Legalise Cannabis Victoria (LCV) MPs Rachel Payne and David Ettershank are set to introduce a motion tomorrow calling for a parliamentary inquiry into how the industrial hemp sector could strengthen the state's economy.
LCV noted that despite many Victorian regions offering ideal growing conditions, the state has just six industrial hemp growers working approximately 170 hectares — a small share of the national total. Victoria trails Tasmania, WA and NSW significantly, with Tasmania alone producing more than seven times Victoria's output, according to the party.
The motion would ask the committee to examine whether the regulatory and licensing framework governing hemp cultivation and hemp products should be simplified to support industry growth, and to potentially consider introducing a dedicated Industrial Hemp Act, modelled on equivalent legislation in Tasmania and WA.
A 2021 interim report from the Victorian Parliamentary Hemp Taskforce concluded that significant opportunities exist to grow the industry, and identified areas where government could assist, including investment, research and changes to legislation.
LCV member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Rachel Payne said: "There are limitless opportunities for the Victorian industrial hemp industry to benefit our everyday lives across a multitude of industry and service sectors.
"Henry Ford used hemp to make his cars and, even now, we are rediscovering that this technology is being used in the automotive industry.
"Victoria has the ideal conditions to grow this fast-growing, high-yield, and extremely versatile resource. We must sow the seeds today to substantially benefit from the growing economic potential this crop can yield for Victoria tomorrow."
Member for Western Metropolitan David Ettershank added: "The global hemp industry is forecast to quadruple to nearly US$20 billion by 2027. We would love to see Victoria become a leader in the industrial hemp revolution of the future."
LCV pointed to hemp's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide as making it well suited to carbon sequestration, suggesting the crop could help Victoria address building supply shortages "while meeting the state's zero emission reduction targets well into the future."
The party said the industry's development has been held back by the stigmatisation and criminalisation of cannabis over the past century.
