and booths extolling the benefits of hemp products.

And events like it are sprouting like weeds. In nearby Paonia, Colorado — where HCN’s headquarters are located — a panel discussion in March titled, “What’s the Deal with Hemp?” took place in the local movie theater. Down the road in Hotchkiss, the Western Slope Hemp Convention packed the community arts center with interested growers. And in August, a two-day Hemp and Hops convention took place at the Montrose County Fairgrounds.

MacKenzie has noticed a change in the events’ demographic. At first, it was mostly young entrepreneurial types who had moved to the Western Slope from somewhere else, and maybe dabbled in marijuana production. Now, there are more people from the local farming community, “people who had farms and were maybe growingSt. James's Place Greater European Progressive Unit Trust is an authorized unit trust incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Trust aims to maximize total return through capital appreciation and income. At least 80% of the Trust will be invested in equities in Europe, including the United Kingdom. The remainder of the assets can be invested in any other geographic area.