Hemp

HEMP

WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL HEMP INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS A VARIETY OF CANNABIS SATIVA. CANNABIS IS A GENUS OF FLOWERING PLANTS IN THE CANNABACEAE FAMILY, WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE PRIMARY SPECIES: CANNABIS SATIVA, CANNABIS INDICA, AND CANNABIS RUDERALIS. FROM THE USA CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE REPORT: HEMP AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PAGE 1, COMPARISON OF HEMP AND MARIJUANA. “… HEMP IS GENETICALLY DIFFERENT AND IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS USE AND CHEMICAL MAKEUP, AS WELL AS BY DIFFERING CULTIVATION PRACTICES IN ITS PRODUCTION. HEMP, ALSO CALLED “INDUSTRIAL HEMP,” REFERS TO CANNABIS VARIETIES THAT ARE PRIMARILY GROWN AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP (SUCH AS SEEDS AND FIBER, AND BY-PRODUCTS SUCH AS OIL, SEED CAKE, HURDS) AND IS CHARACTERIZED BY PLANTS THAT ARE LOW IN THC (DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL, MARIJUANA’S PRIMARY PSYCHOACTIVE CHEMICAL).”  INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS NOT MARIJUANA Tetrahydrocannabinol or “THC” is the active compound in the Cannabis family that atones for the feeling of euphoria. Medical Marijuana (considered a narcotic drug in Guyana) has THC levels varying from 8-33%. Industrial Hemp’s THC level is 0.3% or less, which is considered negligible to the human body. This is the key factor that declassifies Industrial Hemp from being a narcotic. Furthermore, due to Industrial Hemp’s high Cannabidiol or “CBD” content, the active compound in Cannabis that has been globally researched and linked to fighting Cancer, Autism, Alzheimer’s, Epilepsy, etc., is essentially a THC antagonist. The high CBD content of Industrial Hemp makes the already negligible level of THC completely ineffective as a source of euphoria. In more frank terms, one can smoke or ingest an entire garbage bag full of Industrial Hemp, and they would not get any feeling of euphoria, the only result would be a headache from excessive smoke-inhalation. The difference in appearance and growing methods between Industrial Hemp and Marijuana is akin to the difference between growing corn and roses. Industrial hemp is grown closely together (rows are as close as 4 inches apart), it is grown viably in small and large plots, it grows thin and tall, as tall as 20 feet high in many cases, and very few branches or leaves below the tops with a grow cycle of approximately 108-120 days. Contrasting this with Medical Marijuana which is grown 4-6 feet apart, it is a shorter fatter bush with many branches, smaller plots with fewer plants, and is grown for 60-90 days. When ready to harvest, the corn vs. roses analogy is even more striking.

GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL HEMP MARKET THE GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL HEMP MARKET SIZE WAS ESTIMATED AT USD 4.71 BILLION IN 2019 AND IS EXPECTED TO REGISTER A REVENUE-BASED CAGR OF 15.8% OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD. THE MARKET IS DRIVEN BY THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HEMP OIL AND FIBERS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, CONSTRUCTION, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, PERSONAL CARE, AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES; ESPECIALLY IN EMERGING REGIONS SUCH AS ASIA PACIFIC. RISING DEMAND FOR OIL PAINTS, VARNISHES, PRINTING INKS, FUEL, SOLVENTS, CHAIN-SAW LUBRICANTS, PUTTY, AND COATINGS IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER PROPEL THE PRODUCT DEMAND. IN ADDITION, GROWTH IN THE INVESTMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS IS EXPECTED TO DRIVE THE MARKET GROWTH. LOW PRICES OF THE HEMP AS A CROP ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO DIVERSIFY THEIR CROP OPTIONS, WHICH HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS. THE NATIONAL ACREAGE OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP HAS WITNESSED ABOUT 25% ANNUALLY IN CANADA. IN ADDITION, THE RETAIL VALUE OF THESE PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE U.S. SAW A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN 2018. THE MAJOR MARKET PLAYERS FOCUS ON THE FULL UTILIZATION OF THE CROP TO GAIN GREATER MARKET SHARE. 2018 2020–2027 global sales of hemp amounted to $3.74 Expected market growth 15.8% billion USD Industrial Hemp Market Worth $4.71 Billion USD 2019

GUYANA IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED GUYANA IS CULTURALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY POSITIONED FOR THE EXPORT AND CONTRIBUTION TO GROWTH IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA WHICH CURRENTLY ACCOUNTS FOR 6% OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP SALES IN THE GLOBAL MARKET RISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE DEMAND BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USERS, RESULTING IN A RAPID EXPANSION RATE COME 2021-2027 THE LEADING PRODUCTS IMPORTED ARE : MEDICAL / DIETARY CONSTRUCTION BEAUTY / CONSUMER GOODS Recommendations  Develop unutilized Guysuco Lands to plant Industrial Hemp  Retrain unemployed sugar workers in this new industry  Create value chains locally by developing  Create standards and processes for integrating hemp products into high value industries such as construction, beauty and bio energy

HEMP BASED PRODUCTS  In terms of product type, the global hemp – based market has been classified into food products, hemp CBD, personal care products, industrial products, food supplements, consumer textiles, among others  Hemp Derived CBD accounts for the highest selling hemp-based product, followed by personal care products, Industrial applications and food  One acre of hemp can yield an average of 8000 pounds of grain, which in turn can be pressed into about 242 gallons of oil and 5830 pounds of meal. The same acre will also produce an average of 5,300 pounds of straw, which can be transformed into approximately 1,300 pounds of fiber. PRODUCT POSSIBILITIES FOR GUYANA WITH AN INTEREST IN REDUCING TO REDUCE GUYANA’S IMPORT BILL ON FOOD AND HIGH COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMITMENT TO A GREEN ECONOMY, THE RECOMMENDED INITIAL AREAS OF INVESTMENT SHOULD BE: FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS HEMPCRETE HEMP BIOFUEL (23 barrels of biofuel per acre) PROFIT ($15,000 US - $75,000 US per acer every 3-4 months)

THE PROCESS – SEED TO CONSUMER CREATING A SUSTAINABLE VALUE CHAIN IS THE KEY TO A FLOURISHING INDUSTRY NOT ONLY SHOULD EXPORT BE AN OPTION BUT ALSO DEVELOPING OUR LOCAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES PLEASE FOLLOW LINKS TO VIEW ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ABOUT HEMP AND DERIVED PRODUCTS About US Production Guidelines: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp About Hempcrete : https://thechillbud.com/hempcrete-the-revolutionary-green-building-material-made-from-cannabis/ About Biofuel : https://www.cannabistech.com/articles/driving-toward-a-greener-future-with-hemp- biofuels/#:~:text=Hemp%20biodiesel%20is%20made%20from,condition%20than%20it%20found%20it.