Comments on: NSW legalises hemp crops — what part did the Greens play?

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Mmm. Actually not a roach but keep up the vocational scepticism AM, in my humble opinion. This is what I would suggest: Do a google of long standing crusader for drug free, low THC, industrial hemp for all kinds of agri returns from oil to bio plastics to amazingly long life paper and fibre for clothing materials. In other words it’s a wonder crop totally distinct from drug sub species or cultivars (not sure the jargon): Dr Andrew Katelaris (medical guy) in SDT recently too, has a 3 year good behaviour bond and conviction for planting 50K plants - not secretly, brazenly to force I presume legal reform of the agri crop competing with the fossil fuel industry (eg plastics). Interestingly Dr K, who really ought write it up for crikey.com.au, is now on a contempt charge for back chatting the court. But we have met the guy and he’s been on this hobby horse for a decade plus. And he’s right on agri crop merits. The Nats will lap it up as a cash crop for sure. The drug aspect is debunked.

By: eva mary

eva mary — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Hey, Alex, there’s this thing called global warming and petrol prices are levitating and old growth forests are dwindling - and you quibble about one decision that could be good for the economy and address all these issues. If this decision had been made thirty years ago, there’s be no need for the pulp mill in Tasmania, we’d have a fighting chance of clothing ourselves, we could replace nylon ropes and synthetic fabrics, make paper responsibly and even, one day, have a moderately good analgesic for a song. The real opponents to hemp growing are the timber, pharmaceutical, alcohol and cigarette industries, to name a few.
Harry Anslinger, who led the anti-marihuana campaign in Washington for 25 years, was DuPont’s son-in-law. He must be posthumously turning in his grave, even if the hemp is THC free. Congratulations to the Greens and to Dr Katelaris.

By: Greg Timbs

Greg Timbs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Hi Alex
Industrial hemp is virtually zero THC - meaning the only headspin you'll get from smoking it is from a lack of oxygen. It is a very robust plant, needing very little in the way of water, fertiliser and pesticides. It also grows rapidly in summer. This is the almost perfect crop for the struggling grain farmers of the Murray Darling. It is a superior product to cotton in so many ways. Modern processing can now produce an extremely breathable, soft, comfortable fabric with up to 8 times the tensile strength and 4 times the durability of coton, without the need for pesticides and copious quantities of water. It is everything that cotton is not. The plant can also be processed into a multitude of uses, including cosmetics, building products, bio-plastics and bio-fuel.
People may say it makes it easy to hide high THC marijuana amongst the crop. But that would be the last place a crim would plant his pot. The crop would come under far more scrutiny than say, an isolated bush property or even a suburban house.
"Grubby deal" was a poor choice of words. Politics is full of what you call grubby deals. It's also called "compromise", and even "common sense". This was a victory FOR common sense and AGAINST kneejerk, populist, ignorant policies.
Industrial hemp's time has come. It's a pity it's taken a drought and people being jailed to highlight the absurdity of the law.