Hemp Legislation
Many people inquire if Hemp is legal or not and in November 2017, Hemp was finally legalised as a food in Australia.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) acknowledged Hemp as a highly nutritious food. After years of purchasing the products with labels stating it was illegal to consume, the industry has exploded with hundreds of products for sale all over Australia. Hemp is extremely healthy and versatile and will be very competitive with other types of health foods and it is very welcomed by vegans.
In Australia under laws regulated by FSANZ, Standard 1.4.4 – Prohibited and Restricted Plants and Fungi in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) prohibits all species of Cannabis from being added to food or sold as food in Australia and New Zealand.
Many Previous attempts to change failed and people were frustrated. In 2012, FSANZ recommended that Hemp be approved as a food source.
The FSANZ Report stated
- It was satisfied that low THC Hemp foods are safe for consumption when they contain no more than specified maximum levels (MLs) of THC.
- Foods derived from Hemp seeds may provide a useful dietary source of many nutrients and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids.
- Hemp Foods have no psychoactive properties and therefore could not be detectable in drug tests.
- Hemp grows distinctively different to Marijuana and would easily be detectable by drug enforcement agencies.
At Hemp Pages we are very excited this long haul has been put to bed. The door is wide open to create healthy and delicious foods and products that are innovative and can help the planet.
What were the findings?
In summary, FSANZ has acknowledged, Hemp Foods:
- Are safe
- Are not psychoactive in any consumable quantity
- Provide valuable nutrition that Australians need
- Contain less than the allowable level of THC (or none at all)
- Cannot make it easier for people to grow Marijuana (actually, growing Marijuana in amongst a Hemp crop would make the Marijuana less potent as a drug)
- Cannot cause people to fail a drug test.
…
