Although it is perfectly legal to import, buy, sell, and consume hemp food products in the US, hemp farming remains illegal. The reason is that US law still does not distinguish between hemp and marijuana, its psycho-active counterpart. In fact, US law is still such at odds with hemp for food and industrial purposes, that in 1996, Woody Harrelson was arrested for planting a mere 4 hemp seeds in the state of Kentucky as a sign of protest.

As a result, US farmers continue to miss out on a significant economic opportunity, and their Canadian neighbors continue to capitalize on the massive US demand for hemp products. In fact, the Canadian hemp industry has experience considerable growth year after year, and Canadian hemp food producers are reaping the benefits.  As a recent press release from Canadian hemp food manufacturer, Manitoba Harvest, announced:

Winnipeg, Manitoba (February 17, 2010) – Hemp foods are one of the hottest health food trends in North America, and the export growth achieved by a fast-growing Canadian company is demonstrating that there is vibrant consumer demand for nutritious hemp foods overseas, too. Exports of products from Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils™ have grown more than 500% over the past year. [...]

During the past 5 years, Manitoba Harvest’s sales have grown more than 1,000% earning them a spot on the Profit 100 list of the fastest growing businesses in Canada.

The health benefits of hemp are numerous, so it’s little wonder that international demand for hemp foods continues to grow. It’s strange, however, that US law would distinguish between hemp and marijuana as a food stuff, but not as a crop. The results is not only that US farmers will continue to lose out on a lucrative crop, but the country as a whole will suffer as the US misses out on an opportunity to bolster its net exports and stimulate its economy in touch economic times.

Now that Australian the province of New South Whales has legalized hemp farming, the CEO of Australian hemp lobby and research company Hemp Resources, Kim Hough, is wasting no time in pushing the envelope. You see, even though it’s now legal to grow hemp for fiber, it is still illegal for Australians to consume hemp-food products. Mr. Hough, however, is riding the wave of Australian media buzz around the hemp farming law to push to have the ban on hemp-foods lifted. As TheWest.co.au reports:

Hemp Resources chief executive Kim Hough has written to his local MP and Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith calling for an exemption from the Australian food standard which makes hemp foods illegal for human ingestion.
[...]
Mr Hough said it was shortsightedness not to allow a valid industry that could be earning thousands of dollars every year. He said hemp protein foods and oils were highly nutritious because they were rich in proteins and the essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6.
[...]
Mr Hough said the ban on the use of hemp in food products could also be contrary to Australia’s obligations as members of the World Trade Organisation. [...]

Unlike marijuana, hemp has no psychoactive properties. Consuming hemp-based foods, then, offers you a number of health benefits, such as an unparalleled balance of omega fatty acids (get some hemp recipes here).

Given the way things have progressed in Australia, it seem that Mr. Hough is probably on the right track. After all, we’re not talking about just some hippy-health-nut, here. Under Mr. Hough’s leadership, Hemp Resources recently conducted two successful hemp trials: one in China, and another in Australia. In other words, Mr. Hough is a competent businessman who is, for the most part, taking up a completely reasonable cause.

Hemp seeds have a number of nutritional advantages over other so-called wholistic foods, such as plenty of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as all 10 essential amino acids. Well, Eating Clean Works has an overview of the benefits of hemp seed butter:

When ground into butter, the hemp seed is an excellent source of protein and Omega-3’s. Hemp seeds contain the highest percentage of Essential Fatty Acids in the entire plant kingdom. They also have a high fiber content and contain vitamins E and C. Hemp oil is known to help relieve symptoms of eczema and arthritis.

As far as taste goes, I’ve read that it is equivalent to pine nuts and cashews. Sounds like it will taste good with most health foods. You could probably try spreading it on your toast or mixing it in with yogurt.

Of course, the original post has more details, so you should probably check it out if you’re interested in learning more about hemp seed butter.

This is a clip of Bob Burnquist, a professional skateboarder who started skateboarding at the age of 11. In this clip, he is at the Manitoba Harvest booth, talking about which hemp food products he likes, and why he prefers them to the unnatural supplements.