Informative Hemp materials and products are now on display at the Prentiss Public Library as part of National Hemp Month.

Every July, National Hemp Month celebrates one of the world’s most useful and versatile plants.

Hemp provides an all-natural, eco-friendly fiber with many applications, ranging from clothing to paper to “hempcrete.” As a crop, it helps clean pollutants from the soil and also provides a rich source of CBD, the hottest new addition to the health and wellness world.

The 2014 Farm Bill legally defined hemp as the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant that is less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Therefore, the plant cannot result in any associated “high.”

The 2018 Farm Bill opened up the farming program and also removed all hemp-based products from the federal government’s schedule of addictive drugs, ultimately allowing all industrial hemp production.

The bill also paved the way for hemp-based products like CBD oil to enter the mainstream.

Prentiss is now home to the first and only hemp production, processing and CBD extraction company in Mississippi.

Leaf River Extraction opened for business in Prentiss June 7 in the former KLH building on John Street Extension and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The dispensary has oils, balms, gummies, pre-packaged hemp flower, pre-rolls, tinctures (drops), bath dust and dog treats available.

The company specializes in a Supercritical CO2 technology to extract CBD and other valuable cannabinoids from the hemp plant.

Leaf River Extraction gives the Mississippi farmer a one-stop solution to launch the new crop, process hemp biomass to extraction, and a sales solution to move their hemp oil and hemp commodities via distribution channels.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting at Leaf River Extraction is June 18.

Along with food, drinks, door prizes and facility tours, former NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars Jimmy Smith will be at the grand opening signing autographs.

LRE is currently accepting applications for trimmers and packagers. For those interested in employment, visit the dispensary to pick up an application or call 601-900-3790.——