THE state government says it is confident of securing agreement with other states and territories to legalise hemp as a food crop. Health ministers from across Australia and New Zealand will meet in Hobart today for a forum on food regulation, where it is expected the debate about low-THC hemp being approved for human consumption will again be on the agenda. The state government was unsuccessful at a similar forum earlier this year in pushing it, but Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he was confident other jurisdictions would see the light. "We have always been at the forefront of that debate, vigorously arguing for our Commonwealth colleagues to change their stance on this," he said. "I am confident that down the track that we will, and we will continue to be aggressive players in ensuring that the Commonwealth and the decision makers at that level see common sense." Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie said there was no logical argument preventing low-THC hemp being a food product. "It's highly nutritious, it's safe, and it's potentially a very lucrative crop for Tasmania," he said. "I'm calling on the ministers to finally show a bit of strength on this issue and approve it. "It'll be good for the community and it'll be good for Tassie farmers." Mr Wilkie said the crops would not even need much security, as they did not have the psychoactive properties of cannabis. The Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania has said that if hemp was approved as a food product, the industry could be worth double or triple its current value of around $600,000 a year. Association president Phil Reader said hemp was rich in omega 3 and omega 6 and had potential uses as a protein supplement, as well as a flour substitute for people with gluten intolerance.
THE state government says it is confident of securing agreement with other states and territories to legalise hemp as a food crop.
Health ministers from across Australia and New Zealand will meet in Hobart today for a forum on food regulation, where it is expected the debate about low-THC hemp being approved for human consumption will again be on the agenda.
The state government was unsuccessful at a similar forum earlier this year in pushing it, but Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he was confident other jurisdictions would see the light.
"We have always been at the forefront of that debate, vigorously arguing for our Commonwealth colleagues to change their stance on this," he said.
"I am confident that down the track that we will, and we will continue to be aggressive players in ensuring that the Commonwealth and the decision makers at that level see common sense."
Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie said there was no logical argument preventing low-THC hemp being a food product.
Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie
"It's highly nutritious, it's safe, and it's potentially a very lucrative crop for Tasmania," he said.
"I'm calling on the ministers to finally show a bit of strength on this issue and approve it.
"It'll be good for the community and it'll be good for Tassie farmers."
Mr Wilkie said the crops would not even need much security, as they did not have the psychoactive properties of cannabis.
The Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania has said that if hemp was approved as a food product, the industry could be worth double or triple its current value of around $600,000 a year.
Association president Phil Reader said hemp was rich in omega 3 and omega 6 and had potential uses as a protein supplement, as well as a flour substitute for people with gluten intolerance.
