HEMP, NOT POT

Educate Yourself About A Maligned But Useful Plant

When I was in college, my friends and I used to joke about hemp. I
knew the crop could be harvested for its fibers and made into
clothing and rope, but I also had heard that it was related to marijuana.

So I didn't know what to think when I recently received a bag of
organic shelled hemp seeds in the mail, a complimentary sample from a
Canadian company called Manitoba Harvest. I called the company, based
in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to find out more.

"I travel all over the U.S.," said Autumn Bree, Manitoba Harvest's
U.S. marketing and education manager. "The closer you get to the
coasts, the more educated they are," she said, referring to people
who know about hemp.

She explained that industrial hemp cannot be grown in the United
States because it is erroneously confused with marijuana. The two
plants are different varieties of the species Cannabis sativa, but
ingesting industrial hemp won't trigger cravings for cupcakes and
Cheetos.

The 1936 propaganda film "Reefer Madness" - which shows
reefer-puffing teens transformed into psychotic killers and sex
addicts - helped confuse the public about industrial hemp, said Bree.

"After 'Reefer Madness,' people started using marijuana and hemp
synonymously. It scared people into thinking it would turn their kids
into druggy fiends."

In 1998, the farming of industrial hemp was legalized in Canada and
Manitoba Harvest was established shortly after. The company sells
organic hemp seed oil, hemp protein powder, hemp seed nut butter and
even hemp seed milk, in both vanilla and chocolate.

The shelled hemp seeds (also called hemp seed nuts) are good for you.
A 2-tablespoon serving has 11 grams of protein and 2,000 milligrams
of omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Bree suggested tossing the seeds on salads, grilled vegetables,
cereals and yogurt. They can be added to casseroles, chili and
stir-fries, and eaten out of hand. The oil can be whisked into salad
dressings and the nut butter can be used as a spread or in cooking.

Shelled hemp seeds are similar in size to sesame seeds, but are
softer and oilier. The taste is reminiscent of pine nuts or sunflower
seeds.

They can be ordered from www.manitobaharvest.com or purchased locally
at Food Fantasies, 1512 Wabash Ave. An 8-ounce bag at the natural
foods store sells for $8.39 and a 2-ounce bag is $2.39.

Thanks to the sample of hemp seeds I received in the mail, I learned
something new. And that's groovy.