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Hemp
What is industrial hemp? How does it differ from marijuana?
Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. It
is a tall, slender fibrous plant similar to flax or kenaf. Farmers
worldwide have harvested the crop for the past 12,000 years
for fiber and food, and Popular Mechanics once boasted that over 25,000
environmentally friendly products could be derived from hemp.
Unlike marijuana, hemp contains only minute (less than 1%) amounts of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana. In addition, hemp possesses a high percentage of
the compound cannabidiol (CBD), which has been shown to block the
effects of THC. For
these reasons, many botanists have dubbed industrial hemp
"anti-marijuana."
More than 30 industrialized nations commercially grow hemp, including
Australia, England and Canada. The European Union subsidizes farmers to
grow the crop, which is legally recognized as a
commercial crop by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic
Drugs and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
Nevertheless, New Zealand law forbids farmers from growing hemp
without a license.
NORML is working to allow New Zealand farmers to once again have legal
access to this agricultural commodity.
The Labour-Alliance government has recently announced it will consider
approving applications for hemp research permits for the next two
growing seasons. If you would like to get involved in growing
hemp in New Zealand, either as a land owner, a capital investor, or can
offer expertise in trial design and management, please get in contact
with us at norml@norml.org.nz
.
 Hemp Harvest (NORML News winter 2002)
Commercial Cultivation Of Cannabis Sativa For Production Of Industrial Hemp (NZ Ministry Report)
History Of Hemp in New Zealand
Hemp Frequently Asked Questions
Hemp Fact Sheet
Hemp around the world map
NZ Hemp News
 20/9/02 Hemp Trials 'Have Wider Agenda', Says Heatley
 19/9/02 Nats can’t tell difference between jeans and a joint - Nandor
15/9/02 Boost for hemp bill as first hemp insulation installed
2/9/02 Secrecy Too Much For Hemp Farmer
11/2/02 Wow Man, Hemp Reaches For The Sky
6/2/02 Hemp Crop For Catlins
10/1/02 Grower Has High Hopes For Hemp Crop
9/1/02 Wire: Farmer Gets Dopey Calls Over Hemp Crop
13/12/01 A Double Scoop Of Hemp Cream, Please
9/11/01 Hemp: High Hopes For Industry
6/11/01 First Industrial Hemp Crop On Track For Seed Pressing
14/9/01 Otago Likely To Benefit If Hemp Trial Pays Off
22/8/01 Cannabis Seed Dealer Gets Legal Approval
21/8/01 Donald delighted with hemp trials
03/5/01 First step towards freeing the hemp plant
28/4/01 Many Jobs If Hemp Trials Approved
28/4/01 Nod For Hemp Trial Under Tight Security
28/4/01 Hemp Decision Welcomed
27/4/01 Industrial hemp trials at last!
29/3/01 Green Bill On Hemp Drawn From Ballot
29/3/01 Greens up the stakes on industrial hemp
28/3/01 High Time For Hemp To Have Its Chance
27/3/01 Spring Planting For Hemp Trials
20/3/01 Progress On Hemp Trial Planting
20/3/01 No Decision Yet Made On Hemp-Growing Trials
20/3/01 Hemp: Support Urged For Industry
18/3/01 Aussie green light for hemp puts pressure on NZ government
15/9/00 'Further Behind' On Hemp
27/7/00 Hemp Trials Get Government Go-Ahead
26/1/00 Another bid to plant hemp
22/1/00 Hemp Talks A 'Positive' Step
21/12/99 Green MP Swears By Hemp
20/12/99 MP's Hemp Suit Tailor's Delight
13/12/99 New Impetus For Hemp Industry
9/12/99 It's official: hemp suits the House
9/12/99 Natty in dreads - and a hemp suit
9/12/99 Hemp Suit Concession From MP Tanczos
12/2/99 Police advice on hemp misguided, say Greens
11/2/99 Government opposition to Hemp short-sighted, narrow minded
11/1/99 Hemp Cleans Chernobyl Waste
19/11/98 Hemp Cosmetics Banned
3/4/98 Ministry Of Health Paves Way For Lifting Ban On Hemp Cultivation
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