BEAR STREET HEMP STORE SELLS BACK-TO-NATURE ITEMS

Since tourists made up the main customer base of his Victoria, Nelson and
New Denver, B.C., hemp stores Mike Finley thought Banff would be the next
logical step to expand his company.

Hemp & Company is Banff's newest hemp store selling a wide range of hemp
clothing, accessories and health and beauty products.

"If you're going to sell to tourists, what better place than Banff," Finley
said.

The opening of the Bear Street Mall location is planned for May 1st. Finley
will hire about three full-time and five part-time staff.

The first Hemp & Company opened up for business three years ago in New
Denver, Finley's hometown.

Items for sale in the store will include hemp wallets, bags, purses, a wide
range of clothing for men, women and children as well as health and beauty
products made with hemp seed oil.

Most products sold in the store will be manufactured in Canada by regional
companies. Many of the health and beauty products will have been
manufactured in Trail, B.C.

Growing hemp was restricted in Canada until a few years ago and the
processing and infrastructure for the product hasn't been developed.

Hemp is environmentally friendly, does not need pesticides to grow and uses
less water. The fibers are stronger and are more durable than cotton. The
plant, which is similar to marijuana but does not have the active ingredient
THC, can be grown in any temperate climate.

Hemp has been used to fabricate clothing in China for thousands of years. In
North America hemp was used until it was banned in the 1930's, it was
commonly known as Kentucky ditch weed.