You will need a licence if you intend to grow industrial cannabis (hemp) for commercial purposes. Industrial cannabis or hemp (Cannabis sativa) is specifically bred to have tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels of no more than 1% and does not have the psychoactive properties that marijuana does. In Queensland, the crop is grown commercially to produce fibre and seed. Industrial cannabis seed, or grain, is allowed to be produced for food for human consumption.
There are three licences available to engage in activities associated with the commercial production of industrial cannabis:
- grower licence
- researcher licence
- seed handler licence.
A grower licence will allow you to:
- possess and supply industrial cannabis and produce industrial cannabis plants and seed from planting seed - planting seed means cannabis seed that has been harvested from a cannabis plant with a THC concentration, in the plant's leaves and flowering heads, of not more than 0.5%
- possess and supply industrial cannabis seed to a researcher, another grower, seed handler or analyst supply processed cannabis to authorised persons.
A researcher licence will allow you to:
- possess and supply for research purposes, industrial cannabis and class A and B research cannabis plants and seed
- produce industrial cannabis and class A and B research cannabis plants and seed for research purposes
- supply processed cannabis to authorised persons.
There are two types of research plants.
- Class A research cannabis plants - have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 3% or more in its leaves and flowering heads.
- Class B research cannabis plants - have a THC concentration of more than 1% but less than 3% in its leaves and flowering heads.
A seed handler licence will allow you to:
- possess industrial cannabis seed for the purpose of storing, denaturing and trading in the seed
- supply industrial cannabis seed and processed cannabis seed to authorised persons.
You will need to maintain records of your activities, including any industrial cannabis in your possession and when and how much you plant.
If you hold a licence, you cannot:
- Extract and / or produce Cannabidol (CBD) oil or any other product from industrial cannabis leaves or flowering heads.
- Supply industrial cannabis leaves or flowering heads to another person for the purpose of producing CBD oil or any other product.
- Allowing food producing animals to consume industrial cannabis plants.
