Fiji government says it is pursuing a hemp-cannabis strategy

by druginc

Fiji government says it is pursuing a hemp cannabis strategy

Fiji plans to treat cannabis only in terms of hemp, Attorney General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told the country's parliament.

The government said it has already started a study aimed at developing hemp as an agricultural crop across the archipelago with funding in the 2021-2022 budget.

The minister said the strategy does not concern the cultivation of recreational marihuana or cannabis with a high THC content for medicinal purposes. Instead, the program will focus on producing hemp fiber products, such as rope, and seed for food.

Marijuana thrives well

The government hopes that developing a hemp sector can eventually replace a burgeoning illegal marijuana trade, Sayed-Khaiyum said. Fiji police seized marijuana plants in 2020 with an estimated street value of more than $321 million. That's more than the $68 million seized in 2018.

The minister said Fiji will consult the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in developing laws for an industrial hemp program. Fiji's strict illicit drug control law needs to be amended to clear the way for the production of industrial hemp products.

“In order to see where is the best place to plant industrial hemp, when to plant it, for example, we need to look at the markets, who will buy it, where we can sell it; we have to look at the climate and soil needs,” the minister told the media.

The potential of hemp in Fiji investigated further

Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities and various international bodies should be consulted and the private sector explored for its potential to develop production facilities and attract investment.

Fiji's government has said expanding the agricultural sector is needed to reduce the country's dependence on tourism, which accounts for nearly 40% of GDP. That overconfidence became critically apparent during the coronavirus crisis, the government said.

2021-08-30 - Fiji government says it is pursuing a hemp cannabis strategy - in artikel.jpg
The potency of hemp in Fiji examined in more detail (afb.)

Fiji's agricultural economy is based on a large number of crops, including spices, nuts, fruits and vegetables. The country's farmers have recently found success growing kava root, which is used for stress relief in the South Pacific.

Sources including FbcNews(EN), Fiji Times (EN), Fiji Village (EN), HempToday (EN)

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