CC Summer 1995: Australia's participation in Bioresource Hemp 1995
BIORESOURCE nice pic
HEMP
1995
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Shaun Lisson of the University of Tasmania outlined the current state of hemp study and cultivation in Australia. Although no hemp industry currently exists in Australia, hemp related activities have been gaining momentum, and hemp merchandise from overseas manufacturers is being sold at a number of outlets.


A Study in South Australia
In South Australia, permission has been granted for a two year study into the potential use of hemp as a strengthening supplement in a proposed wheat straw paper mill. Field trials are expected to begin in the Autumn of this year. Licensing authorities require that a wide range of monitoring, crop handling, and security measures are adhered to, and that THC levels are kept below the required levels.


Regulations in New South Wales
In New South Wales negotiations for license issue have been going on for the past four years, with rejection being based upon concerns about crop security and the weed potential of hemp. The most recent submission has been made by a partnership between a hemp merchandising company and a prominent New South Wales university. There have been expressions from local industry in both textile and biofuel production.


Testing in Tasmania
The first license to grow cannabis in Tasmania was issued by the state government in 1991. Although the license was issued too late to sow the crop, the next year a successful harvest was reaped. In early 1993 laboratory pulping trials were conducted with two major pulping companies. These trials demonstrated the potential of mechanical hemp pulping and showed the need for further research.


Four Reasons Why
There are a number of reasons why the legal cultivation of cannabis was approved in Tasmania four years earlier than anywhere else in Australia.

First, there is a growing need in Tasmania for a locally produced reinforcing pulp for newsprint to replace the softwood pulp currently imported from outside Australia.

Second, the temperate, maritime climate and soils of Tasmania are well suited to the cultivation of hemp.

Third, the issue was approached by a coordinated effort between industry, the state's university, a local support group, and farmers.

Finally, opium poppies are cultivated in Tasmania, so an infrastructure already exists to monitor the production of governmentally regulated crops.


A Seedy Situation
In Australia there is a growing awareness of hemp-based products and merchandise. A company called Environmentally Sound Products is trying to import hemp seeds for use as a food product and as a source of oil for body products. A major obstacle to this is that cannabis is currently considered a prohibited botanical for use as a foodstuff. Attempts are being made to exempt hemp seed in the same manner poppy seed, and it is expected to be successful.
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