By DARREN COYNE
Growers and activists from Nimbin will descend on Sydney this weekend with more than one hundred low-THC cannabis plants, and an inflatable medicinal cannabis tincture bottle.
But they are not worried about being pulled over by the NSW Highway Patrol or Drug Unit, as the NSW Department of Primary Industries has sanctioned the transportation of the plants.
The low-THC plants will be on display at the inaugural Hemp Health & Innovation Expo, being held at Rosehill Gardens, on Saturday and Sunday.
The expo, which will be opened by NSW Premier Mike Baird, is also hosting the second ‘United In Compassion’ Medicinal Cannabis Symposium.
Northern Rivers hemp grower, Andrew Kavasilas, has been negotiating with the DPI for months to organize the shipment of hemp plants.
‘Nimbin will have the biggest stall at the expo and for the first time we will be supplying cannabis plants,’ Mr Kavasilas told Echonetdaily.
‘There will be a whole tent full of them and for many people it will be the first time they have seen a real cannabis plant.
‘It’s taken months of paper work and negotiating with government but now it’s happening.’
The Nimbin contingent will also feature ganga faeries and the inflatable cannabis tincture bottle, as well as products and information from local businesses.
Mr Kavasilas said the hemp symposium in Sydney was a major step forward as it had a ‘certain amount of legitimacy’.
‘It’s being opened by the premier for a start,’ he said.
He is hoping that politicians and the wider public are beginning to see the benefits of industrial hemp, and medical cannabis.
‘No government in the world has introduced a meaningful medical cannabis regime and I am hoping this pushes out federal government further along that path.’
‘Doctors are calling for meaningful research and clinical trials but we (The HEMP Party) are saying there needs to be interim measures in place because tens of thousands of Australians are using pot everyday.’
Organisers of the symposium have said it would feature exhibitors from around the world.
‘They will be showcasing everything from hemp fabrics, textiles, clothing, bedding, beauty and health products, medicinal hemp products, building materials, hydroponic equipment and supplies,’ organisers said.
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