for a way to cut costs, maximize revenues and increase operational efficiency. With technology spending booming, we expect truckers will have a definite interest in our innovative solution.”

As trucking’s technology spending and investments continue to grow, analysts are predicting the industry will soon undergo a radical operational transformation, with shared economy platforms, like OMVS’s innovative app, becoming as much indispensible as mileage logs.

For more information, visit www.onthemovesystems.com

Let us hear your thoughts: On the Move Systems Corp. Message Board