That was Mr William's statement after addressing with Mr Reader the Northern mayors and general managers at an informal meeting at Scottsdale last week.

The aim of the meeting was to clear up any misconception about industrial hemp and attempts to establish a medicinal cannabis industry in Tasmania.

Industrial hemp plants have less than 1 per cent THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, whereby medicinal cannabis would be grown for its THC content.

Medicinal cannabis advocates say THC helps combat the pain that some pharmaceuticals  can not.

Mr Reader said that he reinforced the difference between what the association was doing and medicinal cannabis.

‘‘I mentioned that we’re desperately trying to have hemp products approved for human consumption, as they are in many countries,  including New Zealand and the UK,’’ he said.

Mr Reader said that by the time he and Mr Williams had finished their addresses, the meeting had a clear understanding of the differences s between industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.

‘‘We’ll keep the pressure  on, continually talking to the federal politicians, to get a decision made, so we don’t have to wait another six months because a decision n has been deferred again,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re in on-going talks with (Lyons Liberal MHR) Eric Hutchinson.’’

Mr Williams said that Poppy Growers Tasmania was a very strong supporter of the industrial hemp industry, with the organisation ‘‘absolutely eye to eye’’ with industrial hemp growers.