Pubdate: Wed, 28 Mar 2001
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  PO Box 32, Auckland, New Zealand
Fax: (09) 373-6421
Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Forum: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/forums/
Author: MATHEW DEARNALEY

HIGH TIME FOR HEMP TO HAVE ITS CHANCE

Promoters of a hemp industry are holding their breath for Government 
permission to sow their first crops next spring.

Not that deep inhalations will produce any illegal "highs," they are keen 
to assure the public.

Although hemp is of the same species as cannabis sativa or marijuana, 
illicit pot smokers would scoff at cannabis with a strength of anything 
less than about 5 per cent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), compared with a 
limit of about 0.35 per cent likely to be set for industrial hemp.

Yet New Zealand is one of the few countries still to bury lingering 
suspicions of a link between hemp and wacky baccy and allow a potentially 
lucrative industry in innocuous products to take root.

These fears have mainly been laid to rest, even among the police, to a 
point where the Government seems likely to support trial plantings under 
strict conditions.

But officials remain super cautious, with biosecurity concerns holding up 
the approval of standards for importing hemp seed for three more months, 
raising doubt whether trials will begin this year.

What is hemp?

Hemp is a herbaceous annual plant, high in fibre, which grows phenomenally 
fast.

Its use in a wide range of products from rope to textiles and oils predates 
written history, according to a definitive report in 1999 by Lincoln 
University organic horticultural consultant Charles Merfield.

It is of the same species as marijuana, and because of that was declared 
illegal in the United States and many other countries from the 1930s on.

But scientists are satisfied that the plant has no psychoactive properties 
at THC levels below 1 per cent.

Hemp remained legal throughout much of Asia and in some European countries, 
and even the United States has left New Zealand behind by allowing it to be 
grown again.

What is its history?

Early Chinese writings tell of hemp being used to make cloth almost 5000 
years ago.

After Spanish explorers brought it to the West in the 16th century, it 
became widely used in making rope and paper. British sea power was based on 
hemp as well as timber, with ships requiring many tonnes for their ropes 
and sails.

Wars were fought over its supply, says Mr Merfield, but it began to be 
replaced by cheaper fibres such as jute in the early 1800s, and later by 
wood pulp in paper manufacturing.

The rise of petrochemical industries in the 20th century brought further 
competition, to the point where outlawing it made little economic impact.

What is the point of reviving hemp if it was fading out anyway before it 
was made illegal?

Hemp is touted as a renewable and environmentally benign product.

But Mr Merfield says a number of claims about its environmental benefits do 
not stand up as it can be grown only on fertile and generally flat land and 
needs considerable attention throughout its cycle.

He says hemp is no substitute for trees to address erosion problems on 
hilly terrain.

But he acknowledges that it requires considerably fewer pesticides and 
herbicides than other crops such as cotton, and can improve soil structure.

At the same time, it has not been tested for its potential to become a weed.

Two immediate uses of hemp in New Zealand are as building insulation 
material and as a health food oil rich in omega-3, essential fatty acids 
needed for brain development, especially in foetuses and newborn infants.

There are already industries in Nelson and Canterbury that are counting on 
homegrown hemp to develop lucrative export markets.

It is also being promoted as a potential vehicle for the Government's 
regional development drive and is strongly supported by Federated Farmers' 
grains council.

Hemp Industries Association chairman Mac McIntosh, who acknowledges there 
are some zealots who tend to over-promote the plant, says the crop has 
possibilities for supplanting the illicit cannabis industry in regions such 
as Northland.

Even Mercedes-Benz in Germany is understood to use hemp for vehicle interiors.

And Green MP Nandor Tanczos is not the only politician who wears hemp 
clothing. British Conservative Party leader William Hague reputedly has 
$1400 shoes threaded with the ubiquitous substance.

What is happening in other countries?

About 12,000ha are under cultivation under new schemes in Canada and 
Britain, where farmers are subsidised to grow hemp.

