The New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA) is in the midst of a three-month campaign calling on the country’s government to “get out the way” of hemp.
The association is urging supporters of the crop to pressure the government to remove industrial hemp (iHemp) from the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975) and the Medicines Act (1981).
Industrial hemp is defined in New Zealand as varieties of cannabis sativa with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content generally below 0.35 percent. But even so, these varieties are considered controlled drugs and are listed in Schedule 3 Part I of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
The organisation says given iHemp has extremely low levels of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC, it is not a drug. Its continued inclusion under these Acts creates unnecessary regulatory barriers; preventing New Zealand from realising the full economic and environmental potential the industry can provide.
“Our goal is to have a review of our regulations announced by early 2025 leading to a fully enabled iHemp industry outside of MODA by 2026 – this election cycle,” says NZHIA. “This can be done if we can harness the power of the Hemp Army to act, share and make first contact on behalf of iHemp.”
It was way back in 2006 when the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 was introduced, which enabled the cultivation and distribution of the crop under a strict licensing regime. A review was meant to occur in 10 years. That review is yet to happen.
The NZHIA says interpretations of the regulations by New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s (MOH) have created an environment of uncertainty, resulting in decreasing number of licenses and shrinking cultivation areas.
“Farmers and potential investors see no clear pathway for scaling up iHemp production or establishing end-use markets, without the economics of Full Plant Utilisation (FPU) is leaving the industry stuck in a vicious cycle.”
It says the Ministry of Health is not the right body to be overseeing hemp and that role should go to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).
“Hemp ticks all the boxes—job creation, increased productivity, environmental benefits, and helping meet government goals of doubling exports in the next 10 years. It’s a win-win for everyone, and there’s no time to waste.”
In 2020, a report published by the organisation indicated if the issue was addressed, it could generate $2 billion in revenue for New Zealand by 2030 and create tens of thousands of new jobs.
NZHIA’s full campaign overview can be viewed here.
