THE Dorset Council has voted unanimously to contact the state government and relevant agencies regarding growing and processing industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis and other biopharmaceutical products.
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Mayor Barry Jarvis said the topic generated a lot of conversation among the councillors at last night's meeting.
He said the farming community in the region had been supportive of the council's push.
"Basically, Tasmania in general but specifically Dorset needs to look at opportunities," Cr Jarvis said.
"Tasmania can't afford to miss out on anything."
Cr Jarvis said the council would write and talk to the government to lobby hemp as a food product, support people already in the industrial hemp business and ask that Dorset be included in any medicinal cannabis trials.
He said he would raise the topic at the next meeting of regional councils.
Northern Midlands, Huon Valley and Derwent Valley councils have also shown their support for medicinal cannabis trials.
"The same as any political process, you're never sure where you will end up when you start your journey," Cr Jarvis said.
"Certainly those blockages that are there now we'll encourage the political sphere to remove."
