MAYORS and general managers from Tasmania's eight Northern councils will meet tomorrow at Scottsdale morning to learn more about the issues surrounding industrial hemp.
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Northern Tasmania Development said that Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania president Phil Reader and Poppy Growers Tasmania chairman Glynn Williams would address the informal meeting.
Mr Reader said that he hoped to dispell some of the confusion people are exhibiting between industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.
``Everyone jumped on the bandwagon when medicinal cannabis was suggested - no one asked us about what was going on with industrial hemp, but we're talking to about four councils now and we're trying to get them on the right path,'' Mr Reader said.
``Industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis are different enterprises, one is grown in a totally controlled, enclosed environment and the other is grown in a paddock.
``I'm also concerned about the statements some politicians are making - just the other day a senator said that he supported industrial hemp for fibre as long as it didn't interfere with the poppy industry.
``Industrial hemp has no impact on the poppy industry and to suggest a connection displays either a political position or ignorance of the facts.
``The senator also failed to state that he supported industrial hemp for human consumption and that is the issue.''