A DOUBLE SCOOP OF HEMP CREAM, PLEASE

Not long after approving trial crops of industrial hemp for textiles,
authorities are about to approve its use for icecreams, oils, muesli
bars and other foods.

It took 12 years of lobbying by supporters of an industrial hemp
industry before licences were approved this year for trial crops.

Yesterday, the Australia and New Zealand Food Authority began a
process expected to lead to legal use of industrial hemp extracts in
foods.

It is calling for public comment on an application its board has
recommended for approval.

The authority said the application to use hemp had been "rigorously"
scientifically assessed and did not raise public health or safety concerns.

The hemp considered contained negligible levels of the hallucinogen
THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

"There is widespread use of industrial hemp as a food elsewhere in the
world," the authority said.

"Hemp-based products, such as hempseed and hempseed oil, can provide
consumer health benefits."

Hemp can be used as a source of unsaturated fatty acids.

The board has approved a draft assessment that recommends approval of
industrial hemp as a novel food.

The sale of hemp products is currently prohibited.