Co-Chair of Guyana Hemp Industries Michael Kirton and News Room’s Kurt Campbell during a visit to the Kuru Kururu location where hemp could possibly be planted.
The bill provides for three types of licences:
a cultivation licence that authorises all activities related to the cultivation of industrial hemp including the possession, planting, propagating, harvesting, transporting, distributing and selling of industrial hemp
a manufacturing licence which authorises all activities related to the manufacturing of industrial, distributing and exporting of hemp
and a licence to conduct research on industrial hemp.
Mustapha said that the new law will pave the way for local research to be conducted on industrial hemp.
Interestingly, a person is not allowed to plant any hemp seed or harvest any plant before a sample of the seed or plant is analysed to ascertain where it confirms to THC concentration allowed under the law.
This is to guard against the cultivation of marijuana which remains illegal in Guyana.
When licenses are suspended or revoked, the regulatory authority is tasked with notifying the Commissioner of Police and the holder will be expected to surrender all seeds or hemp related products in his/her possession.
The proposed law also makes provisions for enforcement and officers are empowered to search premises and seize property if persons are found to be acting in contravention of the law.
The bill provides pertinent definitions, including the definition of industrial hemp and hemp related products.
It prescribes that any plant of the genus cannabis and any part thereof, and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis will be classified as industrial hemp.
The government had long talked up its support for facilitating the planting and production of industrial hemp in Guyana.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had given a promise that the first hemp seed could be planted in Guyana by July.
In his own words, Jagdeo had said the government’s assurance is to ensure the orderly development of hemp without abuse.
Jagdeo had also noted that the East Berbice Corentyne (Region Six) and Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice (Region 10) will be the first two regions where cultivation and procession will be undertaken.
The proposed law allows for the Minister of Agriculture and by extension the government to designate areas for hemp cultivation.
The Guyana Hemp Industries – an overseas-based hemp company – has long lobbied the government to move ahead with hemp production and stands ready and willing to undertake the processing of this profitable crop.
