LEGISLATIVE barriers have prevented the cultivation of hemp locally, but the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has committed to examining a scientific report on the plant and its feasibility.

Nandlall, following a meeting with members of the Guyana Hemp Industry on Monday, requested a report on the innate properties of the hemp and a feasibility study on the production of this plant in Guyana.

Hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant species which is grown specifically for its industrial uses. It is said to be one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber almost 50,000 years ago.

For years, several organisations and persons have been seeking Government’s support on the legalisation of Hemp in Guyana, but there has been no decisive action on this front, until today.

According to a press statement from the Chambers of the Attorney General, the Guyana Hemp Industry has, until October 31, 2020, to submit the report which was requested by Nandlall. In the report, the organisation is expected to include the benefits which will accrue to the local economy.
Advocates of hemp production have said that the plant can be used to produce over 50,000 different items including, textiles, paper, industrial materials, building materials, food, body care products and animal feed.

“It was agreed that this information would be supplied by the 31st October 2020, after which same will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration and directions on the way forward,” said the Attorney General’s Chambers in a press statement.

While in opposition, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, had met with this organisation and other stakeholders, and had promised that once elected, a PPP/C Government would explore the possibility of growing hemp in Guyana.
Nandlall reiterated this commitment and was commended by the Chairman of the Guyana Hemp Association Michael Kirton, who lamented that the former APNU+AFC Government never responded to any of their correspondence, or facilitated a meeting with the Guyana Hemp Association, over the last five years.