Canadian Regulations The passage of Bill C-8 in June 1996, resulted in the modification of the Canadian Drug Act decriminalizing the low () 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) ) 9 THC Cannabis, industrial hemp. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) came into force on May 14 1997 replacing the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drugs Act and was published in March 12, 1998 (Health Canada 1998) to permit the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in Canada. This put into place the appropriate regulations for commercial industrial hemp production for fibre and grain in Canada for prospective growers, researchers and processors. Thus, in 1998, industrial hemp was again legally grown under the new regulations as a commercial crop in Canada. These regulations allow for the controlled production, sale, movement, processing, exporting and importing of industrial hemp and hemp products that conform to conditions imposed by the regulations. The harvested hemp straw (free from foliage) is no considered a controlled substance. However, any harvested industrial hemp grain is considered a controlled substance until denatured. Therefore appropriate licenses must be obtained from Health Canada for purchase/movement of any viable seed, commercial field production (over 4 hectares), research and processing of viable grain. Any food products processed from industrial hemp seed must not exceed 10 ppm of delta 9 THC.
Health Canada is preparing a new draft for the review of the existing Industrial Hemp Regulations (Health Canada, 2001). To date this has not occurred. Speculations about new proposed regulation changes include clauses about volunteers, the status and disposal of "hemp dust", and a new, lower level of allowable delta 9 THC in hemp grain and derivatives. Health Canada is also anticipated in making changes to food labeling laws, all of which will have some positive impact on the marketing of industrial hemp. To date only the state of Hawaii has had licensed research activities in the United States and no other legal research or production exists in any other US states due to opposition by the federal government.
As of January 1, 2000, all seed planted for the production of industrial hemp in Canada must be of pedigreed status (certified, or better). This means that seed can no longer be imported from countries that are not members of one of the Seed Certification Schemes of which Canada is a member. Canada is a member of two schemes; the Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Development Seed Scheme administered by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Most of the seed of approved hemp fibre and seed varieties to be cultivated in Canada is of European varieties and is still produced in Europe requiring importation. Several European varieties have been licensed for seed production under private contracts in Canada. The first registered and licenced monoecious early grain variety (ANKA), bred and developed in Canada by Industrial Hemp Seed Development Company was commercially produced in Kent County, Ontario, in 1999. Certified seed availability of Health Canada approved varieties is published by Health Canada each year. Hence seed cost and availability will continue to be a major production cost (about 25-30%) until a viable industrial hemp certified seed production industry is established in Canada. At this time the following are Canadian bred, registered and certified varieties sold in Canada: ANKA (monoecious/dual purpose), Carmen (dioecious/fibre), Crag (dioecious/grain) and ESTA-1 (dioecious/grain).
delt 9 THC Management The Cannabis genus is the only known plant in the plant kingdom that prduces Cannabinoids. The produced resin (psychoactive) is characterized in North America as marijuana. The Spanish introduced marijuana into the Americas in the 16th century. The well-known term, "marijuana", originated from the amalgamation of two Spanish abbreviations: "Rosa-Mari-a" and "Juan-IT-a"; frequent users of the plant at that time. By assimilation, the name "marijuana" in North America refers to any part of the Cannabis plant or extract there from, considered inducing psychic reaction in humans. Unfortunately the reference to "marijuana" frequently erroneously includes industrial hemp. The dried resinous exudate of Cannabis inflorescence is called "hashish". The highest glandular resin exudation occurs during flowering.
Small and Cronquist (1976), split the classification of Cannabis sativa into two subspecies: C. sativa subsp. sativa and C. sativa subsp. indica (Lam.) E. Small & Cronq. on the basis of less and greater than 0.3% (dry weight) of delta 9 THC in the upper (reproductive) part of the plant respectively. This classification has since been adopted in the European Community, Canada, and parts of Australia as the dividing line between cultivars that can be legally cultivated under license and forms that are considered to have too high a delta 9 THC drug potential.
Only cultivars with 0.3% delta 9 THC levels or less are approved for production in Canada. A list of approved cultivars (not based on agricultural merits but merely on basis of meeting delta 9 THC criteria) is published annually by Health Canada). A Canadian industrial hemp regulation system (see ?Industrial Hemp Technical Manual?, Health Canada 1998) of rigidly monitoring the delta 9 THC content of commercial industrial hemp within the growing season has restricted hemp cultivation to cultivars that consistently maintain delta 9 THC levels below 0.3% in the plants and plant parts.
