The Hemp Guy

Ben Droz has been the leading voice for hemp in Washington, DC since 2008

[thehempguy]

Ben Droz - NoCo Hemp Expo

Ben Droz is Legislative Liaison for Vote Hemp, representing a voice for industrial hemp in Congress since 2008. He has helped manage congressional advocacy and outreach efforts on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act and several hemp amendments, has lead the planning and coordination of Hemp Industries Association Lobby Days and congressional briefings, as well as grassroots training and campaigns. In addition to his advocacy work, Droz is a professional photographer in Washington, DC.

Looking forward to speaking at another NoCo Hemp Expo!

[thehempguy]

Ben Droz | 2018 World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo

Don't miss our featured guest speaker, Ben Droz, at the 2018 World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo from April 12-14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA!

It was great to speak in Pittsburgh at the World Medical Cannabis Conference!

[thehempguy]

Hempify your Lunch!  Longworth Cafeteria on Capitol Hill

Source: Yahoo! The Face of Hemp in Washington

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The face of hemp in Washington

Yahoo News spends a day with Ben Droz, Capitol Hill's hemp lobbyist.

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The Hemp Guy interviewed on Capitol Hill!

Hemp-to-Biofuels Research Gets Green Light

A crop that has had an undeserved stigma attached to it could now become a source for biodiesel and ethanol.  

Full interview from Domestic Fuel.

[thehempguy]

The Hemp Guy for Huffington Post: U.S. to Help Ukraine by Importing Hemp

Bloomberg: Secretary Vilsack wants to import hemp seed 

Two birds with one stone: we help Ukraine by importing hemp seeds, and then boost our own economy by giving farmers and industry a new crop and resource....

[thehempguy]

Photo: Chairman Henry Waxman poses for a #Selfie with Ben Droz in the Rayburn House Office Building.  2009.

The Honorable Henry Waxman has been the most prominent leader on climate change in Congress.  As long time Chairman of the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee,  Waxman could the the the Clean Air Act (1990) his "baby".  He continued to lead, to the 2009 "Cap-and-Trade" bill for carbon emissions, which passed the House but died in the Senate.  Through his decades of work, we can see that Mr. Waxman understands the urgency of climate change unlike any of his colleagues. Regardless of politics, climate change legislation is essential, and there is a complete lack of leadership in Congress.  Mr. Waxman will be sorely missed.

In January 2014, Waxman announced his retirement.  

[thehempguy]

Ben Droz and Congressman Thomas Massie outside the Capitol during the Farm Bill amendment process in 2013.

[thehempguy]

"...We are laying the groundwork for a new commodity market for Kentucky farmers. By exploring innovative ways to use hemp to benefit a variety of Kentucky industries..." - Senator Mitch McConnell, January 2014.

Office of the Senate Minority Leader, 2014

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Ben Droz Testifies at the United States Department of Agriculture, in front of the Farm Service Agency, about the implementation of industrial hemp in the 2014 Farm Bill.  March 27, 2014.

[thehempguy]

#TheHill #Congress #Cannon #Powertie #Menshair #Advocacy #solidbriefcase #CorinthianColumns #HouseofCards #HEMP #hempeveryday #TheHempGuy #2014

[thehempguy]

In 2009, walking into the Capitol, Ben Droz was stopped and almost arrested for possessing legal hemp products.  The next day Droz delivered releases to the Press Chambers.

ILLUSTRATION BY JASON STOUT

Ben Droz, a legislative assistant for the hemp products industry advocacy group Vote Hemp, was walking through the U.S. Capitol on the way to a series of meetings with Hill staffers on the afternoon of Aug. 11 when he was stopped at an inspection point by Capitol police. They'd run his belongings through the X-ray machine and had one question: What exactly was he carrying in his shoulder bag? Given where he works, the answer should be obvious: hemp. Specifically, he was carrying samples of industrial hemp, the non-narcotic cousin of marijuana. Droz had a variety of hemp products in his bag – hemp seeds (which make good snacks or salad toppers, for example) and hemp fibers (both the long bast fibers, good for making textiles, and the inner, woody hurd fibers, which are good for making certain kinds of paper products).

[thehempguy]

A great meeting with Congressman Thomas Massie, Matt McClain of RECREATOR and Colleen Suave of Tennessee Hemp.  

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Congressman Thomas Massie is the lead sponsor of H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013.

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Recreator Launches Kickstarter to Produce Hemp T-shirts in Downtown L.A.

Article by Ben Droz for the Huffington Post

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Hemp farmer Ryan Loflin heads to the Hill

In Fall 2013, Ben Droz was essential in planning and leading a lobby day on Capitol Hill for the Hemp Industries Association. 

Business owners had meetings with over 40  Congressional offices, being one of the largest events of its kind.

The next day, the Washington Post published this on the front page of the Style section.

[thehempguy]

Bringing It Home   is an eye opening documentary film about the growing hemp movement  around the world and in the U.S.  Ben Droz is featured for his work in Washington, DC.