finding increasingly difficult to navigate , in spite of their many submissions to , and discussions with the Ministry of Health . [ The latter controls licensing for cultivation , processing and sale of hemp and medicinal cannabis in New Zealand ].
Adding insult to injury , the very products which the New Zealand hemp industry is forbidden to produce , sell or import , are being sold online and brought into this country by New Zealand purchasers .
Clearly there needs to be a balance between the interests of consumers , and those of the industrial
Investor Report Industrial Hemp Sector New Zealand ’ s New Export Opportunity 2020
hemp sector , as well as the possibility of creating a lucrative new export sector for New Zealand .
Consumers do need to be kept safe , whether that is by limiting THC content in products , by designating the amount of CBD or other cannabinoids that are acceptable , or by applying food law or natural health product controls , where appropriate .
On the other hand , if a blanket prohibition applies , the industry will be stifled and New Zealand will be on the back foot with regard to competing in the global market .
This scenario is not only bad for the industry but also for the economy .
What is needed is a cooperative exploration involving industry members and regulators , of cannabis and hemp related products , the appropriate level of regulation to apply to those products , and a plan to amend existing law and possibly create new laws to facilitate the production , sale and export of hemp products .
It is hoped that this report will go some way towards clarifying the issues and assisting that process so that the full potential of a substantial New Zealand industrial hemp industry can be realised .
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