The 2006 iHemp regulations must be reviewed to ensure we have an enabled and thriving industry.
To grow, we need regulations that work for farmers, businesses, and investors.
iHemp will help double New Zealand’s export value by 2030 and establish a new and complementary vertical primary industry for Aotearoa/New Zealand, but right now we can’t even make use of the animal market for coproducts, instead, we have to pay to dispose of them in a landfill.
Call to Action
We need to grow up and stop having a juvenile approach to iHemp just because of the stigma around marijuana cannabis.
To establish a horticultural industry, (growing for leaf and flowering tops) to compliment the arable industry (grain, seed and fibre) and encourage iHemp in to the farming rotation we need support
The iHemp industry is full of potential, but it is being held back by outdated and restrictive regulations. We need a review of our regulations now.
Let’s work together to ensure we get fit for purpose regulations that allow New Zealand iHemp industry to scale.
We are calling on the Hemp Army (see campaign overview here) to push for regulatory change. Make first contact with your local MP or Mayor, industry leaders or the media.
Send them a letter and with a cc to admin@nzhia.com you can register your regions interest in the emerging industry,
Start by using this template letter, or create your own message, go to the bottom of this post or go here.
Email Your Local Mayor, here is a list. To find your MP go here
Let’s get started today!
The Objective of 2006 iHemp Regulations: Enabling an Industry?
The iHemp regulations were introduced with a clear objective: to enable an industry as long as it did not get involved in pot. However, these regulations have largely failed. Instead of fostering business, the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) restrictive interpretations have created an environment of uncertainty. Business does not thrive in uncertainty.
The industry has been handcuffed by these regulations—what should have been a license to grow an industry has turned into a “license to lose money” as markets remain undeveloped. The decreasing number of licenses and shrinking cultivation areas are clear indicators of regulatory burden.
Handcuffed by Regulations
The regulatory framework is deterring farmers and businesses from entering the industry. High compliance costs, convoluted licensing processes, and uncertainty surrounding planting dates and market access are discouraging participation. Farmers and potential investors see no clear pathway for scaling up iHemp production or establishing end-use markets
Economically we need to have Full Plant Utilisation (FPU) and access to all the markets for iHemp and it’s co-products we. Removing regulatory uncertainty will help reduce the stigma of marijuana, which slows industry adoption.
Meanwhile, others seem to be making money in the same space with fewer obstacles. The situation is a “license to lose money” for those who play by the rules, as competitors bypass the bureaucratic hurdles, and get on with it. We demand a level playing field.
Move iHemp from MOH to MPI/MBIE
The MOH is not the right body to regulate iHemp, a primary industry which can be vertically integrated into high value export markets . The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE)or Ministry of Regulations are better positioned to provide the support needed to grow iHemp as part of New Zealand’s value add, agricultural and horticultural sectors.
If we are to scale up, establish resilient supply chains, and create robust end-use markets, the iHemp industry needs regulatory certainty—and that starts with the right oversight.
iHemp needs a regulatory environment conducive to growth. One that recognises a new crop and industry that has no real risk. Removing the Ministry of Health and its overly cautious approach would send a strong signal to investors, farmers, and the entire industry that it’s time to move forward with confidence.
Fit-for-Purpose Regulations: A Review is Overdue
Misuse of Drugs, (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 are outdated and not fit for purpose. The problem is the Act we sit under “Misuse of Drugs Act (1975)” and are controlled as a prohibited plant. Our regulations define iHemp as Low THC, so we are not a drug and should not be under the Health Ministry.
It was promised that the regulations would be reviewed in 10 years, but that has not happened. We need a regulatory framework that reflects the modern realities of the iHemp industry, focusing on full plant utilization (FPU), shorter/or no licensing processes, and fewer barriers to market entry.
- License duration: Why is it that a firearms license, with its intensive background checks and costs, lasts ten years, while iHemp licenses are burdened with shorter terms and costly renewals? This disparity is stifling growth, continuity and scale
- Low-THC crops: Do we even need license for low-THC iHemp crops used for arable or horticultural purposes? you can grow poppies why not iHemp.
We remain bogged down by unnecessary red tap, a thorough review of iHemp regulations is not just overdue; it is necessary if we are to unlock the full potential of this crop and contribute to New Zealand’s target to double export growth.
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, be the voice of reason, before they get caught up in the stigma of cannabis. 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 your region is represented in the emerging industry government. Contact your local MP or Mayor and Ask them if they support a local industry being developed in their region.
Send them a clear message: to get iHemp out of the Misuse of Drugs Act and Medicines Act. And 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 your MP and Mayor 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 your local MP (MP list here) or Mayor (list of mayors here)
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.
3) Contact your MP or Mayor 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
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!