Industrial Hemp to Be Grown in Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, the cultivation of industrial hemp has been permitted. Vice Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov outlined how the government intends to regulate the sector to prevent any misuse, Orda.kz reports.

According to ministry officials, production will be carried out under strict oversight.

First, only specific varieties of industrial hemp with negligible or no psychoactive properties will be permitted. These include "egg-shaped" varieties with extremely low or non-existent levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Second, all stages — from cultivation to processing — will involve laboratory testing, monitored by forensic experts.

Third, cultivation areas will be secured. These zones will be fenced, access will be restricted, and continuous oversight will be implemented.

Fourth, if inspections reveal that THC levels exceed the permitted threshold, the crop will be destroyed.

Not a single gram of the narcotic active substance will enter circulation. There will be oversight at every stage: from the import of seeds to processing. Enterprises with licenses will not be able to produce prohibited varieties,
 Sultanov emphasized.

He also noted that industrial hemp cultivation is an established practice globally. The plant is used in the production of paper, textiles, bioplastics, and building materials. In Kazakhstan, the initiative is viewed as a potential contributor to economic development.

Original Author: Ilya Astakhov