
Texas has thawed out from the snow and freezing cold wave that hit it in mid-February, but the damage caused by the weather remains.
This week, Cannabis Business Times Editor Michelle Simakis told the story of Eddie Velez, CEO of Oak Cliff Cultivars based in Brady, Texas, who lost his entire hemp crop that was just a month out from harvest. “We were in the flower stage by the time the storm hit. They were looking healthy, and they were doing great,” Velez told Hemp Grower. “And then that freeze just zapped them. I mean, it just knocked them all out.”
Despite the total loss, Velez remains optimistic about the future of the company. Read more
Meanwhile, Hemp Grower Managing Editor Patrick Williams spoke this week with Amber Littlejohn, the executive director for the Minority Cannabis Business Association, about the importance of strengthening small businesses and businesses owned by people of color and how it can be done. Read the Q&A here.
In other news…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to solicit hemp production data and other information from upwards of 20,000 licensed growers in an apparent effort to better understand the emerging marketplace. The public comment period is open on this request, which was filed with the Federal Register. Read more
Marijuana Company of America has announced that its California-based subsidiary, hempSMART, has entered into a non-exclusive logistics and distribution agreement with Fulfillment.com, an order fulfillment company serving high-volume national and global ecommerce brands. The company will initially target the U.S., the U.K. and the Netherlands. Read more
Idaho’s House Agricultural Affairs Committee has delayed voting on House Bill 126, which would have legalized hemp production, processing and transportation in the state. Read more
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has released the state’s final hemp harvest numbers for the 2020 growing season, reporting 802 licensed hemp growers for the year, up 23% from 2019. Read more
Cannabis Conference, taking place August 24-26, 2021, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, has announced its education program. The program includes 45+ sessions within four education tracks that will provide actionable takeaways about the most pressing issues plant-touching businesses currently face in the cannabis industry. Read more
Canopy Growth Corporation, a diversified cannabis, hemp and vaporization device company, has entered the U.S. CBD beverage category with the launch of Quatreau, a premium ready-to-drink CBD-infused sparkling water. Read more