Canberra, Australian Capitol Territory: Licensed farmers will be allowed to cultivate hemp for commercial purposes under legislation recently approved by the Australian Capitol Territory’s (ACT) Legislative Assembly.
Proponents of the law change argued that the crop will help to regenerate land around Canberra that was recently devastated by bush fires.
Hemp is presently cultivated for commercial purposes in Australia in Queensland, and on a trial basis in Tasmania.
In another recent change to the ACT’s marijuana laws, legislators have also reduced the number of pot plants one may possess for recreational purposes without facing criminal charges from five to two. Possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use has been decriminalized in the ACT since 1989.
For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500. A summary of United States hemp laws and resolutions is available at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3395