Industrial hemp legislation to follow medical marijuana – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Attorney General yesterday said the Government is “working on” legislation that will eventually facilitate industrial hemp usage as it makes medical marijuana legalisation its first priority.

Ryan Pinder KC, speaking at the Prime Minister’s Office’s media briefing, effectively confirmed that the Davis administration has been working on two parallel tracks as the long-awaited legislative package to legalise medical marijuana is released for public consultation.

He indicated that the Government is hoping to bring the Bills to parliament before year-end, together with their provisions for medical marijuana and decriminalisation for persons found in possession of 30 grams or less. Indian hemp, however, will “remain in the Dangerous Drugs Act”.

Dr Michael Darville, minister of health, explained that the Government will be “making a big mistake” if it legalises Indian hemp and medicinal marijuana at the same time. He cited the former’s psychotropic dangers, and high concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

“It can be used in the construction industry and the agricultural industry, and can be used in farming and to produce clothes. The list goes on and on and it has a very high concentration of CBD,” Dr Darville said of hemp.

Mr Pinder, though, added: “We’re working on an Industrial Hemp Bill that will put the agribusiness framework around industrial hemp,…