Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jul 2003
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Louisa Cleave
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.)

TANZCOS' HEMP IMPORT SEIZED

Customs has seized a shipment of hemp products destined for an Auckland 
store co-owned by Greens MP Nandor Tanczos.

The Hemp Store Aotearoa has filed papers in the Manukau District Court 
seeking to have the Customs Service release the products, worth about $20,000.

The consignment contains hemp tea and a brand of smoking mixture from 
Germany called Knaster Hanf.

Mr Tanczos said customs had cleared such products before and he was unsure 
why this shipment had been seized.

Customs had been provided with the correct import documentation, which 
showed THC - the active ingredient in marijuana - in the products was well 
below the usual 0.3 per cent for hemp, he said.

Hemp Store spokesman Chris Fowlie said it was the first seizure in seven 
years of importing hemp products.

Customs would only tell him that the shipment had been identified as cannabis.

The seizure notice did not mention THC levels in the products, said Mr Fowlie.

Customs spokeswoman Lisa-Marie Richan said "an amount of cannabis" had been 
seized but the service could not comment further as the matter was now 
before the courts.

Simon Williamson, drug investigations operations manager, was yesterday 
quoted as saying a total of 56kg of cannabis had been intercepted at 
Auckland Airport.

Mr Tanczos said he did not blame customs for taking action, although the 
service had been "inconsistent" in its approach to hemp products, and a law 
change was required.

He has proposed an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act that would 
establish a THC content threshold which would distinguish between marijuana 
and hemp.

His private member's bill, introduced in May 2001 to deal with the issue, 
is expected to come before the primary production select committee again in 
a few weeks.

"Until the law is changed there is confusion about whether the laws 
governing marijuana apply to hemp, which is not psycho-active.

"Potentially, an importer of hemp jeans could be prosecuted for importation 
of a Class C controlled substance."

Mr Tanczos said he had not considered severing his ties as a director and 
shareholder in the store while in Parliament.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager