Don Wirtshafter

Don Wirtshafter started the Ohio Hempery in 1990. He saw it as a creative solution to the environmental and criminal problems that frequented his Athens, Ohio law office. Don started inventing products and developing companies that produced a wide variety of consumer goods from hemp seeds and fiber. In 1998 the Drug Enforcement Agency began to restrict importation of hemp seeds forcing Don to move his oil pressing operation to Manitoba. This effort has evolved into the world’s leading hemp producer Hemp Oil Canada, Inc., 1-800-BUY-HEMP.  Don wrote and published /The Hemp Seed Cookbook /(1990) and /The Schlichten Papers/ (1993), a book about the technology for separating hemp fibers. He has traveled extensively visiting working hemp operations around the world and lecturing at universities and seminars. Don serves on the Board of Editors for the Journal of the International Hemp Association, the only peer-reviewed journal of hemp research. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of DrugSense/MAP Inc., a volunteer organization that works to heighten awareness of the extreme damage being caused by our current flawed "War on Drugs." He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Hemp Industries Association and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.