Yes! Congratulations to the volunteers, retailers, celebrity endorsers, farmers, policy makers and leading hemp products companies who together made hemp history during the 2nd Annual Hemp History Week, May 2nd-8th, 2011. More than doubling our reach from 2010, we sent a clear a message to President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. House and Senate: let U.S. farmers grow hemp!The petition that you signed, the calls that you made and the emails that you sent made a difference.
Alexandra Jamieson and Phil Lempert
Hemp History Week at a Glance
So what did we accomplish? By the end of May, more than 550 events and participating retailers in all 50 states will have celebrated America’s long history growing industrial hemp and the future of hemp farming for health and sustainability. With over 150,000 hemp products sampled at 475+ participating retailers and 75+ grassroots events, and over 3 million media impressions via our public relations and social media campaigns, awareness has never been stronger.
Remember to take a look at the photos from Hemp History Week events and participating retailers. Do you have pictures that we need to add to the mix? Please send them to [email protected].
Keep the Momentum Going
On Wednesday, May 11th, Congressman Ron Paul, along with 22 original cosponsors introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act to the U.S. House of Representatives. Two additional cosponsors have been added this week as well. This is an exciting and important step. And we hear from our Vote Hemp leaders that this bill is a direct result of the political will you have shown through Hemp History Week. Your work made a difference! It is now crucial that we keep the momentum going. Join Vote Hemp’s email list to receive up-to-date news and action alerts. Also, please email your Representative and ask them to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1831. If they are already a cosponsor you will have the opportunity to thank them.
Many Thanks
New this year, Hemp History Week’s amazing group of endorsers: Dr. Andrew Weil, Alicia Silverstone, Phil Lempert, Ashely Koff, Alexandra Jamieson, Brendan Brazier, John Salley, Kevin Danaher, Michael Franti, Dar Williams and Ziggy Marley. So many new people found the campaign because of their leadership. Thank you!
Professional Hemp History Week, a dynamic website, plentiful samples at events and demos, an active social media presence, and great PR work helped make Hemp History Week a major success. All this, and much more, was possible because of support from Hemp History Week sponsors: Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One, Nature’s Path, Nutiva, Manitoba Harvest, Living Harvest, Merry Hempsters, Sequel, French Meadow Bakery, Vote Hemp and the Hemp Industries Association. When you support these companies and organizations you are supporting their commitment to ending the prohibition on industrial hemp agriculture. Look for their products, take a minute to send an email of thanks, and “Like” them on Facebook, we are all in this together!
And, it’s not too early to Save the Date for the 3rd Annual Hemp History Week, which will be held the week of June 4th-10th, 2012. Let’s use these summer months to dream big about building on our successes and setting new goals. And stay connected for news and updates. Planning for next year has already begun.
Thank you from the Hemp History Week team. Here’s to a bright, healthy, sustainable future for industrial hemp!
Cheers!
Christina, Doe, Tom, Eric, Ben and Ryan
More Info
Hemp History Week seeks to:
- Celebrate America’s rich history surrounding hemp farming before it was banned and to educate the public about the barriers to hemp farming in the United States.
- Engage consumers by highlighting the range of hemp products available and the nutritional as well as environmental benefits that they provide.
- Advocate for a federal policy change while sending a strong, positive message to President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to end the ban on hemp farming and let farmers once again grow the versatile and profitable crop.
Please forward this announcement widely and get involved.
Save the Date: June 4-10, 2012 is the next Hemp History Week!
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About Vote Hemp
Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, nonprofit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for industrial hemp, low-THC oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis, and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to grow the crop. Web Site: https://www.VoteHemp.com
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The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) represents the interests of the hemp industry and encourages the research and development of new products made from industrial hemp, oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis.
Web Site: https://www.TheHIA.org
