Rabou Revolution: Breaking World’s Most Valuable Secrets

Law Enforcement Concerns

Rabou is no hemp-necklace-wearing hippy. A Trump 2020 flag flies at the entrance to his driveway. A hanging in his office reminds him that “God made a Farmer.” The eastern Wyoming agriculturalist has never tried marijuana, not even in college, he said. None of that stopped Rabou from trying his hand at growing hemp this year.

Rabou is growing wheat, peas, garbanzo beans, flax, saffron, millet and, yes, hemp on his farm near the Nebraska state line. The hemp crop takes up 170 of the 8,000 deeded and leased acres Rabou has under cultivation. The venture represents a big bet on a new crop; there is little research to guide him and no federal farm insurance to cover him, Rabou said. He stands to lose around $100,000 if the crop fails, he estimates “We really stuck our necks out,” he said.

For Rabou, the experiment’s risk is outweighed by future benefits for his business, and, he hopes, his economically challenged state. Rabou is betting on the crop “not because I’m in love with hemp, but because I’m in love with Wyoming agriculture,” he said. In hemp, he sees the potential for a new Wyoming industry — not just in fields but in processing facilities to refine the plants into CBD oil, seeds for protein or fiber for rope and clothing.

The nascent industry won’t achieve its potential unless the state embraces it, he said. Such an embrace has come haltingly. Roadblocks

The Impact of Law Enforcement on Hemp Farmers

Prosecution and Jail Time

Prosecutors have sought to put hemp farmers in prison for decades, charging them with marijuana-related felonies. This approach is misguided and can have devastating effects on farmers and their families. Rabou himself was called to testify in defense of his neighbors, a mother-and-son hemp farming team, in a courtroom in Cheyenne. Prosecutors sought to put them in prison for decades by charging them with a number of marijuana-related felonies.

A judge threw out the charges against both the Egles and two employees and friends following a preliminary hearing. DCI agents raided the Egles’ farm in November 2019. Wyoming Highway Patrol officers also seized the loads of two separate trucks carrying CBD products and hemp plants. In one case, a judge threw out all but one of six felony charges against an Oregon farming family whose load of hemp plants and CBD oil was seized en route to Colorado.

In another, the owners of a truckload of plants had to pay $10,000 to get their product out of custody, though no charges were ever filed, according to investigative documents in that case. In the summer of 2018, health food stores in Jackson took CBD products off their shelves after visits and warnings that the products contained trace amounts of THC from DCI agents, according to the Jackson Hole News&Guide.

Those stories get noticed by those in the industry, and may have caused some businesspeople to look askance at Wyoming, a national advocate for the hemp industry said. “Any time you think law enforcement could steal your crop, that’s a big deterrent,” he said.

The Need for Clarity and Guidance

The Importance of Education and Awareness

Law enforcement must provide clarity and guidance on hemp laws and regulations to avoid prosecution and promote a safe and compliant industry. Educating law enforcement, farmers, and the general public about hemp’s benefits and limitations is crucial for the industry’s growth and success. Rabou believes that the industry needs education and awareness to overcome the misconceptions surrounding hemp.

“We need to educate people about what hemp is, and what it’s not,” he said. “It’s not marijuana, it’s not the stuff that people think it is. We need to educate them about the benefits of hemp, and the benefits of the industry.”

Rabou also believes that the industry needs to work with law enforcement to establish clear guidelines and protocols for the handling of hemp. “We need to work with law enforcement to make sure that they understand what hemp is, and what it’s not. We need to make sure that they understand the laws and regulations surrounding hemp,” he said.

“If we can work together, I think we can overcome the challenges that we’re facing,” he said. “I think we can create a thriving industry that will benefit the state of Wyoming, and the country as a whole.”

The Future of Hemp in Wyoming

Embracing the Industry

Wyoming must embrace the hemp industry and provide the necessary support and resources to help it grow and thrive. Rabou believes that the state has the potential to become a leader in the hemp industry, and that it needs to take the necessary steps to make that happen.

Rabou is betting on the crop “not because I’m in love with hemp, but because I’m in love with Wyoming agriculture,” he said. “I think we have a lot of potential for growth, and I think we have a lot of potential for success,” he said.

The hemp industry has the potential to bring new revenue streams and opportunities for Wyoming farmers, making it a valuable addition to the state’s agricultural landscape. Rabou believes that the industry needs to focus on developing its infrastructure, including processing facilities and value-added products.

“We need to develop our infrastructure, we need to develop our value-added products, and we need to make sure that we have a strong industry that can support itself,” he said.