THE Atherton Tablelands is leading the charge to grow Queensland’s first medicinal cannibas.
More than 70 people gathered at Atherton on Tuesday to learn about how they may become involved in growing and manufacturing medicinal cannibas.
It was the first of a series of meetings being hosted by Queensland Health, with the Far North Queensland town chosen as the first cab off the rank due to the huge amount of interest expressed.
Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth said the region’s perfect climate and well drained soil made it the ideal location for a medicinal cannibas industry.
“We have met on a number of occasions with government ministers and facilitated meetings with farmers and it’s now progressing full steam ahead,” Mr Knuth said. “There is so much interest here on the Tablelands.
“This has the potential to be a new emergent industry, and being a representative of this region has given me the opportunity to bring to the government’s attention what’s in the hearts and minds of farmers likewise pharmacists and interest from the community in my electorate..
“There is so much momentum.”
Queensland Health chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young, who chaired the meeting, said a large number of questions fielded at the meeting were from growers.
“The main issue is this is such early days that really all of the processes haven’t been outlined,” Dr Young said.
“The Commonwealth is in the midst of developing regulations that will be put in place to enact their bill and that probably won’t be completed for several more months.
“There is a lot of unknowns and it is difficult to say to people what they might be able to do to apply for a permit or licence to grow and produce medicinal cannibas.
“From my point of view there is definitely lot of interest from the agricultural side.
“There is the perfect climate, and a lot of (farming) experience so they are looking at this as a potential new industry that they may benefit from.”
One such farmer hoping to capitalise on a new industry is pumpkin grower Joe Portelli, Dimbulah.
“We want to try and see if we can set something up for Dimbulah,” Mr Portelli said. “We have had tobacco before and they shut it down and now they are buying tobacco from other places.
“We hope this could work out better for the community.”
Mr Portelli said the Tablelands was crying out for help.
“We are all going backwards,” Mr Portelli said. “At the end of the day no matter whether you train, feed, grow or squeeze milk out of a poor old cow, we are all suffering.
“We need to work together we might all benefit out of it.”