ONTARIO — The marijuana form of cannabis has received a lot of press, as of late, with the drive to allow its growth and sales, but hemp is catching up as it is coming into favor as a crop which can be made into a variety of products, including a medicinal oil which is being used to control medical conditions, such as seizures.
Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis, but hemp has levels less than 0.3 percent THC, the mind-altering substance of cannabis. Any cannabis with more than 0.3 percent is marijuana, according to Ben Fortner, of Ontario, who is working to grow hemp.
Fortner, who is with MalheurCan, spoke about both kinds of cannabis, during the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Forum, Thursday at the Clarion Inn, but most of his focus was on hemp.