Australia and New Zealand do not allow non-drug hemp seed as a food. We want The Forum to follow it's own Government advice (via Food Standards) to support: 

1) Australian & NZ people to have access to hemp as a healthy plant based source of omega-3, 6, 9 and quality protein. 

Did you know that:

* Hemp seeds are highly nutritious, high in complete & easily digestible protein, naturally low in Carbs, have an ideal ratio of Omega 3, 6 & 9 (for humans), contain all essential amino acids,  and are an all-round amazing raw vegan wholefood? 

2) Australian & NZ business' to manufacture and distribute safe non-drug hemp seeds and by-products 

3) Australian & NZ farmers to grow a low-water organic crop instead of failing sugar-cane and other such crops.  

Did you know that:

* Hemp requires less than half the amount of water to grow than cotton and produces about 200-250% more fibre in the same amount of land compared to cotton? 

* The production of cotton worldwide takes up about 25% of the world's pesticide use, whereas hemp requires no pesticides (or chemicals at all for that matter) to grow?  

A Short History of Hemp

Hemp seeds have been eaten for 8000 years in China and there is history of hemp being eaten in India and Europe since history books began. 

It was only in 1937 that Mr DuPont and his friends made some excellent media campaigns against 'cannabis' being an evil drug. Whether the drug form of cannabis is legal or not is beside the point as the legislation that came from this media campaign made the growing of industrial hemp, after hundreds of generations, illegal. Most countries followed suit. 

In the last couple of decades renewed interest in sustainable alternatives have allowed hemp to be grown again under strict government licence and conditions. These conditions include growing only varieties that contain negligible amounts of the drug 'THC'. Nearly all the products of the hemp plant are now legal in most countries, with Australia being the last country to allow hemp as a food. In the USA you may consume hemp foods, but you cannot grow industrial hemp commercially. That is one nice law for their neighbour, Canada who have made big business from this anomaly. 

Hemp in Australia/NZ

Despite our best efforts - we put an application for legal hemp foods in 2000 when after 4 years, the longest ANZFA (then FSANZ) application for any food was returned to us - with glowing results! The Australilan public WOULD benefit from hemp seed and hemp foods!

What progressed from there may only be described as a debacle. It took us many months to learn from a Minister who requested to be kept anonymous that the then Prime Minister, John Howard hand-wrote a note to all Ministers saying 'Hemp - no way'. Who would go against their boss? Hemp foods were illegal still. A similar situation with our last PM and COAG committee has continued and now, with a new COAG committee - it's the perfect time for us to act again - and in a bigger and better way than we have been able to before! 

So - please HELP US to HELP YOU have access to healthy nutritious hemp!

 

How can you help? 

1) Sign this petition

2) Send this petition to everyone you know to sign

3) Contribute directly to Hemp Foods Australia's campaign to help raise the funds required (details below) to REALLY make a change: 

Get in touch: Visit Hemp Foods Australia and go to their contact page to get in touch if you are passionate and would REALLY like to help make this change. 

What HFA are doing:

They have hired a high-profile Political Lobbyist to ensure the following points are communicated clearly to those ignorant in Government who may be confused that 'hemp is a drug' or that 'hemp is for hippies'. 

How can you help to do this?:

The first campaign succussfully raised over $6,000 (the minimum for one months contract work for the Political Lobbyist team). This will ensure the basic message gets across and will also allow us to discover 'hidden agendas'. With further funds - the goal is at least $24,000 - we believe we can change the minds of the people who may be ignorant to the facts for around four months of work. It's up to you to choose how much we should invest together to make this happen. Thanks for being a part!

What will be addressed:

1) Roadside testing. The Standing Council for Police main concern is that it will affect roadside oral testing.

Objective: To persuade them to prove their point by a study. A study has been designed by Food Standards, and will have a cost of approximately $70,000. Food Standards are asking for funding for this and we believe the Police should pay to prove their concerns. We are confident a study will prove that there is a safe level for hemp foods that is different than the drug cannabis. If the Police do not fund such a concern, then they should drop this argument. If we raise $70,000 above our requirements, then we will fund this study immediately! 

Notes: The police are not yet aware of this! Food Standards don't want to tell the police their job. They have helped by designing and arranging the study with a NZ laboratory. We just need to help them communicate with each other.

We are confident that a line can be drawn between non-drug hemp foods and consumption of the high THC drug marijuana and this study will prove that line to be incorporated into legislation to change Roadside Testing guidelines. 

2) Marketing of hemp foods - has been passed to the Food Regulatory Standing Committee and Health Ministers. We will find the relevant people, and let them know that no other country in the world has a problem here. Current legislation says you cannot mislead customers by pretending it is a drug. This is simple, again by clear communication in the proper way. 

3) Law Enforcement (Police) worry it will be hard to distinguish hemp and drug varieties of cannabis seeds. In the US they make sure that seeds are processed under license (as they are now in Australia) and only sold to the public if they are steralised. Either by dehulling, pressing, heat treatment or similar. In Europe they don't care about the seeds - the legislation says that cannabis seeds are only illegal the moment they get put in the ground in soil. This works.

Objective: Discuss with Police to alleviate concerns and make a clear choice. 

4) UN Convention By legalising ANY amount of THC (non-drug hemp foods may contain trace amounts) may contravene the UN Convention on narcotic substances. Who is concerned about this? The Health Ministers.

Objective: Discuss with relevant interested parties.

Notes: No other country in the world has this problem and nearly all other countries allow hemp as a food. Furthermore item 1) Roadside Testing results will also make a clear line on this.

Hemp Foods Australia Founder and CEO Paul Benhaim will accompany the professional Political Lobbyist team to Canberra and assist in getting the message clear. 100% of your donation goes to the Political Lobbyist campaign only.