I am the founding director of a new NPO called Abundance. We seek to provide women and children in rural areas of KZN South Africa with workshops on how to grow sustainable organic crops (using Permaculture designs). One of my ideas for funding these initiatives is to convert a closed paper mill into a hemp paper mill and fuel profits back into communities for sustainable projects. I recently heard a rumor that our government will allow hemp to be grown for industrial purposes only if growers agree to spray the crops so they cannot be smoked. Is this true?

This is the answer to many people out there that do not have any income and will take a big burden off the shoulders of the government! If this can be done in a organized manner and controlled everybody can benefit from it!

Our country can benefit a lot from the regulation of hemp for industrial use, because of its versatility, since every part of the plant can be utilised to manufacture / produce many essential products. This is our green gold.

Kamogelo i live in thaba nchu, free state. the old home land had its industrial factories (bophuthatswana development corporation) now FDC which do not care, if they are functional or not, as an individual how can you re-operate a factory with no Gov assistance. i wish to get my town back into the economy ,by industrialyzing the hemp production.

Too much unemployment in the Eastern Cape. This plant could change everything for our rural farmers if the law just gets out of the way. Bring the jobs here.

SO TRUE. Why are we falling behind the rest of the world? It makes zero sense to ban a plant that can build houses and feed people. Get it sorted already.

I believe Hemp could change the future of south africa. its fibre is incredibly strong and long lasting - if south africa government were to embrace hemp - we could have massive job creation, we would be saving our environment, by not using all the chemical for timber production and having to cut down old trees thus decreasing our oxygen production - hemp fibre makes beautiful paper and clothing and is incredibly strong. . Hemp is hardy, it grows fast and easily, and if used for medicinal uses, the positive healing aspects are incredible. We need to farm hemp on a large scale - it is the way forward for the environment and the people. Hemp will replace sappi and mondi for paper production, thus leaving them to farm timber for other reasons. Perhaps government is scared it will lose income from the money they acquire from the timber companies, the money from China for cheap non lasting textiles. Hemp is the way to go . come on government empower your people and your country.

A botanist explains that high THC Hemp for smoking requires specialized techniques ( male plants must be removed ) and Industrial Hemp is not suitable for smoking. Dept. of Agriculture claims that the cost of importing seed is prohibitive, but let's keep in mind that you need to plant the crop before you can harvest the seed. Hemp crops leave the land in better condition than any other, and each time you harvest this effect is enhanced. It is therefor a naturally green method to rehabilitate lands denuded by destructive farming methods. Hemp farming can quickly become self-sustaining as materials harvested can be utilised to support the economic viability of the agricultural endeavor. ( Fuel, building materials, products for sale. ) Industrial Hemp represents a key strategic development opportunity in support of a struggling economy, to create vast amounts of employment, equip new generations with advanced skills in the manufacturing sector, support land reform, export markets and GDP growth. Yet it has been ignored entirely in the NDP on all sides. This is the "magic bullet" our economy so desperately needs right now. Sign This Petition and let's get going.