 | Hemp in NZ: Cannabis seed dealer gets legal approval |
 The Dominion, 22 August 2001
By CHRISTINE LANGDON
Mac McIntosh, of Wellington, is the first
dealer to legally order imported cannabis seeds
for growing industrial hemp in New Zealand.
The Health Ministry signed off Mr McIntosh's licence to deal in
hemp seed for industrial use yesterday, and last night he placed
his first orders for 14 varieties of hemp with curious names like
Felina 19 and Fedora 34.
He will supply Canadian and Hungarian hemp seed to 11 growers
approved by the Health Ministry to take part in industrial hemp
growing trials covering 55 hectares (138 acres) at secret
locations around New Zealand.
The ministry yesterday mailed licences to the first approved
growers. But Mr McIntosh, of Newlands, Wellington, was so
happy that his licence to import and deal in seed use had been
approved that he turned up personally at the ministry to collect
it.
"Today I feel that I am a very fortunate person in a very
fortunate place and time," he said.
Mr McIntosh has campaigned for 12 years for industrial hemp to
be grown in New Zealand, since working out he could make
$160,000 a year by putting less than a quarter of his South
Island farm into hemp. He has since sold the farm, set up Hemp
Seed Holdings to import and distribute seed, and is president of
the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association.
"For me, personally, this is the biggest deal in the past 12 years
of my life. For the industry it is significant and we are hoping
that it will be significant for the New Zealand economy."
The first seed should arrive and be planted by late next month,
and the first hemp fibre harvests should begin before Christmas,
Mr McIntosh said.
Two New Zealand processors were lined up to buy the crops –
the Waihi Beach Organic Farm of Geraldine, which will make hemp
seed oil, and New Wool Products, Nelson, which will make wool
and hemp fibre insulation.
They were eagerly awaiting up to 5000 tonnes of fibre to be
produced, Mr McIntosh said. "We cannot fill their demand at this
stage of development and I would expect it would be two to
three years before we could."
David Musgrave of Waihi Beach Organic Farm estimated the New
Zealand hemp market could be worth up to $30 million within five
years. Hemp seed oil was a valuable dietary supplement because
of its Omega 3 fatty acid content, and Central Otago had the
perfect growing conditions, he said.
The Health Ministry was expected to approve more licences for
the trials on the 30th of each month till the end of this year.
The 11 trials approved this week ranged from South Canterbury
to Waikato, for sites ranging from 500 square metres to 20
hectares. Licences were issued for one year.
The level of tetrahydrocannabinol – the active ingredient in
cannabis – must be less than 0.35 per cent in the industrial hemp
crops, about 10-20 times lower than the amount in an illicit
cannabis cigarette.
The Government-approved trials will assess whether hemp can
be successfully grown and the varieties most suited to New
Zealand.
If successful, a Government working group will consider what
restrictions should be placed on commercial cultivation.
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