Environmental effects (soil characteristics, latitude, fertility and climatic stresses) have been demonstrated to effect delta 9 THC levels including seasonal and diurnal variations (Scheifele et al.1999; Scheifele and Dragla 2000; Small 1979, Pate 1998b). The range of delta 9 THC levels within low-delta 9 THC cultivars (< or = 0.3%) under different environmental effects is relatively limited by the inherent genetic stability (Scheifele et al. 1999; Scheifele & Dragla 2000). A few cultivars have been eliminated from the "Approved Health Canada" list because they have on occasion been identified to exceed the 0.3% level (Kompolti, Secuieni, Irene, Fedora 19, Futura) and Finola (FIN 314) and Uniko B are presently under probation because of detected elevated levels. Most of the "Approved Cultivars" have maintained relatively consistent low levels of delta 9 THC.
Hemp vs. Marijuana: Joseph W. Hickey, Sr., executive director of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association, is quote: "Calling hemp and marijuana the same thing is like calling a rottweiler a poodle. They may both be dogs, but they just aren't the same". Health Canada's fact sheet on Regulations for the Commercial Cultivation of Industrial Hemp states: "Hemp usually refers to varieties of the Cannabis sativa L. plant that have a low content of delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and that are generally cultivated for fibre. Industrial hemp should not be confused with varieties of Cannabis with a high content of THC, which are referred to as marijuana". The leaves of industrial hemp and marijuana look similar but hemp can be readily distinguished from marijuana from a distance. The cultivation of marijuana consists of one to two plants per square meter and industrial hemp is cultivated in stands of 100 to 250 plants per square meter and plant characteristics are quite distinctively different (due to selective breeding). The established limits for THC content in the inflorescence of industrial hemp at time of mid pollen shedding is 0.3% (less than 1%) whereas levels of THC in marijuana are in the 10 to 20% range.
Present industrial hemp breeding programs apply strict screening at the early generation breeding level selecting only genotypes with less than 0.3% THC and then select for high fibre, stalk, grain quality and yield
It is impossible to "get high" on hemp. Hemp should never be confused with marijuana and the genetics for THC and Cannabinoid levels in hemp cannot be reversed even though over several generations of multiplication will creep into higher levels by several percentages, but never into marijuana levels. Feral hemp in Ontario, which has been under self propagation for 100 years or more has been tested (Baker 2003) and demonstrated to be very stable at <0.2% THC.
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Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) was first introduced to North America in Port Royal, Acadia in 1606 and became a popular crop grown in Eastern (Ontario) and Central Canada from the 18th to 20th centuries. The Canada Department of Agriculture conducted extensive research on agronomic management, processing and some crop improvement over 30 sites across Canada during 1923-1942 (Gehl 1995). In 1938 the cultivation of Cannabis sativa including fibre industrial hemp was declared illegal through the Opium and Narcotics Act. The same took place in the United States due to the Marihuana Tax Act at about the same time even though a small hemp fibre industry continued in Wisconsin until 1958. It was banned internationally in 1961 under the United Nations? Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, to which Canada is a co-signer.
In the summer of 1997, the former Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, Canada, Noble Villeneuve, described the reappearance of industrial hemp to Canada as an agricultural "Rip Van Winkle'He is waking up! It's time to wake up to industrial hemp and its potential within the agriculture and food industry". The passage of Bill C-8 in June 1996, resulted in the modification of the Canadian Drug Act decriminalizing the low (delta) 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) ) 9 THC Cannabis, industrial hemp. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) came into force on May 14 1997 replacing the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drugs Act and was published in March 12, 1998 (Health Canada 1998) to permit the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in Canada.
Industrial hemp production has experienced a global "renaissance" within the past decade. This renaissance has been largely due to the increased demand for biodegradable products, the rapidly increasing global demand for annual renewable fibre and high quality health food products and an in-describable romance with hemp. Industrial hemp is a most unique plant with several types of high quality fibres as well as grain with very high levels of oil which is nature's most completely balanced plant oil for essential fatty and amino acids for human health requirements. No other agricultural crop in recent history has sparked such a level of attention and controversy as industrial hemp. A total new industry is emerging as "Rip Van Winkle is waking up" to a complete new age.
Many enthusiastic proponents of industrial hemp have created misconceptions and erroneous information concerning the production of this crop. Cultivation of industrial hemp around the globe alone will not save planet Earth or revive a struggling agriculture. It can, however, contribute significantly to the future survival and improved level of health of mankind in the next millennium by becoming a vital companion with or replacing some of the petroleum based products, synthetics, wood based fibres and conventional oil seeds. Once established as a crop and industry it will also contribute to the regional rural economy and sustainability.
Industrial hemp and its twin, flax, is one of the oldest "soft" bast fibre crops in recorded history of mankind. Much of the existing agronomic knowledge and experience from other established agricultural crops can be applied to the production of industrial hemp. However, differences exist, and the industrial hemp plant's uniqueness (a tall, very strong fibre and oil seed plant) from any other crops grown in the North American agriculture cropping system requires different agricultural management practices for its successful production. The agricultural scene in North America is desperately depressed; searching for new economically feasible crops with value added potential and new applications. Every prospective industrial hemp grower will need to know as much as is possible about the production requirements of this "old/new" crop. The Canadian experience certainly demonstrates this fact. Agronomic research was initiated in Ontario at Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology, Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada and Manitoba Ministry of Agriculture, Manitoba, Canada in 1995 to address these issues.
Industrial hemp production requires a very fertile, well drained, loamy, neutral pH, high organic content, well structured soil combined with experienced high-level crop management. However, for an experienced crop producer, hemp is a relatively easy crop to grow. Harvesting and preparing the raw products for market become the challenge due to the plant's height and the inherent strength of the fibre and delicate nature of the oil component of the fruit (seed).
Industrial hemp has remarkable adaptability to a wide range of climates from the tropics to as far north as agricultural crops are grown and can be grown in most agricultural areas around the world. Soil types, drainage and climactic conditions suitable for field retting of stalks for fibre are the most limiting requirements of this crop in considering areas of potential fibre production.
The growing worldwide demand for annually renewable natural fibres in many industries presently using petroleum and wood fibre components is fuelling the renaissance for development of industrial hemp as a profitable crop and industry. The advantages of hemp fibres for biodegradable bio-compatible products is considered an appealing option by many industries. Replacing synthetic petroleum based and glass products with similar natural raw materials obtained from hemp creates the appealing satisfaction for the development of more biodegradable and environmentally friendly products with improved quality. Processed hemp fibres can be successfully blended with propylene, nylon, polyesters, wood, cotton, and resins with enhanced properties of these new products.
Unlike limited fossil resources used in manufacture of synthetic products, hemp as an annual renewable resource, can steadily supply mankind with the necessary raw materials for a large array of consumer products. The contribution of a global increase in hemp production is perceived to potentially contribute to the improvement of C02 levels in the atmosphere and the improved weed management and soil quality in agriculture without requiring an increase in the existing cleared agricultural land base. 1996 statistics show that Ontario has 1.0773 million hectares of cleared but idle agricultural land not being cultivated. It is anticipated that a considerable percentage of this idle land would be suitable for industrial hemp production.
Origin and History: The origin of hemp is lost in antiquity. It is believed that hemp was first cultivated on a vast territory in Central and Eastern Asia, somewhere between the Altai mountains, Caspian Sea and Baikal Lake, today's eastern Russia, China and Mongolia territories. The first mentions of hemp as a crop were made by old Chinese documents, more than 5000 years ago. Hemp was grown for it's fibre (clothing and fuel) and grain (staple food) by the inhabitants of those regions. The Chinese made their first paper from hemp fibre (Schultes 1970). It is presumed that migratory tribes and early traders brought hemp to India and Africa. Hemp was first reported in Europe around 2000-1500 BC where it grew quickly to a significant and major crop.
Biology of the Industrial Hemp Plant
General: The hemp plant is an annually renewable short season herbaceous dicotyledonous, day length sensitive plant. It is naturally a dioecious (male (staminate) and female (pistillate) plants) plant with breeding efforts focused on developing monoecious (male and female flowers in the same inflorescence) for grain production. Its day length sensitivity directly impacts the stalk biomass production as it relates to planting date management. The plant will grow to a potential height of 1-6 meters.
New grain varieties are in the market with short stature of 60-100 cm height (Fin 314, Crag, ESTA-1 and ANKA). A wide range of varieties (most bred and developed in western and Eastern Europe) exist for fibre, grain, production and ornamental. Characteristically these European varieties do not have the required consistent low THC levels required by Health Canada.
Plant Growth and Development: Industrial hemp is a day length sensitive plant; hence time of planting will directly effect its growth potential. Flowering occurs about the same time of the summer regardless of the time of planting.
Late maturing varieties from shorter day length regions will produce greater fibre biomass if grown further north in longer day length regions. It requires adequate moisture and heat to grow to its maximum potential height. The hemp taproot prefers a sandy loam soil with high organic matter and well-structured soil with good drainage. This tap root is not a strong aggressive root, but relatively speaking weak. It will not penetrate compacted soil.
Stages of Plant Growth and Development. Seed generally germinates and seedling plants emerge within 5-7 days after seeding (under soil temperatures of 10 degrees C or greater). The subsequent slow growing stage takes until about 25 days after seeding at which time the plants should be at the 4th internode in development. The plant will begin its rapid growth stage at about 25 days after seeding and continue until 65 days after seeding. This completes the vegetative stage of the hemp development. Flowering in the form of pollen shedding will begin at about 65 to 75 days after seeding. Seed maturation is generally from 75 to 110 days after seeding and is referred to as the Reproductive development stage.