Why does the President of Suriname create a working group whose task is to create conditions for the "launch" of industrial cannabis growing

As an example, the experience of France was previously cited, when the legislative body of the country, in order to make changes to the current regulatory and legal framework, created a working group consisting of specialists from various segments of modern cannabis growing, who, based on an analysis of the impact of planned changes in the current regulatory framework, collegially recommended to make point changes in such a way as not to harm the cannabis industry in France, which is currently the leader of modern cannabis production in Europe. The leadership of Suriname (not the most highly developed country in the world), in order to form a legal and regulatory framework for modern cannabis breeding, similarly to our French colleagues, creates an interdepartmental group, the main task of which is to form, first of all, a legal and regulatory framework governing the functioning of the industry in this country. Despite the fact that in Ukraine there is a rather powerful scientific base and more or less formed segments of modern cannabis breeding so far implying the use of the hemp plant exclusively for industrial purposes, there are no representatives of any structures lobbying for the interests of science or the hemp industry in the lists of persons, for this the moment involved in making changes to the relevant legislative acts, unfortunately.

In view of the importance of the development of the hemp industry, President Chan Santhohi on May 7 established a working group "Implementation of industrial hemp growing", which will be headed by adviser to the president Mohamed Hodabuks. It has a multidisciplinary composition and consists not only of members of the government, but also of representatives of the business community. According to the list of tasks assigned to the Working Group, is the development of institutional, as well as regulatory and legal framework for the existence of this sector of management, and the foundation of the hemp industry in Suriname should be created within the next three months.

According to the prepared memo, the theses of which were announced by Mr. Santonji during the founding meeting of the interagency working group, the production of industrial hemp could lead to the formation of new business sectors in the country and, therefore, to the economic development of Suriname. Various components of industrial hemp are used to solve a huge range of tasks - cooking; production of fiber products and building materials; applications in medicine, the entrance to the creation of cosmetic and hygiene products, as well as for the manufacture of animal feed. 

During his speech at the founding meeting of the profile interdisciplinary working group, President Santonja stressed that in recent years, it is technical hemp that has received tremendous development throughout the world. In particular, he emphasized that “It is the backbone of a multi-billion dollar industry in various industrialized parts of the world, including the United States and Europe. The creation of a foundation for similar sectors of the hemp business is possible in our country, given the large areas, as well as fertile soil and climatic conditions. " Suriname is attracting a lot of interest from investors who want to invest resources in the creation of industrial hemp factories. That is why the head of state will do everything possible to create conditions for the development of this particular business in Suriname.

 “At the same time, we must take into account that cannabis can also have negative effects on the human body, namely the intoxicating and potentially addictive effects of marijuana. The production and trade of marijuana is prohibited by international treaties, but, among other things, given the negative consequences for the health of the population, the country's leadership does not see the possibility that, due to the negative consequences of the use of psychoactive components of the plant, this segment of modern cannabis growing does not find recognition in Suriname, ”the head of government emphasized. ...

President Santonji noted during his speech that an effective institutional and modern regulatory framework would be required, which, on the one hand, would facilitate the production of technical hemp for the economic development of Suriname, but on the other hand, would be able to combat the production of marijuana. “This is necessary to protect our international reputation and authority, as well as to protect the health of the population,” the head of government said during his speech.

President Santonji pointed out that a bill "On the industrial cultivation of technical hemp" is already in the country's legislative body. In the opinion of the head of government, this draft law does not yet sufficiently meet the requirements that are capable of providing an effective institutional, as well as regulatory and legal. “Therefore, the created working group should carefully study this draft regulatory legal act in order for it to meet the requirements of modern cannabis farming,” the president said.

In addition, it was established that a number of permits were previously issued regarding the possibility of growing hemp, despite the fact that until recently there was no legal basis for this. "The task of the working group will be to analyze previously issued permits and formulate recommendations for the government of the country, what to do in each specific case," the head of state emphasized.

Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

As an example, the experience of France was previously cited, when the legislative body of the country, in order to make changes to the current regulatory and legal framework, created a working group consisting of specialists from various segments of modern cannabis growing, who, based on an analysis of the impact of planned changes in the current regulatory framework, collegially recommended to make point changes in such a way as not to harm the cannabis industry in France, which is currently the leader of modern cannabis production in Europe. The leadership of Suriname (not the most highly developed country in the world), in order to form a legal and regulatory framework for modern cannabis breeding, similarly to our French colleagues, creates an interdepartmental group, the main task of which is to form, first of all, a legal and regulatory framework governing the functioning of the industry in this country. Despite the fact that in Ukraine there is a rather powerful scientific base and more or less formed segments of modern cannabis breeding so far implying the use of the hemp plant exclusively for industrial purposes, there are no representatives of any structures lobbying for the interests of science or the hemp industry in the lists of persons, for this the moment involved in making changes to the relevant legislative acts, unfortunately.