HEMPSTORE CHALLENGES CUSTOMS SEIZURE

The Hempstore Aotearoa today filed papers in Manukau District Court against
the New Zealand Customs Service which is refusing to release a shipment of
imported hemp products.

The Hempstore said it had received Customs clearance for previous shipments
of identical products.

The shipment included hemp tea and "Knaster" hemp smoking blend imported
from Germany.

"We are challenging the Customs Service's inconsistent and over-zealous
application of the rules. We have been totally upfront that we have been
importing hemp products and have proof that the THC (the active ingredient
in cannabis) level is minute," spokesman Chris Fowlie said.

The hemp tea was tested in Germany as being 0.0047 per cent, well below the
usual 0.35 per cent level for hemp, he said, "so even a tonne of the stuff
would not have any effect".

Mr Fowlie said Customs officers had told him that ESR had identified the
teas and smoking blend only as containing cannabis.

"The fact is, all hemp is made from cannabis but it's not the kind that
will get anyone high."

If Customs applied the same test to other hemp products, they would all be
declared illegal as all hemp contained some tiny trace amount of THC, he said.

"The action taken by Customs potentially jeopardises the entire New Zealand
hemp industry."

For this reason, Mr Fowlie said the organisation had decided to test the
"arbitrary and inconsistent decision" in court.

Customs today confirmed that a quantity of cannabis had been seized, and
that the other party involved had exercised its right to challenge the seizure.

Spokeswoman Lisa-Marie Richan said Customs was unable to comment further as
the matter was now before the courts.