Hemp Could Spoil Illegal Cannabis Industry

A lack of environmental-impact planning with hemp trials could have some interesting consequences for the illegal cannabis industry, ACT Agriculture spokesman Gerry Eckhoff says.

"Cross-pollination is possible between hemp and marijuana, but it only goes one way. Hemp can pollinate marijuana, reducing the potency of the drug.

"We heard yesterday in the Primary Production Select Committee that in one trial, birds had taken 99 percent of the hemp seeds. The birds' dissemination could result in extensive wild hemp growth.

"Given that hemp and marijuana are impossible to tell apart, there are going to be some intriguing results.

"At first, dealers may - knowingly or unwittingly - pass off hemp as cannabis. Over time, widespread contamination would ultimately destroy the illegal marijuana crop, with all plants having to be grown indoors to avoid cross contamination.

"And most intriguing of all, we could see the Wild Greens resurface to rip out legal hemp areas, in order to stop the destruction of their favourite drug," Mr Eckhoff said.

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