Greens applaud hemp trial success

Green MP Nandor Tanczos said today the future of New Zealand's industrial hemp industry was bright, following reports of the second year of field trials and the approval of another year of trials.

Nandor's Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Amendment Bill was reported back to the House by the Primary Production select committee today, who decided not to call for submissions after hearing that existing hemp trials were progressing successfully.

"The Green Party is pleased that the Minister has approved another year of trials as an interim measure while general regulations are drawn up," said Nandor.

"While I am disappointed the Government chose not to use my bill as the obvious basis for such regulations, I acknowledge that the bill has served its main purpose which was to act as a catalyst for these trials.

"As with my Clean Slate Bill, the Government has heavily borrowed the intentions of my members bill, which they had stalled for two years, and sacrificed it in order to take the credit.

"I believe they should have at least called for submissions because it was the obvious mechanism to allow for the regulation of industrial hemp," said Nandor.

However, Nandor said it was a very positive step forward for the hemp industry that would promote a very promising commercial opportunity.

"The Greens are pleased at the outcome of the second year of experimental field trials of industrial hemp.

"We believe that the stage is now set to allow more general commercial cultivation," said Nandor.

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