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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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New Zealand: No Decision Yet Made On Hemp-Growing Trials
New Zealand Press Association
Tuesday 20 Mar 2001 Pubdate: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 Source: New Zealand Press Association No Decision Yet Made On Hemp-Growing Trials Health Minister Annette King is being briefed today on whether to give the go-ahead to hemp-growing trials. A year-old working party to investigate hemp licensing has reportedly issued an implementation timeline to the Hemp Industries Association. The suggested timeline would see licences issued by June. However, government officials questioned this morning denied reports that decisions had already been made. Mrs King is responsible for the decision and a spokesman said it was uncertain when a decision would be made or announced. Officials from the departments of agriculture, customs, health and police are all involved in the process. Former Customs Minister Phillida Bunkle approved the working party process due to customs' role in monitoring the importation of hemp seeds. The Agriculture Department would be responsible for monitoring the trials, while health and police officials focused on the potential misuse of hemp. Hemp can be converted into a fibre used for paper, cloth and boards and seeds can also be made into oil for flour with a wide variety of uses. Hemp also contains small amounts of the same drug that gives cannabis smokers a high. Those interested in growing hemp have been frustrated by the refusal of the National government to approve trials, and by delays by the current government. The Health Ministry originally approved growing trials in 1997. Industrial hemp trials started in Australia in 1991 and growers there are now pushing for law changes to allow more widespread crops to be planted.
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