Paul Benhaim

Australia and New Zealand do not allow non-drug hemp seed as a food. We want The Forum to follow it's own Government advice (via Food Standards) to support:

1) Australian & NZ people to have access to healthy plant based sources of omega-3, 6, 9 and quality protein

2) Australian & NZ business' to manufacture and distribute safe non-drug hemp seeds and by-products

3) Australian & NZ farmers to grow a low-water organic crop instead of failing sugar-cane and other such crops

What we will do:

We will hire a high-profile Political Lobbyist to ensure the following points are communicated clearly to those ignorant in Government who maybe confused that 'hemp is a drug' or that 'hemp is for hippies'.

How much we need:

Our minimum is $6,000 for one months contract work for the Political Lobbyist team. This will ensure we get our basic message across and find out and 'hidden agendas'. With further funds - our goal is at least $24,000 we believe we can change the minds of the people who may be ignorant to the facts for around four months of work. It's up to you to choose how much we should invest together to make this happen. Thanks for being a part.

What we will address

1) Roadside testing. The Standing Council for Police main concern is that it will affect roadside oral testing.

Objective: To persuade them to prove their point by a study. A study has been designed by Food Standards, and will have a cost of approximately $70,000. Food Standards are asking for funding for this and we believe the Police should pay to prove their concerns. We are confident a study will prove that there is a safe level for hemp foods that is different than the drug cannabis. If the Police do not fund such a concern, then they should drop this argument. If we raise $70,000 above our requirements, then we will fund this study immediately!

Notes: The police are not yet aware of this! Food Standards don't want to tell the police their job. They have helped by designing and arranging the study with a NZ laboratory. We just need to help them communicate each other

We are confident that a line can be draw between non-drug hemp foods and consumption of the high THC drug marijuana and this study will prove that line to be incorporated into legislation to change Roadside Testing guidelines.

2) Marketing of hemp foods - has been passed to the Food Regulatory Standing Committee and Health Ministers. We will find the relevant people, and let them know that no other country in the world has a problem here. Current legislation says you cannot mislead customers by pretending it is a drug. This is simple, again by clear communication in the proper way.

3) Law Enforcement (Police) worry it will be hard to distinguish hemp and drug varieties of cannabis seeds. In the US they make sure that seeds are processed under license (as they are now in Australia) and only sold to the public if they are steralised. Either by dehulling, pressing, heat treatment or similar. In Europe they don't care about the seeds - the legislation says that cannabis seeds are only illegal the moment they get put in the ground/ in soil. This works.

Objective: Discuss with Police to alleviate concerns and make a clear choice.

4) UN Convention By legalising ANY amount of THC (non-drug hemp foods may contain trace amounts) may contravene the UN Convention on narcotic substances. Who is concerned about this? The Health Ministers.

Objective: Discuss with relevant interested parties

Notes: No other country in the world has this problem and nearly all other countries allow hemp as a food. Furthermore item 1) Roadside Testing results will also make a clear line on this

Hemp Foods Australia Founder and CEO Paul Benhaim will accompany the professional Political Lobbyist team to Canberra and assist in getting the message clear. 100% of your donation goes to the Political Lobbyist campaign only