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Laura Drotleff

Laura has specialized in agricultural journalism for the past 20 years. Most recently she served as the editor of a B2B publication and multimedia properties focused on productivity, efficiency and profitability in commercial greenhouse cultivation. She has reported on multiple aspects of specialty crops including floriculture, fruit, vegetables, citrus and cannabis. She also has served extensively on various horticulture industry association boards. Laura is a Michigan State University graduate and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

California may soon join other states in legalizing CBD foods, bypassing FDA

Published June 5, 2019 | By Laura Drotleff

Despite the drama surrounding hemp cultivation in California, state lawmakers appear likely to not only legalize CBD but also permit the sale of hemp-derived CBD foods, beverages and cosmetics.

Harvest Health inks deal with Asian-American trade group to sell CBD at 10,000 retail stores in US

Published June 4, 2019 | By Hemp Industry Daily staff

An Arizona cannabis company said Tuesday it has signed a landmark agreement to bring its CBD products to more than 10,000 gas stations, convenience stores and other retail locations in the United States. The partnership between Phoenix-based Harvest Health & Recreation and the Asian American Trade Associations Council (AATAC) retailer network will bring the company’s […]

Louisiana Senate votes in favor of legalizing hemp, CBD

Published June 3, 2019

Hemp and cannabidiol legalization could become a reality in Louisiana after the state Senate’s 34-2 vote on a bill to allow production and sales. Supporters of the bill say legalizing hemp production would allow farmers to diversify their crops and that creating CBD regulations for businesses in Louisiana would end regulatory confusion. “Every single farmer that […]

Hemp holdout Nebraska legalizes production, processing, sales

Published May 31, 2019

Nebraska is one of the last remaining Western states to approve hemp production after Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a bill Thursday that will recognize the plant as a viable agricultural crop.

Top ornamental greenhouse operation ColorPoint making transition to hemp

Published May 30, 2019 | By Laura Drotleff

One of the largest greenhouse operations in the United States is leaving ornamental bedding plant production behind and instead placing its chips on the burgeoning Kentucky hemp industry. ColorPoint, a Paris, Kentucky-based greenhouse operation owned by the industry-leading VanWingerden dynasty, said this week it is selling its 3.6-million-square-foot Granville, Illinois, facility to Red White & […]

Arizona hemp growing season kicks off amid marijuana industry’s cross-pollination concerns

Published May 30, 2019

Farmers in Arizona will start planting legal hemp crops Friday, as the 2019 season officially gets underway under a set of rules established by the state’s agriculture department. The season is starting two months earlier than planned, thanks to legislation signed into law in February by Gov. Doug Ducey. But while Arizona’s hemp farmers are cheering […]

Commercial hemp production in Florida delayed until 2020

Published May 29, 2019

While farmers in Florida were hoping to plant hemp in 2019, the state hemp program – approved by Florida lawmakers earlier this month – is still awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

Oregon hemp production lawsuits may offer lessons for farmers

Published May 29, 2019 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp farmers often look for strategic partnerships with other farmers and landowners to boost their production capabilities – but if care isn’t taken in picking the right partners and creating solid contracts, those relationships can go awry.

Crop insurance provision for hemp included in US disaster aid bill

Published May 24, 2019

A provision to help hemp farmers get crop insurance has been added to a federal disaster-relief bill. A bill that passed in the Senate on Thursday includes an amendment to ensure hemp farmers access to crop insurance prior to the 2020 growing season. The provision states that the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. shall offer coverage under the […]

Hemp in California: Amid legal confusion, many counties saying no to hemp – for now

Published May 24, 2019 | By Laura Drotleff

The nation’s largest agricultural state continues to perplex would-be hemp farmers and businesses as nearly half of California’s 58 counties maintain moratoriums on hemp production and others block licenses.

Vegetable producer Village Farms expands hemp, CBD production into Colorado

Published May 22, 2019

Village Farms International, a prominent greenhouse vegetable producer from Canada, is entering the Colorado hemp market with a $5 million joint venture to start growing CBD-rich hemp in the Centennial State. To accomplish the move, Village Farms entered a joint venture with Arkansas Valley Hemp in southern Colorado. Under the agreement, Vancouver, British Columbia-based Village […]

Ohio hemp company hit with federal labor lawsuit

Published May 16, 2019

North Coast Natural Solutions, a Cleveland hemp manufacturing facility that hasn’t yet opened, is being sued by two employees who claim they haven’t been paid for more than a month of training. Ty Williams, CEO of Level 5 Global Corp., a Maryland-based business consulting firm, announced last fall that the company planned to open a hemp manufacturing […]