Senator Brown asked the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 7 June 2004:

(1) Is industrial hemp the same as marijuana.

(2) (a) Is industrial hemp grown in Australia; and (b) are there any restrictions on its cultivation or use; if so, what are they and why are these restrictions in place.

Senator Ian Macdonald (Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) —The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Both industrial hemp and marijuana are taxonomically the same genus and species of Cannabis sativa.

(2) (a) Production trials of industrial hemp have been undertaken in Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales and, in some cases, further research and development is underway.

(b) The authorisation of persons to possess and cultivate industrial hemp is a State responsibility that is administered by the State Departments of Health in consultation with other relevant State Departments. Therefore, this question would be best addressed to State authorities. The reason why such restrictions on the possession and cultivation of Cannabis sativa are in place is once again subject to State laws, as both low tetra hydrocannabinol (THC) `hemp' and high THC `marijuana' are taxonomically the same genus and species of Cannabis sativa.