EAT IT!

Story & Photos by Dan Skye

In the past century, Jack Herer and a host of courageous marijuana activists spawned the modern marijuana movement by educating millions on the myriad uses the plant has. Whether it was recreational smoking, medical use or the industrial applications of hemp, cannabis received a huge makeover. But the activistsí zeal didnít prevent them from inflating the facts from time to time.

Your hemp jeans will last a lifetime!

Hemp is God's miracle plant!

Hemp can save the planet!

In reality, the jeans wore out like any others, and the plant is no more miraculous than poison ivy. As far as saving the planet, hemp can hardly do that single-handedly.

But over the course of 20 years, the modern marijuana movement has matured. Although the legal consequences of casual pot-smoking remain barbaric, huge victories have been won on the medical-marijuana battlefront. Nationwide, proponents of medical pot have rigidly adhered to factual data and the highly persuasive anecdotal evidence furnished by patients. Responsible, informed spokespersons have blown open the doors on this issue.

The hemp-food industry has grown as well, and not just because hemp seed actually is an exceptional source of protein, vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids - the so-called "good fats." Only dogged determination and an infinite endurance for the court system on the part of the hemp companies have enabled the industry to evolve.

For nearly three years, hemp-food entrepreneurs were forced to hurdle federal roadblocks prohibiting the distribution of hemp-food products - despite the fact that hemp foods won't get you high or result in a positive drug test. But in early 2004, 200 North American hemp companies won their lawsuit against the DEA, blocking that agency's attempt to ban hemp foods. The decision removed the shackles from the industry and refreshed merchandising.

Steve Levine, president of the Hemp Industries Association, says, "The hemp-food scene is blossoming at an amazing rate now. Products like hemp protein powder, hemp bread, hemp milk, as well as cereals, snacks and chips, are just the beginning. Hemp will one day be North America's best source of protein and essential fatty acids."

A decade ago, hemp products were often characterized by shoddy packaging. Labels often bore clunky-looking designs featuring prominent pot leaves trumpeting the "illegal" ingredients. The food was suspicious-looking, too: Hemp nutrition bars, in particular, seemed to be nothing more than hemp seeds encrusted on slabs of congealed molasses. Hemp flour made for thick, chewy pancakes. Many a beer drinker gagged on the special ales produced by breweries that featured hemp in their recipes.

The industry knows that getting hemp products onto the shelves of grocery stores isn't achieved by shouting political slogans. If you're going to be placing hemp waffles, pasta, vegetarian burgers, protein powder and nutrition bars next to traditional mainstream products, your product had better "look the part."

The DEA crackdown certainly chased some hemp-food companies out of the industry. But those still standing are flourishing, primarily because they adhere to strict quality controls, personally overseeing their hemp crops in conjunction with the farmers they've contracted with, and merchandising their products with the same professionalism and devotion to catchy packaging that conventional food companies utilize. Most important, the majority of hemp products on the market taste pretty damn good. After all, nobody's going to eat something just because it's hemp.

Alexander Woollcott, the famed New Yorker writer and professional cynic, once lamented: "All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal or fattening." It looks as though hemp food has at last escaped this bleak categorization. But hemp itself has not.
The legal debate over the hemp plant is far from over. Steve Levine says that the playing field will only be equal when hemp is grown by American farmers in American soil. "We are the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't grow hemp, even though we can eat it, sell it, import it, wear it, wash with it and transport it all over the country. Car companies, food companies and clothing companies are all using more hemp than ever before, and this trend will continue. We are not going away or giving up our mission to grow hemp in the US. Farmers deserve a profitable crop, and consumers deserve a quality product that promotes our local economies and our health."

