Hemp & The Law

Hemp Laws In New Zealand

In 2005 the New Zealand government passed a law to allow 12 varieties of industrial hemp to cultivated in New Zealand. 

Hemp farmers must apply to the Ministry of Health for a permit to cultivate, deal, breed, import or sell viable seed. The annual permit fee is $511NZD. Farmers no longer need to call their crop an experiment. 

Prior to November 2018 hemp seed products could only be sold for animal consumption not human consumption. Meaning all hemp product had to say “for animal feed only” on them. Luckily that is no longer the case! 

THC must be below 0.35% to be considered legal.

Hemp Laws In India

Cannabis has a very long history in India. It has been cultivated for thousands of year in the mountains and used as a source of food, clothing and as a psychoactive substance. Hemp and marijuana use is ingrained into the culture and spirituality of India.

Unfortunately India decided to follow suit with the west when it came to Cannabis. In the 1980s cannabis was completely outlawed in India, including the cultivation of industrial hemp and marijuana. Despite this wild cannabis still grows everywhere throughout India and hash is still an important part of Indian culture, even though it has been thrust into the underworld.

Currently industrial hemp is partially legal. Three states have passed laws, allowing for legal cultivation of hemp including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Hemp must contain less that 0.3% THC to be considered legal. This also applies to CBD oil production and sales in India. 

It is hoped that more states will follow suit as India continues to fight for the legalisation of this incredibly important crop