The NZHIA 2024 Media Campaign – Part I: iHemp is NOT a drug!

The government needs to get out of the way and remove iHemp from MODA and the Medicines Act. iHemp is part of the solution and will be a key pillar of sustainability and health in future Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our Call to Action

We need the Hemp Army to get motivated and make 1st contact; see below (link) for more and follow us on social channels. For a summary of the three-month media campaign, visit our Media Campaign Overview: iHemp needs to get out of MoDA page.

We Are NOT a Drug Crop

One of the fundamental misunderstandings surrounding iHemp is its association with drugs. The truth is simple: we are not a drug crop. Industrial hemp has such low levels of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) that it does not produce any psychotropic effect; therefore, it is a risk-free arable and horticultural crop growing annually to produce food, fibre and health hemp products.

Under current New Zealand regulations (iHemp Regulations 2006), industrial hemp is limited to 0.35% THC, yet iHemp is still regulated as if it were a high-THC cannabis crop.

The United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) acknowledges this distinction. Article 28.2 of the Convention explicitly allows for low-THC industrial hemp to be used for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) or horticultural purposes. Other jurisdictions, such as the European Union, have embraced this understanding, recognizing iHemp’s value as a non-drug crop and incorporating CBD (cannabidiol) as an approved ingredient in food for both humans and animals. If Europe can see the value of industrial hemp, why are we holding it back?

CBD, which naturally occurs in industrial hemp, is not a psychotropic substance. While CBD can be used in medicine, its presence in hemp products should not automatically trigger strict medical regulation under the Medicines Act.

Naturally occurring CBD should be allowed in consumer hemp products just as it is in other parts of the world.

Economic and Environmental Opportunity for Sustainability

New Zealand has a chance to embrace a low-carbon, sustainable primary industry by fostering the growth of iHemp. The global demand for eco-friendly products is on the rise, and iHemp is uniquely positioned to meet this need. From textiles and paper to construction materials, bioplastics, and food products, iHemp has the potential to transform Aotearoa’s economy while contributing to an environmentally friendly circular economy.

Imagine a bioregional iHemp industry that not only creates jobs but also investments that strengthen our regional economies.

This is a no-brainer: there’s no risk, only benefits. Reports from various government sources, including the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), already recommend supporting the iHemp industry. Why is our government holding us back?

Visualize this: farmers bogged down by paperwork, legal acts, and unnecessary compliance regulations, weighed down by the law, when they could be driving forward a new primary industry. That’s the reality of iHemp in New Zealand today.

By removing iHemp from MODA and the Medicines Act, New Zealand could unlock a resource that has so many uses it must drive innovation/tech and new product development, all of which have export potential in an emerging global market. What other market has been growing at double-digit CAGR for the last 20 years?

A new primary industry that compliments farming rotations and alternative land use has got to move us toward doubling exports within a decade and reducing our environmental impact through full plant utilization.

The government simply needs to step aside and let this industry grow.

Pharma vs. Farming: Ministry of Health is the Wrong Place for iHemp

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the wrong agency to regulate industrial hemp, a primary industry. The pharmaceutical framework isn’t appropriate for managing a crop like iHemp, which should be handled like any other arable or horticultural crop. iHemp is about farming, not pharma. The Ministry for Primary Industries, with its focus on agriculture and the economy, is the logical authority to oversee iHemp, rather than continuing to treat it as a controlled substance under MODA.

It’s time for a change. New Zealand’s trusted and safe farmers should be given the chance to lead the iHemp industry into a new era of sustainable production. We should be able to grow it simply because it can clean and condition our soil, with the bonus that the harvest can fuel a wide-ranging value chain of innovation.

In 2006 we had enabling legislation and were promised a review of the iHemp regulations in 10 years. This review is now well overdue and desperately needed to remove the uncertainty around low-THC iHemp.

We can’t attract farmers as the compliance is overwhelming. When given the no-risk profile for hemp products, we do not need any regulation at all. Not a lighter regulatory touch, why should we bother? Poppies can be freely grown in Aotearoa/NZ; why can’t iHemp?

No Risk, Only Benefits: It’s a No-Brainer

The NZHIA’s position is clear: there are no risks associated with industrial hemp, only benefits. As the global demand for eco-friendly products continues to grow, iHemp offers New Zealand a chance to establish itself as a leader in sustainable industries, boost regional economies, create jobs, and contribute to a bio-based circular economy.

iHemp will bring together Aotearoa/New Zealand, joining up industries, the R&D ecosystem and government. iHemp can be used in many ways; it is of interest to a wide range of industries and many people will be involved. Industrial hemp is a catalyst for a change toward a more sustainable environment and circular economy.

What can you do?

Now it’s your turn as part of the Hemp Army to take action and make first contact on behalf of iHemp. The Hemp Army is made up of people who are aware and interested in the iHemp industry and willing to take action.

Let’s push for change and make sure our government hears the voice of reason. Contact your local MP, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Primary Industries, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).

Send them a clear message: get iHemp out of the Misuse of Drugs Act and Medicines Act. Allow New Zealand to unlock the economic and environmental opportunities this industry provides.

There are 3 ways you can help; please act and do one:

1) Contact the government with a simple letter demanding change

We’ve provided a standard letter template that you can personalize or use as is. Simply click the link below to generate your letter, and send it directly to the decision-makers at reviews@regulation.govt.nz. Let’s make our voices heard and ensure that the iHemp industry is no longer weighed down by outdated regulations. If you want to make more of an impact you can also send it to more government organisations and triple your impact. below is the link for the list of MPs and government contacts;

2) Contact the government with your own letter demanding change

If you want to write your own letter or use Chat GPT we suggest adding this keyword information to start creating your letter to reviews@regulation.govt.nz.

3) Contact the government with a personalised letter demanding change

We understand that you may not have the resources (or time) to create a personalised communication, but the association wants to help its members and network in any way we can. We can create a personalised letter from your industry perspective for only $3.00! To learn more about this service, please visit the link below. For those looking to make an even bigger impact, we also offer a comprehensive package for $360 that includes personalised letters addressed to all MPs.

The government needs to get out of the way—let’s remove iHemp from MODA and the Medicines Act, and move forward into a sustainable future for New Zealand.

There’s no good reason to continue holding iHemp back. The time is now for the government to remove the barriers and support an industry that can deliver for Aotearoa.

To see a review of the 3 part media campaign click here

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Resources:

• Standard letter template link
• Links to MPs, Ministry of Health, Ministry for Primary Industries
• Full report on iHemp economic opportunities (MPI report)
• NZHIA Investor report (Full version or Snapshot version)

Let’s work together to create a brighter future for iHemp in Aotearoa!