Kazakhstan authorizes the cultivation of industrial hemp

Kazakhstan adds a new plant to its manufacturing and agricultural sectors by legalizing growing industrial hemp.

This initiative, recently approved by the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, paves the way for the use of hemp in sectors such as paper production, textile manufacturing and building materials, This is a way for Kazakhstan to reduce its dependence on imports and stimulate local industry.

Industrial hemp: a non-intoxicating crop

During a parliamentary session, concerns were expressed about the possibility of hemp cultivation attracting drug users or traffickers. Responding to these concerns, Sanzhar Adilov underlined the difference between industrial hemp and its wild counterparts.

« Wild cannabis grown in the Chui Valley contains over 15 % of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while industrial hemp contains only 0.1 % to 0.3 %. », explained Mr. Adilov, according to The Astana Times. «. Mr. Adilov clarified, in discussions reported by Kazinform, that « industrial hemp contains virtually no THC »and that « if grown for industrial purposes, this type of hemp contains no psychotropic components ».

To guarantee public safety and compliance with regulations, the government plans to supervise the entire production cycle, from seed to finished product, through the anti-narcotics authorities.

A ten-year-old idea gains new momentum

The idea of developing a industrial hemp industry is not new to Kazakhstan.

More than ten years ago, the National Chamber of Contractors «Atameken» has proposed using hemp to reduce the country's dependence on imported office paper, a market that costs almost 100 million dollars per year in Kazakhstan. Despite the support of leading political figures such as Dariga Nazarbayeva, then Deputy Prime Minister, the project did not receive the necessary support from the government at the time, and was eventually abandoned.

Today, the landscape has changed. At a meeting of the investment advice on February 19, the government formally instructed the Ministry of the Interior to draw up amendments to the law. to authorize the cultivation of industrial hemp. These changes were developed in coordination with members of Parliament and the Ministry of Agriculture.

As Mr. Adilov reaffirmed at the Mazhilis session, «.« it's all about industrial hemp production », dismissing any perception of legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes. He insisted on genetic and chemical differences between plants, underlining that « industrial production is not currently prohibited by law if the THC content is zero ».

The exploitation of hemp fibers could position Kazakhstan as a major player in the fast-growing global market for sustainable materials. Paper, clothing, bioplastics and even the hemp concrete are all industries that could flourish thanks to local hemp supply chains.