Pubdate: Tue, 26 Jul 2005
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2005 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.)

HEMP SOLUTION RULED OUT

The Government is not considering industrial hemp as an alternative
crop to sugar, said Agriculture Minister Ilaitia Tuisese.

He said while there were a lot of discussions on it, industrial hemp
was not on the list of alternative crops farmers could make money from.

Mr Tuisese who was leading a ministerial group that was promoting
alternative livelihood project, said people needed to be educated on
what it was all about.

Alternative livelihood project is a project funded by the Asia
Development Bank to help sugar cane farmers when sugar prices decline.

Mr Tuisese said if people could abuse marijuana and commit all sorts
of crimes as well as ending up in Saint Giles Hospital, there was no
need to think about industrial hemp.

"If it's killing people and taking them to Saint Giles, I don't see
any reason why it should be legalised," he said.

He said legalising marijuana was far from reality, if people continue
to abuse it. "It's going to be the end of the day, if we legalise it."
He said despite the money generated from the illegal selling of
marijuana, people's lives were more important and the Government does
not want to create a big mistake of legalising it.

Mr Tuisese said his ministry had been to villages that were earning
revenue through the sales of marijuana and encourage them to grow
alternate crops like vanilla and other big crops. The Ministry of
Agriculture is working closely with the Fiji Sugar Corporation to look
for alternative crops and investment to sustain farmers' earnings and
livelihood.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin