HemperFi

While you're blissfully munching on your next hemp bar, consider that since October 2001 some very determined Canadians and Americans have joined forces to combat the DEA's self declared ban on hemp seed and oil. I'm not going to take you through the grueling legal details, but one thing is for sure...the DEA frittered away bales of taxpayer dollars.

On February 24th, 2004 --after much legal wrangling-- the 9th Circuit Court fo Appeals issued an opinion which invalidated the original 2001 DEA interpretive rule. Then came the DEA appeals, which eventually culminated in the June 28th denial by the 9th Circuit for a rehearing. Besides the fact that the industry successfully joined forces with hemp activist groups, the cherry on the sundae was delivered in February of 2005 when the 9th Circuit forced the DEA to reimburse 21 thousand dollars of legal fees to Dr. Brommer's Soaps. The significance? The court can only force reimbursement of legal fees in cases where the claim was "not substantially justified". In other words, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals told the DEA they'd wasted everyone's time. Since the DEA was overruled, you'll be happy to know that the industry experienced a reported 65% rise in hemp bread, bars, and granola products between 2004 and 2005.

While all this was going on, TestPledge was created because the industry recognized that many people worried about false positive drug test results as a result of consuming hemp foods and products. TestPledge is not a watchdog or certifying organization, but it does require its producers and processors to: "commission THC tests on each and every lot of shelled hempseed and oil, performed by a properly accredited laboratory according to the official Health Canada protocol." Ah yes, we can now breathe a little easier.

Ok, enough for now...tune in to HemperFi later this week to read about a judge that recently deemed the DEA's hemp cultivation ban "asinine".