NZ Hemp Industries Association Inc
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Public Newsletter for January 2017
In this issue:
- The plan for 2017
- The NZHIA Membership year
- Cannabis legislation controlling THC the psychoactive drug
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Only 2 countries in the world where you cant eat hemp foods
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The plan for 2017
This is an election year and a great one to make significant progress in the iHemp industry.
With access to human foods becoming a realty this year (after a 18 year wait,) the industry can finally begin to scale up to meet the demand.
The Ministry of Health must review the Misuse of Drugs situation and support the iHemp industry, we have a licence issued by the MOH, to grow low THC iHemp. We are not a physcoactive drug. We are just another agricultural crop.
Even when used medically our industrial hemp products should not be further, controlled as they cannot be used as a high THC drug. We need to be able to market all hemp products from our iHemp crop.
This will likely become an election issues as the support for the medicinal use of cannabis, is widely accepted in main stream New Zealand (not as high as the 91% in Australia)
And the proponents and their families calling for change are in serious and immediate need.
This is an opportunity for us, as unlike medical marijuana, which is high in the cannabinoid THC (which causes the high) we are very low in THC.
And we have many other cannabinoids which also have a lot of medicinal uses.
These other cannabinoids can be made available through the diet in hemp foods, supplements and concentrates. Via cosmetics, body oils and balms. And can be used in therapeutic and medicinal doses.
All of these are potential markets for our crop and need to be developed which is easier with Ministry of Health support.
We have the regulations and can grow the crop but we still need government support to reach the market.
Now is the time to make sure the future Government is supportive of the development of a iHemp industry.
The NZHIA promoted iHemp Awareness week in 2016 and held many public meetings throughout NZ, in 2017 we aim to hold more events and inform and promote the industry to the public, starting with the hemp harvest in March April this year.
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Massey Hemp Trial Jan 2017 |
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The NZHIA Membership year
The NZHIA Financial year is 31 March and most memberships are renewed on this date.
However all membership subscriptions run for a year and are due on your anniversary, so don’t worry if you join the association late in the financial year you will still get a full year of membership privileges.
$100 business membership, $50 membership, $25 supporting membership
Contact a member of the executive if you want to know more, our contact details are at the bottom of this newsletter or email admin@nzhia.com
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Cannabis legislation controlling THC the psychoactive drug
New Zealand legislation is specifically targeted at controlling one particular cannabinoid - THC, Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol because it is a psychoactive drug. This is the cannabinoid used by recreational and medical marijuana users.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (42, years old - clearly time for a review) only mentions THC, no other cannabinoids, the “Object” of the 2006 Industrial Hemp Regulations is to allow an industry to develop whilst ensuring “other forms” of cannabis (marijuana high in THC) do not enter the market.
Industrial Hemp is therefore ok, but other (high THC) forms are not.
As industrial hemp has low THC, our hemp products are not able to be used to get you high. However they do contain many other cannabinoids.
CBD (Cannbidiol) is one other well know cannabinoid that has no psychoactive effect and is very safe.
Major problems ahead for Medicines Control who are trying to convince themselves that CBD is actually THC and is therefore a controlled drug.
This is a major problem as they are incorrect and in fact the MOH position goes against the advice they received form ESR, the Government's scientists.
There have been two articles on this recently in the Nelson Mail and Sunday
Star Times, as a Nelson Lawyer Sue Grey is preparing to take the MOH to court.
The US are facing a similar problem wear the DEA is seeking to establish a new drug code for ‘marijuana extract.’ Specifically, the DEA has proposed that CBD, and all cannabinoids derived from Cannabis Sativa L. qualify as ‘marijuana extracts,’ and should continue to be treated as Schedule I substances.” To view the complete rulling.
The US Hemp Industries Association has filed a petition against the DEA to defend lawful hemp-derived products from agency overreach.
Hemp Field in South Auckland - Jan 2017
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