Hemp in the Province of Quebec

Hemp fields

Legally grown in Canada since 1998, the story behind hemp evolved at a very fast paste, but paradoxically, very slowly as well. Transformation processes are limited to seeds and oils. But a few organizations, coops and businesses are putting together projects in the province.

The hemp oil used in CHANV's products comes from plants grown and seeds transformed by Mékinac Nature, who are located in Mauricie. They are the only known producers in the province of "first cold process" hemp oil.

Manon Letarte shares her research and her discoveries on hemp's goodness in her lectures, seminars and conferences.

A brief history of hemp

Hemp's use can be traced back to 10 000 years ago.

8000 b.c. : We can see clothes made of hemp drawn on vases
5000 to 4000 b.c. : Moorings were made of hemp fiber
2100 to 900 b.c. :Hemp seeds were found in tombs of people from the High Societies
In the 17^th and 18^th centuries : Hemp was a very important material used on boats during the discoveries and the conquests by European Nations. One ship could contain up to 90 tons of hemp-made materials, like cords, moorings, sails, etc
1850-1937 : There was an important decrease of hemp crops, all over the planet
1920 : In the USA, technological progresses are made in different industrial sectors, such as pulp and paper and fabric. Nylon and other synthetic material are invented)
1937 : Disloyal lobby is made on the American Government. Consequently, hemp is banned, mostly because it is equated to use of drugs. The whole world follows those policies, through the United Nations, except of countries like France and the Soviet Union. During the Second World War, a brief exception is made, with the "Hemp for Victory" program, to provide the militaries with hemp material.
1998 : Canada allows hemp to be grown, but only through a strict control by the government, and permits ought to be obtained to grow such crops.

We are hence not speaking of new discoveries, but of a sort of back to sources. Hemp is an organic and vegetable solution that provides a local alternative to mass produced oils.

What is needed to get a license allowing the industrial growth of Hemp plants ?

To have an official agriculture permit
To grow a minimum of 2 ha of crops
To harvest the crops with agricultural machinery
To obtain authorized hemp seeds from the government
To take THC level tests regularly
To delimit the territory where the hemp plants are grown with a GPS
To be located at least 2 km away from schools