PRAIRIE EMERALD
Hemp Oil Canada seeks to produce the highest-quality, nutritious hemp-seed derivatives for use by value-added food processors, manufacturers and distributors. In doing so, they have created a wide range of edible foods, nutritional supplements and body-care products, which they market under their retail brand name, Prairie Emerald. Not only do they market hemp oil, flour, powder and toasted, hulled hemp seeds, Prairie Emerald also produces a full-bodied coffee with the unmistakable nutty flavor of hemp seed that will definitely stoke hard-core coffee drinkers.
hempoilcan.com

RUTH'S HEMP FOODS
Since 1999, Ruth's Hemp Foods has been producing a broad range of delicious hemp-based foods. No hydrogenated fats, no trans-fatty acids, no refined sugars, no artificial preservatives, no sulfites, no fillers - just downright delicious foods courtesy of the hemp seed!

Ruth's certified organic hemp seed is cultivated on the Canadian prairie and is the main ingredient in a variety of healthy foods: hemp energy bars in eight different flavors, salad dressings, outstanding hemp oil, plus Ruth's SoftHemp, a terrific topping or tasty ingredient added to smoothies, cereal, soup or pasta. Also, check out Ruth's Hemp Protein Powder, which offers exceptional protein and plenty of fiber while enhancing endurance and well-being.
ruthshempfoods.com

HEMPZELS
There are few better hemp snacks around than Hempzels. Baked in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Hempzels are available as peanut-butter-filled pretzel hemp nuggets or as sourdough pretzels that come in sesame, garlic, jalapeno or pumpernickel-and-onion flavors. The company also produces a delightful dip for these morsels: Hempzels Hand Crafted Homegrown Horseradish Hemp & Honey Mustard. (It's a mouthful, but you can handle it!) Additionally, they market whole hemp seeds seasoned with sea salt, perfect for salads and such. The goal of Hempzels is to mainstream hemp back to the farmers and continue to contract with Pennsylvania food manufacturers to develop healthier foods. Ultimately, they intend to contract with local farmers to grow hemp. Hempzels' company motto is "It's all about the seed."
hempzels.com

NATURE'S PATH
For over 20 years, Nature's Path has striven to be a trusted name in organic foods. They pride themselves on being socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and economically viable. The product list for Nature's Path is extensive and includes cold and hot cereals, energy bars, snack foods, pasta, bread and waffles. It's only natural that organic hemp seeds are now ingredients in their healthy foods. Their Hemp Plus line of products features granola, granola bars, brownie mixes and waffles.
naturespath.com

MANITOBA HARVEST
Established in 1998 and based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Manitoba Harvest owns and operates a state-of-the-art, kosher-certified, USDA-certified organic facility. They are proud to be the largest vertically integrated hemp-food manufacturer, offering the freshest and highest-quality staple hemp-food products in the world. Manitoba Harvest's product list features certified organic hemp protein powder, hemp seed flour, hemp seed oil and hemp butter. Their exquisite Hemp Seed Nut is ideal for salads, cereal and yogurt and will enhance all of your favorite recipes. All Manitoba Harvest hemp foods and oils are grown herbicide- and pesticide-free, using non-genetically-modified "original source" hemp seeds. No additives or preservatives are ever used.
manitobaharvest.com

ALPSNACK
The original recipe for Alpsnack can be traced back 50 years to the small mountain village of Cham, Switzerland. Back in those days, it was a tasty nut-and-fruit bar. It still is, but now it features hemp nuts. The modern Alpsnack comes in five super flavors: plums & currants, apricots & strawberries, coconut mango & pineapple, dark chocolate and espresso chocolate. Even better, all profits are invested in hemp advocacy.
alpsnack.com

HEMPOLA
Hempola's express purpose is "to produce the finest hemp seed oil in the world." That's no empty promise, either. At Hempola Valley Farms in Barrie, Ontario, only the finest hemp seed varieties are selected and grown, then meticulously harvested and prepared for pressing into oil. The result is three award-winning Hempola salad dressings: vinaigrette, honey Dijon and Caesar. Hempola also produces Omega Prima, a gourmet supplement that can be used as a flavor enhancer in pasta, salads, grilled fish and marinades or as a butter replacement. Hempola Baking Flour (which has a whopping 41 percent protein content and is gluten-free) is also available: Its unique nutty flavor is perfect for cookies, muffins, breads, brownies and pancakes.
hempola.com