Trials are also under way in Hawaii, with others likely to follow soon on 
the United States mainland.

Australian growers have been busy establishing an industry since 1991, 
although they still have to import large quantities of seedstock from 
European countries such as France.

Why is hemp still illegal in New Zealand?

Finished hemp products, about $1 million worth of which are imported each 
year by the likes of the Body Shop and marijuana paraphernalia outlets, are 
not illegal.

But the raw plant material is in the same category of class C controlled 
drugs as marijuana, and as such can be grown only under licence from the 
Health Ministry.

The hemp industry had high hopes of a breakthrough in 1997, when senior 
Health Ministry official Dr Bob Boyd recommended that a moratorium on 
applications for cultivating the plant be lifted to allow research trials.

Only two licences had been granted previously, both to Crown-owned research 
establishments contracted by the police to investigate ways to control 
illicit crops.

But the National Government rejected Dr Boyd's recommendation because of 
police concern that hemp cultivation might be used as a cover for its more 
potent and lucrative cousin.

Mr Merfield has rejected this as "patently absurd," saying hemp would 
render marijuana virtually impotent through cross-pollination, if the two 
crops were near each other.

A prized marijuana crop would become very low grade and full of seeds, 
meaning no one would want to smoke it.

Police officials involved in an interagency working party were unavailable 
yesterday, but Green Party co-leader Rod Donald says he believes they have 
become more enthusiastic about hemp since having this pointed out to them.

Mr McIntosh, who emphasises he is not at liberty to comment on his 
industry's chances of getting trials under way this year, notes that 
illegal growers in Canada were strongly opposed to a hemp industry for fear 
of having their own crops neutralised.

What are the next steps towards making it legal?

The Health Ministry has, in fact, lifted its moratorium on granting 
licences, but a regime needs to be put in place for controlling trials 
before it is prepared to approve any.

Hemp will remain a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, so 
it will still be illegal to grow it without a licence.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials are still working on an 
import standard for hemp seed, likely to come from Australia.

Environmental Science and Research Ltd also needs a few more weeks to 
finalise sampling and testing guidelines.

Growers involved in trials will be expected to pay for sampling, which will 
be required when plants are approaching maturity, to ensure their THC 
levels remain low.

Crops will also have to be fenced and only very limited land areas will be 
allowed to be sown.

The hemp industry is also recommending that members establish partnerships 
with reputable and supportive research institutes such as the Foundation 
for Arable Research, an organisation funded by levies on grain farmers.

What about public attitudes to hemp?

Mr McIntosh acknowledges these are among the industry's biggest challenges, 
and one reason why he has not been as impatient as some to get cracking.

"We need the public with us on this one," he says.

"We need to get factual information out to people so they are not worried 
about their kids stealing this stuff and getting into trouble on their way 
to school."

A former naval technician, diver and farmer, Mr McIntosh has spent 11 years 
trying to destigmatise hemp.

He recalls that the first time he approached a Government department, "they 
thought I was a dope grower ringing up to make my crop better."

He says he has never grown hemp, of whatever strength, and does not smoke 
marijuana.

Asked whether he ever did in the past, his only comment is: "I am a 
52-year-old adult living in New Zealand. I have been around."

He acknowledges that the association between hemp and stronger marijuana 
might retain an allure for some promoters of a new industry, but insists 
most are serious about wanting to add a new string to the country's 
economic bow.

What if the trials aren't ready to start this year?

The Greens' Mr Donald says there is real concern that some would-be 
industry players might give up or go overseas.

He points to Nelson-based New Wool Products, which imports hemp from China 
to add to wool for a building insulation product said to have the same 
thermal qualities as fibreglass material but greater sound-suppressing 
qualities.

Company head Lindsay Newton could not be contacted, but Mr Donald said he 
understood he was "tempted to pick up his sticks and move to China" if he 
could not secure a hemp supply here.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart