Roughly two dozen Pahrump residents turned out for a presentation on the research, education and economic development of industrial hemp in the state of Nevada, courtesy of the Nevada Hemp Association.
The Pahrump Historical Museum was the venue for the June 15 discussion, which coincided with Nevada Hemp Week, June 5-11.
Pahrump resident Michael Whalen, president of the hemp association, said numerous topics related to the hemp industry were up for discussion.
The association received permission from the Nevada Department of Agriculture to host the meeting.
“We talked about opportunities for setting up small family farmers,” Whalen said. “It’s all about getting the word out regarding hemp and the history of hemp and how it can play a big part in our future, in Pahrump.”
“A lot was discussed and what was agreed upon, was everybody who will be growing, will be growing the same high-CBD strain, known as ‘Cherry Wine,’” Whalen said. “There was a company present at the meeting who is a buyer of CBD products.”
Forming a co-op
Another topic of discussion was the possibility of putting together a Pahrump Valley co-op.
“Just based on the history of agriculture here in Pahrump, I believe personally that it will be very successful,” Whalen said. “We will be really focused on exploring the possibilities of establishing a co-op right here in town and we are putting the call out to anyone who is interested to get involved.”
Whalen also spoke about the need for those interested in growing hemp.
“As far as people growing their own hemp and selling it off to dispensaries, we have already started on a couple of larger projects in town,” Whalen said. “This season will be a race to get seeds into the ground. We started as late as August last year, so there are still people interested in that. The actual planting season is right now, and as late as August. Anybody who wants to get involved in this, it requires a little land, a little water, and an application approval from the state of Nevada.”
Cross-pollination concerns
Whalen also noted that officials from Nevada’s medical marijuana industry attended the meeting.
“The medical marijuana people were discussing the realistic fears of cross-pollination from outdoor hemp growing, cross-pollinating with the medical marijuana,” he said.
“Pretty much everybody who will be growing is in agreement to eliminate the male hemp plants so that they won’t be able to fertilize the female plants, which are the most sought-after for the medical marijuana industry,” Whalen said. “The seeds come from the females once they have been pollinated by the male plants.”
American entrepreneurship
Once the plants have reached maturity, Whalen said there is equipment on the market to harvest the yield.
“What’s necessary is processing and extraction equipment and basics such as those,” Whalen said. “There is a woman that markets a machine that plucks buds off the plant, which is a pretty neat machine and it handles huge volumes of hemp.
“The machinery is out there and in the hands of American entrepreneurs right now and people are now scrambling to get their inventions out there because there are all kinds of extraction-type devices and machinery,” Whalen said. “California is not growing any industrial hemp. The next closest place is Nevada, so we are looking to fulfill those orders as they come in.”
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes