CRAILAR \ ˈkrā lär \

n. 1 a: Organically certified fiber derived from natural bast fibers (such as hemp and flax), which are responsibly treated with an “enzymatic bath” and then spun into soft, white fibers similar to organic cotton. b: Touted as the next affordable and sustainable stand-in for conventional cotton, with the added bonus of tensile strength for use in textile, industrial, energy, medical, and composite material applications. c: Named after the town of Craik, Saskatchewan, this eco-textile initiative is also supported by the National Research Council Canada. A joint partnership with Hanes is likely to make it a household name for apparel knit products globally.

STRUGGLING Monto could play a key part in developing Queensland’s emerging $10 million commercial hemp industry by becoming a key growing and processing centre.
John Hall, managing director at Bundaberg company Agri Fibre Industries (AFI), told Central Telegraph it had been working on the project since 1998 and was ready to move to commercial production.
“We are talking with potential investors who are close to making a decision,” Mr Hall said.
“We have looked at Monto as a processing and growing centre and keeping the research and breeding staff in Bundaberg.
“We have a number of keen growers in the North Burnett with the soil and infrastructure to plant this spring.”
The Monto Fresh sheds and old butter factory have been named as potential sites for processing plants.
There are two main uses for hemp – industrial use in glass and buildings and food such as seeds and drinks.
“Our main focus will be on industrial uses for fibre; for example, ropes, canvas, fibre matting to replace glass fibres in composites, and fibre as an additive to concrete for building non support walls.
“The food business will focus on hemp seed protein products and health drinks.”
The sale of hemp food is illegal in Australia, unlike most western countries.
An application must be processed through Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) for consideration by the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (ANZFRMC), which is the final decision-making authority. An application for industrial hemp to be approved for use as a food is currently with FSANZ, and once it has completed its consideration, its recommendations will be forwarded to ANZFRMC.
A State Government spokesperson said the submission was being considered by a government working group with several representatives from various State Government departments.
THE ROPE AND THE DOPE
There are two types of hemp or Cannabis sativa.
Both contain a psychoactive chemical “THC” (Tetrahydrocannabinol).
Industrial hemp, used to make rope and canvas etc, contains less than 1 per cent THC and has no psychotropic properties.
High THC varieties (between 3-20 per cent) are produced illegally and products from these varieties are known as marijuana.

Drug courts and the state-mandated rehab industry detail their trouble with cannabis decriminalization, in yet another pot piece by NPR — which has recently gone all in on the topic. “These days it’s difficult for a lot of people to see marijuana as a problem, even if they have never touched the stuff,” says Judge John Creuzot of Dallas, who has presided over drug courts and regular felony courts. “When we get into guilt, innocence and punishment, you see a lot of pushback, especially on marijuana, from the citizens [juries],” he says. “They don’t think it should be a felony offense and … so it’s very difficult to get them to commit to sending someone to the penitentiary for possession of marijuana.” Our hearts go out Judge Creuzot and the challenges he faces locking up potheads. Also in that piece …

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, mouthpiece of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told NPR he doesn’t buy any of the arguments in favor of legalizing pot: that it will reduce violence, free up police to fight other crimes, and raise tax dollars. “None of that really holds up under any scrutiny,” he dismisses, without presenting any data whatsoever.
However, Jeffrey A. Miron, a senior lecturer and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics at Harvard University and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, politely disagrees with the Drug Czar and says legalize it.