A bill tabled in Tasmania's Parliament on Tuesday aims to help the state's hemp industry grow.
Industrial hemp is already making a contribution to the state's economy, but it could be doing more if policy and licence conditions were tweaked – and the Industrial Hemp Amendment Bill 2023 seeks to do that.
The Bill includes allowing horticultural use of hemp products as an explicit licence purpose, meaning straw – a significant by-product – could be sold as mulch, providing farmers with another income stream.
Currently this is not permitted due to concerns bales of industrial hemp straw may contain viable seed that could germinate. The government previously saw this as a compliance risk that could undermine the industry. But recognising the potential value of the straw, it has worked on the issue with the Hemp Association of Tasmania.
Read more at hempgazette.com