DISTRICT EXPLORES HEMP PRODUCTION

Diversity is a key component in any economy and the District of 100
Mile House is exploring the cultivation of industrial hemp as a
potential source of economic development.

The district recently hosted a meeting for potential growers where
John Restakis from the BC Co-operative Association provided
information to potential growers on the options, logistics and
benefits of forming a co-operative to sell the hemp.

The 100 Mile hemp project is in its developmental stages with rather
dismal results coming from attempts at growing the product by the
Canim Lake Band and other farmers in 2006.

In 2007 those results were evaluated and various marketing and funding
options have been explored.

In 2008 farmers will plant again using the lessons learned from the
2006 crop.

"We need 200 to 250 acres planted to get economically viable data, and
we're still learning, it's something very new," said Jammi Kumar, of
the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

He said there are about a dozen local individuals interested in this
project for the 2008 planting.

Mayor Donna Barnett announced at the meeting that Howard McMillan has
been hired for two months as a part-time co-ordinator to help
producers complete necessary paperwork and search out funding to get
the project off the ground.

Producers need a licence from Health Canada to grow hemp because of
the plants relationship to marijuana but McMillan said there's no cost
for the licence and the requirements are not onerous.

Producers must also register with the RCMP because the plant looks
identical to marijuana, but it's sterile and contains very little
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the element that gives marijuana users a
high. "You could smoke a whole field (of hemp) and not get high,"
McMillan said.

The plant has a myriad of uses. The seeds are reportedly very good
nutritionally because of their essential fatty acids and amino acids.

Those seeds can also be turned into oil for salads, baking and
cooking.

Hemp fibre can be used to make clothing and paper and can even be used
to make car parts and building materials.

Researchers are looking at hemp as a biomass fuel and for animal
feed.

For further information contact McMillan at 395-6124 or Kumar at
250-861-7200.