AUSTRALIA is planning to resurrect hempor Cannabis sativa, the -crop which oncegrew aplenty in the continent but waslater abandoned by most farmers. Itshigh tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which smokers reportedly findirresistible, led to widespread misuse of the crop.
But its amazing potential - hemp isused in paper making, fabrics, food, oiland herbal remedies - makes it tooprecious to be abandoned altogether. Sothe Australian government has authorised the state of Victoria to hold 10 fieldtrials over 3 years.
This time, however, all precautionswould be taken. "Applicants forpermits (for cultivation) will also haveto undergo police checks and demonstrate they can achieve satisfaciory field-site security," says Bill Baxter, theAustralian agriculture minister. Thestate police and agriculture and healthofficials would monitor the tests toensure the hemp plants contained low levels Of THC.