{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-host-industrial-hemp-forum", "Blumenauer to Host Industrial Hemp Forum", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It's time to start growing industrial hemp in Oregon. Join Congressman Earl Blumenauer at a forum to learn what we can do to make this happen!\n\n\tAmerican retailers sell over $300 million worth of products containing hemp seeds and fibers every year. Yet because federal law classifies hemp and marijuana as the same substance, US manufactured hemp products must use hemp grown in other countries.\n\n\tTo date, 10 states, including Oregon, have passed legislation defining industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana, and removing barriers from its cultivation. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is currently in the process of forming an advisory committee on hemp production while awaiting clarification on hemp's legal status from the US Department of Justice.\n\n\tPlease join US Congressman Earl Blumenauer at an Industrial Hemp Forum to explore the potential of the industrial hemp production in Oregon. A panel of experts including representatives from the Hemp Industries Association, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and Whole Foods Markets will share their observations about hemp as an agricultural crop and the expanding market for retail hemp products, followed by questions from the audience. Free and open to the public.\n \n\tSaturday, November 9, 10-11:30 am \n \n\tWhite Stag Building, 70 NW Couch, Portland, OR 97209; Room WS 142/144 \n\n\tWelcome and opening remarksCongressman Earl Blumenauer\n\n\tPanelists\n\n\tEric Steenstra, Executive Director, Hemp Industries Association  \n\tLindsay Eng, Certification Development and Program Manager, Oregon Department of Agriculture  \n\tRick Rutherford, prospective hemp farmer  \n\tErrol Schweizer, Executive Global Coordinator, Grocery Team, Whole Foods  \n\tRuss Karow, Crop and Soil Science Department Director, Oregon State University\n\n\tAudience Q&A", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-host-industrial-hemp-forum"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.034471370279789, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}