College Awarded Permit to Grow and Study Industrial Hemp
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap]lbright College recently received the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture permit to research and grow industrial hemp in the state of Pennsylvania during 2019.
The college will partner with Wyndridge Farm in Dallastown, Pennsylvania to grow and process industrial hemp. The collaboration will be led by physician and Albright alumnus, Steve Groff, M.D., and farming and research are expected to begin in spring.
“This very exclusive permit creates unique opportunities for Albright students and faculty to participate in data-driven research on the growth, development and marketing of industrial hemp products,” said Albright President Jacquelyn S. Fetrow. “We expect the endeavor to provide internship and employment opportunities in a revolutionary industry. Albright students will gain real time experience of an industry roll out.” After an almost 80-year interval, industrial hemp, which was once freely grown throughout the state, has been declassified once again, owing to the 2018 Farm Bill.
“There is a lot of passion in trying to do things the right way,” said Groff, founder of Wyndridge Farm. “There are a lot of unknowns about the health and wellness benefits of cannabinoids, so we need to show integrity in expressing what we do and don’t know, in order to raise the bar on research and education in this rapidly evolving area.”
Industrial hemp and common cannabis both belong to the same species, Cannabis sativa, and the same genus, Cannabis. Cannabis is known for its production of the psychoactive plant chemical, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC while industrial hemp is more popular for its seeds. Federal and state law requires that the concentration of THC in industrial hemp be less than 0.3 percent. Although they are chemically similar to THC, cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD) do not have the psychoactive effects of THC. Research confirms that one of 113 cannabinoids extracted from hemp, shows potential applications in the treatment of pain, anxiety and sleep disorders.
“There are thousands of uses for industrial hemp,” said Groff. “Part of the need for Pennsylvania is to determine which to focus on first.”
