The Northeast Sustainable Hemp Association, NOSHA, is a grassroots association of independent and craft farmers, processors, product manufacturers, and consumers. As stewards of the land and caretakers of people and communities, we are committed to education, research and outreach on sustainability, climate justice and social equity in the cultivation, production and marketing of hemp and hemp products. We seek to ensure that legalization and normalization of the burgeoning hemp sector reduces rather than increases the region’s climate footprint, supports family farming, and promotes social equity in both rural and urban economic development. NOSHA is a member-driven organization.
An Organic Hemp Farmer Speaks Out; Restore our Right to Sell CBD Products!
Protect Artisanal Hemp in Massachusetts: Lift the Ban on CBD Food and Flower
This 2019 growing season about 100 small farmers in Massachusetts were granted licenses to grow hemp. Almost all of them are growing a crop to be processed for hemp-derived cannabinoids (ie. “CBD”). On June 12th, after farmers had already invested in and planted their crop, they learned from a policy statement that Governor Baker’s administration is prohibiting the sale of foods and other “consumables” containing “CBD” as well as banning the sale of whole flower. These are both desirable and high-valued artisanal products which help small farms to compete with a large commodity market. Massachusetts farms are small farms. Without an artisanal market, they will struggle to compete long-term against large scale agricultural states.
People were consuming hemp for thousands of years before it was banned for a few decades.
The Commonwealth today continues to defy the federal government on “marijuana,” but for some reason the administration is cracking down on its non-psychoactive cousin (now a federally legal crop), threatening a growing local agricultural economy.
Get involved: Contact your state legislators and ask for a “legislative solution to Governor Baker’s hemp product ban.” We need them to pass Rep. Cusack’s hemp bill (H.4001) or similar legislation by the end of the calendar year (harvest is in October!).
NOSHA is a member-driven organization. Join to help shape and lead the organization as it grows.
We believe that hemp can save small farms, revitalize local economies, and evolve into a sector that focuses on sustainability, inclusivity, and justice. But we can’t do it without you.
The Northeast Sustainable Hemp Association, NOSHA, is a grassroots association of independent and craft farmers, processors, product manufacturers, and consumers. As stewards of the land and caretakers of people and communities, we are committed to education, research and outreach on sustainability, climate justice and social equity in the cultivation, production and marketing of hemp and hemp products. We seek to ensure that legalization and normalization of the burgeoning hemp sector reduces rather than increases the region’s climate footprint, supports family farming, and promotes social equity in both rural and urban economic development. NOSHA is a member-driven organization.
Attending and Testifying at a Legislative Public Hearing:
Massachusetts Residents:
About 100 farmers in Massachusetts received licenses to grow hemp this year. They are almost exclusively growing for CBD. However, Governor Baker’s agencies have declared hemp flower and CBD edibles illegal—causing great distress for small farmers and local companies alike. These policies only hurt farmers, small businesses and consumers. We need an artisanal hemp industry to thrive in our region, but under these policies many farms risk losing their whole investment. Harvest is upon us and farmers need these policies to change before it is too late!
Bill H.4001, currently before the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, goes a long way in addressing the issues facing Massachusetts hemp farmers. We need this bill voted on before it is too late for this year’s harvest.
Get involved:
Show your support by coming to the hearing: H.4001 will be heard by the Committee on Tuesday Oct. 22 11-2pm at the Leicester Public Library
Contact your legislators to urge that H.4001 be brought to the floor and voted on before the end of this year.
NOSHA is a member-driven organization. Join to help shape and lead the organization as it grows.
We believe that hemp can save small farms, revitalize local economies, and evolve into a sector that focuses on sustainability, inclusivity, and justice. But we can’t do it without you.