Upper House votes for a hemp food industry for NSW

jeremy hemp

MEDIA RELEASE - 25 February 2016

The Greens NSW health spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today welcomed the support of the NSW Legislative Council after it voted 17-16 to adopt a motion calling on the Government to work with other Australian governments lift the ban on hemp food products.  The Government opposed the motion but Fred Nile’s Christian Democrats and Labor voted with the Greens in favour.

“The ban on hemp food products in Australia is nonsensical, as Australians are missing out on a healthy and nutritious food source, and Australian farmers are missing out on profiting from a valuable crop and growing market,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“For years now Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has delayed making a decision on legalising hemp foods by commissioning endless reports and reviews.  2016 should be the year that a decision is finally made.

“I hope that Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair will get over this embarrassing loss and takes on the naysayers within the Government to get a win for farmers and consumers.

“Hemp foods have extremely low levels of THC and it is impossible to get stoned from them.  Just about every other country in the world allows the consumption of hemp foods and Australian farmers are missing out on huge potential.

“Despite their supposed support for a hemp food industry, the Government opposed the motion.  However, the motion was supported by the Greens, Labor and CDP MPs to be successful.

“The Shooters MPs, fresh after cynically adding “Farmers” to their party name, failed to turn up to this important debate about agriculture in NSW, and failed to vote on the motion.  It’s a shocking start for these pretenders.”

Notice of Motion:

  1. Mr Buckingham to move—
  2. That this House notes that:

(a) the current ban on the sale of hemp food products is costing Australian farmers a slice of a billion dollar global industry,

(b) Australia and New Zealand are the only countries in the world where the sale of hemp food is illegal,

(c) approval for the sale of hemp food products is supported by Food Standards Australiaand New Zealand (FSANZ),

(d) the 2012 FSANZ report for approval states that:

(i) hemp has no psychoactive properties and, therefore, could not be detectable in drug tests,

(ii) there is no evidence of adverse health effects in humans at low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol exposure,

(iii) hemp grows in a distinctly different way to marijuana and would be easilydetectable by drug enforcement agencies,

(iv) no countries have reported any problem with mixed messaging regarding drug law enforcement, and

(e) the current ban on hemp food products is impeding the development of a sustainable hemp fibre industry.

  1. That this House calls on the Government to:

(a) work proactively with the Federal and other State and Territory Governments to lift the ban on hemp food products in Australia, and

(b) assist farmers in the development of a sustainable hemp food and fibre industry.

 

3 comments

  • Congratulations Jeremy Buckingham and team.
    This is an overdue decision, and the Government has been proven wrong time and time on this issue.
    I am thankful for the Greens moving this on. I trust this will be the last year our small but growing hemp industry has to invest in working with such restrictive regulations.

    Like

  • Congratulations. We have been promoting hemp as a solution to a number of issues.

    It’s time to Make an Impact!

    https://www.facebook.com/adropintheoceandocumentary/

    A Drop In The Ocean is a documentary feature about the adverse impacts of human activity on the world’s oceans and the practical steps that everyday people can take to mitigate these impacts

    Shot entirely within Australia – and utilising an audience friendly panel show format – it focuses on the three biggest challenges to ocean health:

    -Plastics – Pacific gyre, marine wildlife impacts & poisoning
    -Pesticides – Agricultural run-off, reef impacts & toxins/metals in the food chain
    -Over-consumption – Reduced biodiversity, fisheries collapse & loss of food stock

    As a response to this deadly trio of environmental hazards, the film posits 3 achievable fixes:

    -Hemp – the ultimate, easy to grow natural fibre, used for centuries before plastics
    -Organic agriculture – no and/or low pesticide farming, polycultural planting
    -Smart shopping – sustainable seafood choices, educated shoppers, the greening of grocery buying

    Like

  • What foods- muesli ingredient? flour? salad?

    Like

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