Hemp, Inc. today announced that David Schmitt, chief operating officer (COO) of the company’s Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC subsidiary, has been elected to the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA) board of directors for the 2015-2016 term.
For more than a year, the NCIHA has aggressively pushed for legalization of hemp in North Carolina. The association’s efforts begin at a grassroots level, serving as a hub of industry information and development for farmers, processors, retailers, consumers and educational/governmental stakeholders in North Carolina.
The state is also home to Industrial Hemp Manufacturing and its 70,000-square-foot decortication plant – the largest in North America – where Schmitt applies his more than 20 years of senior level management experience in the natural fiber industry to the subsidiary’s advancement.
For the last decade, Schmitt has participated in growing and processing of natural fibers such as kenaf, jute, and is now gearing up for industrial hemp. Through extensive research and development, he has also brought to market several new products, including DrillWall™, a loss circulation material (LCM) used for maintaining the seals on drilling for water, oil, gas and any other liquid or gas.
This managerial and industry experience makes Schmitt a complementary fit for the NCIHA’s endeavors, according to NCIHA Executive Director Thomas Shumaker.
“We are honored to have him take his seat on our board. His knowledge and experience in the field of industrial hemp processing will serve as an invaluable asset,” Shumaker stated in the news release.
NCIHA is currently “lobbying the North Carolina legislature to legalize the propagation of Industrial Hemp,” the passage of which the organization says would:
• Establish an agricultural program to grow or cultivate industrial hemp in the State of North Carolina; permit the growing, cultivating, possession and sale of industrial hemp and products containing hemp;
• Remove industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana in the North Carolina General Statutes;
• Allow a person, firm or corporation to grow industrial hemp for commercial purposes upon proper application and receipt of a license from the Commissioner of Agriculture;
• Provide for an initial, graduated license fee, to be paid by each grower, based upon the number of acres proposed for cultivation of industrial hemp; and
• Provide for the creation of the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission.
Schmitt supports the NCIHA’s pursuit and said he looks forward to joining the cause.
“It is truly a privilege to join such a driven group of, not only, hemp advocators, but promulgators in support of state laws legalizing the growing and processing of industrial hemp,” he stated. “NCIHA’s core team members are really champions for industrial hemp and providing a means for farmers to economically benefit from the revival of hemp with sustainable crops. So, I’m really looking forward to serving on the board and collaborating with peers to help legalize hemp in the state of North Carolina.”
Hemp, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bruce Perlowin noted the timeliness of Schmitt’s appointment to the NCIHA’s board of directors.
“With our multipurpose industrial hemp processing plant in the final stages of being fully re-assembled, David’s appointment to the NCIHA board of directors could not have come at a better time,” he said. “Our plant in North Carolina will have the ability to vertically integrate growing, decortication, and milling. Not only do we expect it to produce millions of dollars in revenue a year from processing kenaf and, later, hemp, it’s aligned with our commitment to the American farmers and to spearheading a new clean, green American agricultural and industrial revolution.”
Located on 9 acres in Spring Hope, North Carolina, Hemp, Inc.’s multipurpose industrial hemp processing plant is nearly 70 percent complete. The company has deployed a skilled crew to conduct internal assessments of the equipment and ensure that every aspect of the decortication line is prepped for maximum operational efficiency. Hemp, Inc. expects the plant will be fully operational during the fourth quarter.
For more information visit www.hempinc.com
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