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Hemp Frequently Asked Questions（FAQ)


Q1: Is industrial hemp the same as marijuana?

No. Even though they both come from Cannabis sativa L., the varieties that are used to make industrial hemp products (seed, fiber, etc.) and those that are used to make marijuana (flowering tops and leaves) are distinctly different. They are scientifically different and are cultivated in very different ways.What is hemp?
For our purposes, hemp is the plant called `cannabis sativa.’ There are other plants that are called hemp, but cannabis hemp is the most useful of these plants. In fact, `cannabis sativa’ means `useful (sativa) hemp (cannabis)’.

‘Hemp’ is any durable plant that has been used since pre-history for many purposes. Fiber is the most well known product, and the word `hemp’ can mean the rope or twine which is made from the hemp plant, as well as just the stalk of the plant which produced it.

Industrial hemp is the non-psychoactive, low-THC, oilseed and fiber varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp has absolutely no use as a recreational drug.


Q2: Where in the world is industrial hemp grown?

Hemp is grown in … Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine.


Q3:　Can I grow hemp in Hokkaido?

No! or Yes! In order to cultivate hemp, the cannabis handler license is required from Governor Hokkaido. Currently, cultivators are the only one in Kitami city, Hokkaido since 2006. However, the Hokkaido Government Medical Drug Service, which is the window of permission, does not recognize that local government bodies have no recommendation. Therefore, the Hokkaido Industrial Hemp Association is at the stage of doing various efforts to overcome this situation. We are waiting for participation of those interested in cultivation.


Q4:　Hemp is strictly regulated. Therefore, can I use flax?

Yes. Hemp and flax are the same fiber crops and oils that can be taken from seed are both known as healthy oils of omega 3. I think that practicing from flax is one way because the regulations are severe. The advantage of hemp that is not found in flax is thought to be that it can be cultivated without pesticides, few disorderly obstructions, a lot of fiber yield, and that it can be used as medicinal herbs for medical use in the future.


Q5:　Can I use wild cannabis?

No. Because the position of wild cannabis as an existence should be eradicated according to the policies of the Medical Treatment Division of Hokkaido government, we can not use it at the present moment. Even if you can use it, the million annual cannabis weigh in a year will be only 2 hectares equivalent in terms of farmland. Since the scale of industrial use in the EU and Canada is 500 to 1000 hectares, it can be considered that transportation efficiency may be bad for using wild cannabis sparsely in Hokkaido.