New possibilities, investments open with passage of Hemp Bill – Agri Minister

The successful passage of the Industrial Hemp Bill 2022 in the National Assembly on Monday has paved the way for a ripple of benefits and possibilities for Guyana.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha shared this position when he addressed the House. He relayed that industrial hemp can be cultivated on a large scale locally, given the suitable soil characteristics here. Government is now creating the environment for persons to make such investments.
“We are now bringing new industries to our country. Our responsibility is to continue to explore options where we will bring more opportunities to the working people of our country, especially the productive sectors. The Government is providing enabling legislation for all to benefit and invest. This promising is yet to emerge but imagine the possibilities it will bring to our economy and country,” Mustapha underscored.
Hemp is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. This legislation now allows for the cultivating and manufacturing of industrial hemp and hemp related products; and conducting of research on industrial hemp or any other activity concerning industrial hemp. It further provides for the establishment of a Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority.
The Minister detailed, “The popular demand for hemp both from a production and consumption perspective is by no means insignificant. Hemp production in Guyana is a win-win situation for all the players involved. For the grower, it will be a source of income generation and job creation. For the consumers, it could have significant benefit. For the broader economy, it will be a valuable source of foreign exchange.”
This passage fulfils a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali to decriminalise hemp production, having labelled it a viable industry. Hemp is a multibillion-dollar industry which can lend to the production of hundreds of items. While hemp does contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), advocates have argued that this is in very low amounts, below 0.3 per cent, which is too low to be psychoactive.
In Guyana, the THC level needs to be below 0.3 per cent for it to be considered legal.
“While we are setting up this legislation, at the same time, we are encouraging people to deviate from crime,” Mustapha said.
A person shall now cultivate or manufacture hemp or hemp-related products; or conduct research or any other activity related to industrial hemp without a licence issued by the authority under the Act. In the case of a violation, a person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 or imprisonment for one year.
The framework states, “The Board shall consider the impact on public health, safety, security, commerce and agriculture and need for the orderly development of the sector including exclusivity when considering an application for the issuance of a license under this Act.”
After the licence is granted, a person is not allowed to plant any seed or plant; or harvest any cannabis plant before a sample of the seed or plant is analysed by an analyst to ascertain whether it confirms with the allowed THC concentration.
President Ali had said that the Government would be moving in the direction of the value-added aspect that the hemp industry has to offer. He had said that the industry is not only about hemp production but having the processing and value-added facilities here in Guyana. (G12)