HempCyberFarm Answer 2 Canadian Licence Application

Mrs. Jean Peart*
Health Canada
Health Protection Branch
International Control and Licensing Division
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 1B9
Canada
Fax: (1) (613) 941-4760

This document is designed to assist the applicant in providing the information necessary for an expedited review of the licence application. All attached information must reference the Section of the form to which it applies.

Full details must be provided if the owner of the field proposed for hemp cultivation is not the same as the applicant. If there is more than one owner, information must be provided for each owner.

If there is more than one researcher attached to the project submitted, information has to be provided for each researcher.

A B.Sc. degree is the minimum academic qualification required. A copy of the degree may be provided. In the absence of a B.Sc. degree, equivalent knowledge gained through training and experience may be accepted after evaluation. Description of the appropriate training and experience must be provided as an attachment, cross-referencing 3.6 and 3.7.

Please indicate the exact legal description of the field/area proposed for hemp cultivation.

Include farm buildings and surrounding fields belonging to other persons (if applicable). A map or scale drawing may be provided.

The security description applies mainly to the facility for the storage of the plant material. Please indicate its location on the map or drawing provided.

Must be completed and signed appropriately by all applicants involved in the cultivation of hemp. Please indicate the name and address of the laboratory where the testing for THC content will be performed. This testing must be done in order to verify the actual level of delta-9 THC in the hemp grown. If the testing laboratory does not have a licence to handle the narcotic material, they will need to apply for a narcotic licence. The laboratory should also be provided with a copy of Guidance on Sampling and Analysis of delta-9 THC in Hemp.

Indicate here, or in an attached document, the objectives of the project (6.1) and the proposed methodology to reach the objectives (6.2). The methodology must be described in sufficient detail to facilitate the evaluation of the scientific aspects of the research project. Information on timeframes should be included.

If there is more than one area to be seeded, the seeded area must be indicated in the submitted project, for each proposed location for hemp cultivation. A map or a scale drawing may be used.

Must be completed by persons planning to useviable seeds and/or importing viable seeds. In order to import viable seeds, a Narcotic Import Permit must be obtained from Health Canada prior to acquiring an import permit, from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Note: Only the varieties of seeds known to produce plants with low levels of delta-9 THC will be approved for use.

a) Records must include information on the receipt of seeds, sowing, sampling, testing, harvesting, storing and distribution. Maintaining proof of the chain of custody is particularly important for samples sent for testing and material for destruction. Each entry must indicate the quantity of the plant material handled, the date of the event and the initials of the person maintaining the records. This person may be the applicant, the researcher, the land owner or a person delegated by the applicant to maintain the records. These records are in addition to the ones which are necessary for the conduct of the project itself.

b)Records must include information on all operations with respect to conducting the project, such as sowing, harvesting, sampling and testing.

Please indicate the individuals or companies that will conduct tests on the production of goods from hemp material. For each company, please indicate the name of a contact person. Indicate which part of the plant and the expected quantity of plant material will be required in the transformation research. This information needs to be provided foreach type of proposed transformation. The individual or company involved in the transformation will require a licence.

An authorization to dispose of the [surplus] plant material [that will not be used in the project] must be obtained from a Health Canada Regional Office, before the disposition is carried out. Information regarding the quantity, the nature of the material and the method of disposition must be provided. Any disposition must be witnessed and the date and quantity must be confirmed. The disposition must be done in accordance with environmental regulations.

The letters from the Police Service(s) may be submitted directly by the Police Service.

Any information that will assist the reviewers of the application will be given full consideration. Please keep the text brief.

The guidance documents Guidance on Application for Licence to Grow Hemp for Research Purposes and Guidance on Sampling and Analysis of delta-9 THC in Hemp are intended to assist you in providing the information necessary for an expedited review of the application to grow hemp under licence for research purposes.

It should be noted that all applications received are first screened to ensure that the necessary information has been provided. The application will be acknowledged within 7 days of receipt with requests for additional information, if necessary.

The research and security components of the application will be evaluated by an interdepartmental committee in the order in which the applications are received. It is very important to describe the proposed project and the methodology to be used to reach the objectives, as clearly as possible to avoid further requests for information on the project(s). Applications will only be assessed after all requested information has been received. A new queue date will be based on the date received.

The recommendations of the committee will determine the issuance of the research licence or its refusal. In the event of a refusal, a letter will be sent to the applicant with the reason(s) for the refusal. If the applicant decides to resubmit the project(s) with some modifications, the application will go through the same process.

Commercial cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes is still illegal in Canada. Until the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is proclaimed by Order-in-Council and Regulations are in effect, Health Canada will continue to issue licenses for research studies related to the cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes

Hemp usually refers to varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant that have a low content of delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and that are generally cultivated for fibre. Industrial hemp should not be confused with varieties of Cannabis Sativa with a high content of THC which are referred to as marihuana.

The Senate introduced an amendment which would remove any further controls on industrial hemp after the mature stalks are harvested. This amendment was endorsed by the House of Commons. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, formerly Bill C-8, received Royal Assent on June 20, 1996.

Internationally, Cannabis sativa is regulated by the United Nation's Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Canada has signed and ratified this Convention.

In conformity with Convention requirements, Cannabis sativa is scheduled in the Narcotic Control Act. Whereas the Convention does allow cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes, the Narcotics Control Act does not permit the issuance of licenses to cultivate industrial hemp for commercial purposes.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) allows the making of regulations permitting the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp. Until the new Act is proclaimed by Order-in-Council and Regulations are in effect, Health Canada will continue to issue licenses for research studies related to the cultivation of industrial hemp.

An Application Form and relevant Guidance Documents aimed at expediting the review of research licence applications are available.

Basic information and requirements necessary for you to have a reasonable chance of being granted a Hemp cultivation license. All applications for a license to cultivate Hemp for research purposes must contain at least the following information:

* Name, address, and birth date of the applicant.
* Name of owner of the field.
* Name and birth date of all people who will be in contact with the plants.
* Qualifications of the applicant in relation to the proposed research.
* Description of the project in sufficient detail to evaluate it as scientific research.
* Name(s) of any laboratories that will be conducting an analysis of the plant.
* Name(s) of the individual or company who will be conducting any scientific studies on, or transforming the plant, or any part of the plant.
* The variety of the Hemp seeds, the supplier of the seeds and, if applicable, the importer.
* Number of plants to be cultivated and justification of the number in relationship to the experiments.

* Hemp species to be cultivated, the anticipated percentage THC in the plants, the methods used to determine the percentage and the conditions under which it was grown.
* Specific location where the Hemp will be cultivated, and a description of the location in relation to surrounding fields and the surrounding area.
* Description of the physical security which will be provided to the plants and seeds.
* Method of destruction which will be used to destroy the plant, and any part of the plant removed for study.
* Description of the record keeping.
* Name and address of the police force that normally responds to a call for help as well as the address of the closest provincial police force.
* List of grants received in regard to this project.
* Any other information which the applicant feels will facilitate the issuance of a license.

Do you know more about getting licenses in Australia, England, Germany or any other country? E-mail us at Matthew@HempWorld.com

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.