Kazakhstan to Permit Industrial Hemp Cultivation
Kazakhstan will legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, with the measure already approved by the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament. The provision is part of a draft law aimed at eliminating unnecessary regulation of internal affairs bodies. Vice Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov confirmed the development during a parliamentary session. According to Adilov, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already issued four licenses for the cultivation of technical cannabis. The new regulation is designed to enable the use of industrial hemp in manufacturing sectors such as paper, textiles, and construction materials. Industrial Use, Not for Intoxication During discussions in the Mazhilis, some deputies raised concerns about whether the cultivation of hemp might attract drug users or traffickers. Addressing these fears, Adilov emphasized the stark chemical differences between industrial and wild cannabis. “Wild-growing marijuana in the Chui Valley contains more than 15% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while industrial hemp contains just 0.1% to 0.3% THC,” he explained. “As a police officer, I can say this production holds no interest for drug users or traffickers. Industrial hemp cultivation is not prohibited by law.” Adilov noted that one farm in the Kostanay region is already engaged in the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp under one of the existing licenses. Revisiting an Old Idea The concept of using hemp for industrial purposes, particularly in paper production, has been circulating in Kazakhstan for more than a decade. However, past initiatives were not government-led. Roughly ten years ago, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” proposed utilizing hemp to reduce Kazakhstan’s dependency on imported office paper, which costs the country an estimated $100 million annually. Although the proposal was backed by Dariga Nazarbayeva, then Deputy Prime Minister and the eldest daughter of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, it failed to gain broader government support at the time. Now, with the government itself spearheading the effort, the project is being revived with stronger institutional backing. The entire cultivation and processing cycle of industrial hemp will be monitored by anti-narcotics authorities to ensure regulatory compliance and security.