pressure in New Zealand to move to a more liberal approach to cannabis itself , and / or to industrial hemp . The approach worldwide can certainly inform this process , and help decision-makers to overcome the all-ornothing mindset which exists at present , and which is obstructing the development of an industry based on the use of the whole hemp plant , including CBD extracts .
In October 2020 the New Zealand electorate will vote in a non-binding referendum on adultonly recreational use of cannabis . The referendum seeks opinion on a bill setting out the process and supervision of cannabis cultivation and use . Clearly this must by definition involve cannabis varieties containing THC . If the vote is ‘ yes ’ then that will have wide ranging impacts for industrial hemp , CBD products and the possible re-definition of medicinal cannabis .
If the referendum results in a ‘ no ’ vote for recreational cannabis use , then certainly interested parties will be lobbying hard to have legislators / regulators re-visit the present regime , with a view to untethering cannabis-containing-THC from industrial hemp varieties which are rich in cannabinoids , and in particular , CBD .
Investor Report Industrial Hemp Sector New Zealand ’ s New Export Opportunity 2020
The research findings in regard to the nonpsychotropic nature of industrial hemp , along with the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids are now regarded as sufficiently trustworthy for the World Health Organisation to recommend to the United Nations that the definition in the Single Convention on Narcotics should be limited to cannabis varieties containing THC .
Clearly this is an intelligent response to the changing nature of our understanding of how the cannabis plant and its varieties work . Therefore it no longer makes sense to include nonpsychotropic plants or ‘ extracts ’ in a treaty ( and national legislation based on it ) for the purpose of preventing the abuse of psychotropic drugs .
A SENSIBLE PATH IN NEW ZEALAND MIGHT BE THEREFORE TO : a ) Narrowly define cannabis in relation to THC ; the narcotic drug MoDA was set up to control in 1975
b ) Re-visit the Classification of medicinal cannabis as a prescriptiononly medicine ; this would sensibly differentiate between medicine containing THC , and those CBD products principally intended for a therapeutic purpose as required under the Medicines Act , some of which may be of low dosages , which allows them to be classified for example , as a pharmacistonly or over-the-counter ( OTC ) product .
c ) Decide the status of products containing CBD ( or other cannabinoids ) which are not medicine . The answer in other jurisdictions has been “ Natural Health ” type laws . These typically constrain the representations that can be made in relation to the product , but also endeavour to establish a reliable quality control chain from plant to consumer .
d ) Where the CBD / hemp product is a food , then clearly the Food Act will apply . Clarity is required in regard to functional foods containing CBD .
It must be said that the path to gaining support for these types of changes to the cannabis / hemp regime has been a rocky one for our industry members . Only recently has it led to permission to grow , process and / or trade in seed , and hemp seed oil for human use . A welcome change but a limited one from the perspective of industry growth , given that CBD and other beneficial cannabinoids are found in the leaf / flower . Which at present is being discarded , or donated for research purposes .
Other suggestions for
47