Marijuana Vs Hemp Debate – A Billion Kina Question or a Pandora’s Box?

It’s a plant that can build your house, fuel your body, and clothe you. It’s also a plant that looks almost exactly like its notorious cousin, marijuana. This is the heart of a complex puzzle facing Papua New Guinea right now: what to do about industrial hemp? Or should we even be talking about it?

A Tale of Two Plants: The Difference and the Doubt

To get your head around it, think of a capsicum and a fiery hot chili. They’re from the same family, but one ends up in a salad, the other can ruin your night. Industrial hemp is the capsicum of the cannabis world—it has almost none of the chemical (THC) that causes a “high”. Its cousin, marijuana, is the chili, cultivated specifically for that intoxicating effect.

This simple difference, however, is being lost in a cloud of public concern, according to a September 2024 report from PNG’s National Research Institute (NRI). In cities like Lae and Port Moresby, the idea of legalising hemp is met with deep suspicion, largely because most people believe it’s the same as marijuana. The fear is that legalising a look-alike plant would simply pour fuel on the fire of PNG’s existing social problems. Law enforcement agencies are already struggling to cope with the trade of illicit drugs, and many citizens worry that a hemp industry would be impossible to control.

The Great Divide: Public Fear vs. Political Optimism

One resident surveyed for the NRI report put the fear plainly:

“Currently, some people are misusing things such as hand sanitisers, brews, which are intended for good purposes. There are already enough social problems in the country. If industrial hemp becomes legalised, social problems will get out of hand and PNG does not have the capacity to control and regulate it.”

But this public fear stands in stark contrast to the powerful optimism from some political leaders years earlier.

Speaking at a convention in Port Moresby back in 2019, East Sepik Governor Allan Bird was vocal about his interest in tapping into the global hemp business, which he noted was projected to be worth US$26 billion by 2025. At the time, he reported that he was already in discussions with government departments to work on legislation. For Bird, the opportunity was too big to ignore. “The fastest growing business in the word now is marijuana and it is becoming legal in most countries,” he said.

Speaking at a convention in Port Moresby back in 2019, East Sepik Governor Allan Bird was vocal about his interest in tapping into the global hemp business, which he noted was projected to be worth US$26 billion by 2025. At the time, he reported that he was already in discussions with government departments to work on legislation. For Bird, the opportunity was too big to ignore. “The fastest growing business in the word now is marijuana and it is becoming legal in most countries,” he said.

This view taps directly into the potential economic prize, which the more recent NRI report also acknowledges is massive. The global industrial hemp market was worth over US$5 billion in 2022 and is projected to skyrocket to over US$28 billion by 2032. For PNG, a nation with vast amounts of suitable land, this represents a significant opportunity. Proponents see a future where PNG could export valuable products, including:

• Food: Hemp seeds are rich in protein, healthy fats, and minerals.
• Building Materials: Its fibre can be used in insulation, fibreboard, and even a form of concrete.
• Biodegradable Products: Hemp can be used to make bioplastics, paper, and textiles, offering sustainable alternatives.
• CBD Oil: The extraction of non-intoxicating CBD for wellness and pharmaceutical products is a major global industry.

The Reality Check: Why PNG Isn’t Ready for a Green Rush

Looking over the fence, many other nations have already taken the plunge. Australia green-lit hemp for medicinal use in 2016 , while our pacific neighbours Fiji (2022) and Vanuatu (2021) have also legalised its production for industrial purposes.

So, what’s holding PNG back?

According to the NRI report, the country simply isn’t ready. The foundational pillars needed to support a safe and legal hemp industry are not yet in place. Researchers point to a critical lack of:

• Regulatory Capacity: PNG doesn’t have the resources to effectively monitor a hemp industry.
• Clear Policies: No official guidelines or standards for managing hemp production have been developed.
• Testing Facilities: Modern labs are needed to constantly test THC levels in crops to ensure they are hemp and not marijuana, and these are currently lacking.

This concern about control is echoed by the public, with the fear for the nation’s youth being the number one reason for opposing legalisation. As another interviewee highlighted:

“If the production of industrial hemp is legalised in PNG, it will destroy our youth because they will abuse its uses and we will find it difficult to control the production of hemp and how it is used.”

The Path Forward: A Standoff for Now

For now, the debate is at a standstill. The NRI’s conclusion is blunt: PNG should not legalise the production of industrial hemp until the country has the capacity to manage it and the public is properly informed. The billion-kina question remains on the table, but before PNG can consider the prize, it must first be sure it can control the risks.