How is the situation of the Polish hemp industry?
Until the 1960s, there was quite a large Polish hemp industry, with four retting mills. Hemp fibres were mainly used for manufacturing ropes and fabrics for military use. Hemp was even of strategic importance. We had yearly 20,000 to 30,000 ha.growing. A factory had an annual production of 18000 m 3 of particle board, partly made from hemp woody core. Unfortunately, this factory was closed in 1975. After the changes in Russia, our export of military textiles completely collapsed. At present, there are two hemp processing factories left. They make fibre board and still some military fabrics (tents, shoes). Hemp is a marginal crop at the moment. Besides the area in polluted regions, there is another 2000 ha in S.E. Poland. Are there, apart from the INF, other Polish institutes or companies involved in any aspect of Cannabis research? No, no, no. In some botanic gardens and at universities they may have some plants, but they have obtained the seeds from us and it’s only for demonstration,
