Legalise hemp consumption in Australia
The issue
Hemp (the non-drug version of cannibis) is a highly sustainable, eco-friendly natural resource with hundreds of different uses. It's an environmental miracle; a renewable resource that's fast growing and naturally disease resistant. It can be made into clothing, paper, car parts, body care products, animal bedding, the list goes on... But did you know it is also highly nutritious as a food source?
It's so nutritious that it's considered to be a superfood, among the likes of flaxseed, goji berries and cacao. Hemp seeds are high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as protein, vitamins and minerals. Hemp oil can improve your heart, brain and skin whilst helping to prevent cancer. So why hasn't it been seen in food stores?
The answer; because it is currently illegal to eat or sell hemp-based food products in Australia.
Yep that's right; this nutritious, safe, eco-friendly, drug-free superfood is illegal to consume or sell as food. In fact, Australia is the last developed country that still bans the consumption and sale of hemp-based food. These laws exist, despite the fact that industrial hemp contains little to no THC (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana). In short; these laws are pointless and infringe on our basic rights and freedoms.
An application seeking to approve the use of hemp as a food was submitted to the FSANZ (Food Standards Australia & NZ) . Application A1039 - "Low THC Hemp as a Food" has been delayed 3 times and is still ongoing; 18 months since submission! Currently it is delayed until October 2012, when it will likely be delayed further. If it's approved, it will be passed to the the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation which will make the final decision.
By signing this petition, we are calling on the FSANZ to approve this application without delay. We are also calling on the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation to further approve the application and quickly change these laws, so that Australians can legally benefit from hemp as a harmless, highly nutritious food source.
We are also calling on Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek for her support in changing these laws.
Please share this petition with as many people as you can! Below are contact details for people and organisations relevant to this issue:
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia & NZ)
info@foodstandards.gov.au
Catherine King (Chairperson for the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation)
Jane Halton (Chairperson for the Food Regulation Standing Committee)
jane.halton@health.gov.au
Tanya Plibersek (Federal Minister for Health)
minister.plibersek@health.gov.au
More facts about hemp:
4 tablespoons of hulled hemp seeds contains:
-15g essential fats (more than 3x the average recommended daily intake)
-15g protein (25% of the average recommended daily intake)
-2.5g fiber
Hemp seed oil is more nutritious than fish oil, plus it's far more sustainable than fishing
Petition Closed
The issue
Hemp (the non-drug version of cannibis) is a highly sustainable, eco-friendly natural resource with hundreds of different uses. It's an environmental miracle; a renewable resource that's fast growing and naturally disease resistant. It can be made into clothing, paper, car parts, body care products, animal bedding, the list goes on... But did you know it is also highly nutritious as a food source?
It's so nutritious that it's considered to be a superfood, among the likes of flaxseed, goji berries and cacao. Hemp seeds are high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as protein, vitamins and minerals. Hemp oil can improve your heart, brain and skin whilst helping to prevent cancer. So why hasn't it been seen in food stores?
The answer; because it is currently illegal to eat or sell hemp-based food products in Australia.
Yep that's right; this nutritious, safe, eco-friendly, drug-free superfood is illegal to consume or sell as food. In fact, Australia is the last developed country that still bans the consumption and sale of hemp-based food. These laws exist, despite the fact that industrial hemp contains little to no THC (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana). In short; these laws are pointless and infringe on our basic rights and freedoms.
An application seeking to approve the use of hemp as a food was submitted to the FSANZ (Food Standards Australia & NZ) . Application A1039 - "Low THC Hemp as a Food" has been delayed 3 times and is still ongoing; 18 months since submission! Currently it is delayed until October 2012, when it will likely be delayed further. If it's approved, it will be passed to the the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation which will make the final decision.
By signing this petition, we are calling on the FSANZ to approve this application without delay. We are also calling on the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation to further approve the application and quickly change these laws, so that Australians can legally benefit from hemp as a harmless, highly nutritious food source.
We are also calling on Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek for her support in changing these laws.
Please share this petition with as many people as you can! Below are contact details for people and organisations relevant to this issue:
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia & NZ)
info@foodstandards.gov.au
Catherine King (Chairperson for the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation)
Jane Halton (Chairperson for the Food Regulation Standing Committee)
jane.halton@health.gov.au
Tanya Plibersek (Federal Minister for Health)
minister.plibersek@health.gov.au
More facts about hemp:
4 tablespoons of hulled hemp seeds contains:
-15g essential fats (more than 3x the average recommended daily intake)
-15g protein (25% of the average recommended daily intake)
-2.5g fiber
Hemp seed oil is more nutritious than fish oil, plus it's far more sustainable than fishing
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 19 June 2012