June Newsletter 2016

Vital Ones,

It’s Hemp History Week!!! Saturday night, I danced to the hempy sounds of Missy Galore’s “Hemp Is The Way” at the release party celebration. Check out this video of her song:

http://www.missygalore.com/#!vote-hemp-1/kkkfc

Yesterday and today, I spent time with Rick Trojan and the crew of the Hemp Road Trip, a cross-country journey on a biodiesel bus outfitted with examples of useful products made from hemp. It’s a great model of rolling hempjucation! By far, the most impressive piece of contemporary hemp culture was a car door panel—not just any door panel, but a BMW 7 Series door panel made from hemp bioplastic.

Q: Why are BMW (and Audi and Mercedes, and even Ford) using hemp bioplastic for the interior body panels of their top-end models?

A: Because hemp bioplastic is stronger, lighter, more heat and mold-resistant, and healthier (less off-gassing) than most plastic that is derived from petroleum. Ultimately, it’s also more cost-effective.

What I loved about this visit wasn’t just the objects on the bus, but the fact that Rick and his bright-eyed crew of young and older activists are taking their passion for hemp (and for a sustainable future) on the road, sharing it with others so that we can change laws to re-legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, a most vital crop that was once so integral to the health of this land and our history as a nation.

I’m excited that these activists are not just about hempjucation, but changing unjust, antiquated laws that NEVER served us in the first place. They’re out there getting people to support the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 and to remove hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. The Act supports farmers who want to grow hemp, and consumers who want less expensive, domestically-produced hemp products. Our movement also expands the workforce by creating jobs as new businesses based on hemp emerge. To learn more, visit:

http://hemphistoryweek.com

www.hemproadtrip.com and www.nationalhempassociation.org

Considering a larger context for a moment, I want to address something I’ve been thinking about for some time:

encouraging support of each others’ agendas for the greater good. 

For thirteen years, I’ve been championing the use and re-legalization of industrial hemp.  Why?  Because apart from loving the clothes we co-create and loving the experience of hemping people out, I believe that growing massive amounts of hemp is part of the solution to global warming, as well as to a large number of other environmental problems that plague our living ecosystems. I’m on board with other peoples’ aligned projects—to preserve rainforests, save bees, label GMO food and promote vital communities of sustainably-minded folks. We do what we can to collaborate in building new economies that work in harmony with natural systems, rather than participating unconsciously (or even unwillingly) in systems that exploit natural resources and people for short-term profit.

As I write this, we’re hosting a meeting of the Santa Monica chapter of the Holistic Chamber of Commerce.  Camille Leon founded the organization 5 1/2 years ago after a family health challenge. Her aim: to bring good people together to make a difference—not after a tragedy, but once a month—to share knowledge, strengths, contacts and success! The new co-presidents asked if they could host the event here.  It felt aligned, so I said, “Yes!”  I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the organization, and to share the joys of hemp with this enlightened tribe. For more about the organization:

http://www.holisticchamberofcommerce.com

That’s about it.  Happy Hemp History Week.  To celebrate,

treat yourself, your dad, or another loved one to some Vital Hemp clothing, with 13% off in honor of our thirteen years in business.  If online, just use code Vital13 at checkout.

And if you’ve read this far, remember to check out some of the links above.  They’re like windows into the future we want to see.

As ever, thanks for being vital,