Pubdate: Fri, 10 May 2002 Source: Duncan News Leader (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Duncan News Leader Contact: http://www.duncannewsleader.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314 Author: Doug Marner Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp) HEMP PLANT FIRM SHORT OF FUNDS AND PONY TAILS Trans Global Hemp of Victoria is still $1.2 million short of the required $2 million investment needed to build a hemp seed press in Lake Cowichan, says the president of the company. Brian Johnson told the Lake Cowichan and District Chamber of Commerce last week that one of the reasons this area was chosen for the seed plant is the beautiful lake. "What we really need is your support, not only in local investors, but also from businesses that want to sell our products," said Johnson. The seed plant would be the first of a planned nine mills in B.C., including one in North Cowichan that would feature a hemp golf line, one in Cowichan Bay producing hemp animal feed, one in the Alberni Valley producing hemp structural beams and one in Prince George with a hemp ethanol mill. He didn't elaborate on where the other four hemp mills would be. Trans Global Hemp's plan is to build the seed press mill and seed de-hulling mill in Lake Cowichan - as well as a theatre, gift shop and coffee shop - on 10 acres of land in the Meades Creek area, owned by Johel Brothers Contracting. Construction will not begin on anything, however, until the full $2 million is raised, said Johnson. "We've had a lot of local support, but we need more," said Johnson. "Some people sneer at the thought of having hemp here in the Cowichan Valley. But, as you can see, I don't have a pony tail and that's good." Another hold up is the application by Johel Brothers to include the property - and others - within the town boundary, where it would be rezoned light industrial. Johnson concluded by saying that hemp is an environmentally friendly products. "It's the opposite of war," said Johnson. "It's peace with nature." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager