Hemp ban stifling fledgling industry. Wed: Federal push for reform

The Tasmanian Greens today (Tues) renewed calls to remove legal hurdles to the development of a viable and profitable hemp industry in Tasmania, and for the transferral of licensing responsibilities away from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Primary Industries.

Greens Primary Industry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green must prioritise removing industrial hemp from the Poisons Act (1971).

Mr Booth also called on the Minister to advocate through Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) for the sale of hemp as a food to be allowed in the upcoming year.

“We need to cut the red tape that’s stifling our fledgling hemp industry,” Mr Booth said.

“With appropriate support from the State, the hemp industry could be a significant wealth and job creator for Tasmania’s agricultural sector.”

“It’s absolutely absurd to list industrial hemp as a poison, given that it has virtually no drug properties to speak of.”

“The first step is for the Minister to commit to lobbying his national counterparts via FSANZ for there to be a coordinated approach to allowing states to modify their respective legislative framework classifying hemp.”

“The second step is to prioritise the State receiving and amending our legislation, such as the Poisons Act, to swiftly remove regulatory obstacles to the development of a state hemp industry.”

“Despite Food Standards Australia and New Zealand recommending its use in food in Australia, hemp still can not be used for food because of a political decision by state and federal ministers in 2002.”

“Tasmania should have been investing in developing the hemp industry years ago instead of solely focusing on subsidising the native forest industry as a source of fibre.”

“Hemp could present the state with a new and innovative industry providing a range of products across sectors including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, fuel and health food.”

“The hemp used in industry is significantly safer and different from its widely known use as a recreational and medicinal drug with less then 0.3% tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC) which provides the psychedelic effect, compared to the mainstream drug which provides up to 20% THC,” Mr Booth said.

• Wednesday, March 14:

STEP FORWARD FOR HEMP INDUSTRY SECURED
Immediate Committee Inquiry Plus Federal Push for Reform

Kim Booth MP
Greens Primary Industries spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the tripartite support for their push for a dual federal and state push for reform to encourage the development of the State’s industrial hemp industry.

Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the industrial hemp industry had great potential for the State, but was currently struggling to capitalise on potential opportunities due to outdated regulatory regimes at the national and state level.

“This is a great demonstration of positive collaboration and negotiation in this balance of power Parliament,” Mr Booth said.

“The Liberals had proposed a Select Committee into the State’s hemp industry, but the Greens identified that we also needed action at the federal arena due to the entwined nature of the current Federal-State regulatory system in place.

“The Greens have required that there be a clear position from the State to pursue industrial hemp reform at the federal arena to facilitate States being able to amend their own laws in line with industry needs without falling foul of national drug regulations.”

“We have also achieved a commitment from the Minister that once federal reforms have been resolved that the State’s Poisons Act 1971 will be amended accordingly.”

“Concurrently with the State’s lobbying effort there will also be a parliamentary inquiry established under the House of Assembly Environment, Resources and Development Standing Committee to look at other way we can encourage the appropriate development and maintenance of a viable Tasmanian industry hemp industry.”

“While we supported the intent of Mr Rockliff’s original motion, we did not believe it addressed with the necessary urgency the need to also have a clear Tasmanian position to lobby for federal reforms necessary for the State to make any meaningful reform to aid our local hemp industry.”

“On behalf of the Greens I thank both the Labor and Liberal parties for their support in securing meaningful moves to strengthen our hemp industry,” Mr Booth said.

Text of Greens’ Amendment successfully passed today:
Amendment to Motion No. 838 (Mr Rockliff)

Moved by Kim Booth MP

Delete all words after ‘That” and replace with:

1. The State’s position to be advocated nationally through the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand mechanism is that the sale of hemp as a food should be allowed in the upcoming year;

2. The Minister commits that following national resolution has been achieved, to move at the earliest opportunity to amend the Poisons Act 1971;

3. Further, separate and additional to sections 1 and 2 above, that a terms of reference is sent to the House of Assembly Standing Committee on Environment, Resources and Development for that Committee to inquire into and report upon the current state of Tasmania’s hemp industry, and any opportunities or solutions required to encourage a viable industrial hemp industry and associated value-adding opportunities in Tasmania with particular reference to:-

a) Any matters impacting upon the production and value adding of industrial hemp in Tasmania;

b) Identification of any commercial impediments, as well as any regulatory impediments at local, state or federal government level impacting upon the establishment, appropriate development and maintenance of a wider industrial hemp industry; and

c) Any other issues incidental thereto.