Fiji’s Hemp Promise: More Than Three Years Lost

In July 2022, Fiji’s Parliament amended the Illicit Drugs Control Act to legalize industrial hemp, removing low-THC hemp from the list of prohibited substances. At the time, it was framed as a step toward economic diversification, sustainable agriculture, and new opportunities for local farmers.

More than three years later, that promise remains largely unfulfilled.

Hemp is legal in law — but not functional in practice. Clear regulations, licensing systems, and customs alignment have still not been fully implemented. As a result, Fiji has watched a global industry grow while remaining effectively locked out of it.

This is not a debate about ideology or morality.

It is about time lost, income lost, and opportunities denied.

The global reality: hemp moved forward without Fiji

Since 2022, the global industrial hemp industry has continued to expand. Independent market analysts estimate the global hemp market to be worth around USD 9–11 billion by 2024, with strong growth projected into the next decade.

Hemp is now widely used in:

• textiles and clothing

• construction materials

• paper and packaging

• food and wellness products

Countries that clarified their rules early are exporting, attracting investment, and creating jobs. Fiji, despite legalizing hemp, has not developed a functioning domestic hemp industry and has no meaningful presence in international hemp trade.

What was legalized — and what was not completed

Accuracy matters.

Industrial hemp was legalized in Fiji on 29 July 2022, when Parliament amended the Illicit Drugs Control Act to exclude low-THC hemp from cannabis prohibitions.

Recreational and medical cannabis remains illegal, and this article makes no claim otherwise.

Legalization, however, was only the first step.

As of 2025:

There is no comprehensive, publicly accessible regulatory framework governing cultivation, processing, and export.

Customs and border controls remain unclear, creating risk for importers and exporters.

Financial institutions remain hesitant to support hemp businesses due to regulatory uncertainty.

In practical terms, hemp is legal — but operationally dead.

More than three years of delay has real costs

There are no official government figures quantifying how much revenue Fiji has lost due to this delay. Any estimate must therefore be framed carefully and transparently.

What follows is an illustrative example, not a claim of exact loss.

If Fiji had captured even 0.05% of the global hemp market — a very small niche share — that would represent roughly USD 4–5 million per year in economic activity.

If government revenue (taxes, fees, duties) amounted to around 15%, that would equal approximately USD 600,000–750,000 annually.

Over more than three years, that represents several million US dollars that could have supported:

• rural roads

• schools and clinics

• agricultural extension services

For a small island economy, these amounts are not trivial.

A realistic entry point: hemp clothing and textiles

One of the most practical starting points for Fiji is hemp textiles and clothing.

The global hemp fibre market — which feeds into textiles — is already valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is projected to approach USD 2 billion in the coming decade.

Why textiles matter for Fiji:

They are labour-intensive, creating jobs rather than relying on heavy machinery.

Production can operate through small factories and cooperatives, particularly in rural areas.

Global fashion brands are actively seeking sustainable, low-impact fibres.

Even modest participation in this sector could generate steady employment for farmers, spinners, weavers, tailors, and transport operators — without granting exclusivity to foreign entities.

And textiles represent only one segment of hemp’s potential — not including paper, construction materials, or food products.

Climate leadership — and a policy contradiction

Fiji presents itself internationally as a climate leader, with strong commitments under the Paris Agreement and national policies aimed at sustainability and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Hemp aligns naturally with those goals:

• It typically requires less water than cotton

• It contributes to soil health and carbon capture

• It can reduce pressure on forests when used as an alternative fibre

While hemp is not explicitly named in Fiji’s climate plans, its characteristics directly support the country’s stated objectives.

The contradiction is simple:

solutions that support climate commitments exist, yet policy inertia prevents their use.

The real barrier: governance, not farmers

The problem is not lack of interest from farmers or communities.

It is policy coordination failure.

Key gaps remain:

• No clear, central licensing authority

• No simple, published pathway from cultivation to export

• Customs rules that do not clearly reflect legalization

• No national standards for quality, transport, or traceability

Each year of delay increases uncertainty and pushes opportunity elsewhere.

Conclusion: more than three years lost — and counting

Fiji legalized industrial hemp in July 2022.

That decision created expectations — among farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

More than three years later, those expectations remain unmet.

The evidence shows:

Hemp is a legal, global, growing industry

Fiji has the land, labour, and climate to participate

Even small market entry could generate meaningful income and jobs

The remaining work is not radical. It is administrative.

The real question now is this:

Will Fiji finally turn legalization into livelihoods — or allow more years to pass while opportunity quietly slips away?

Sign the Petition for Cannabis Reform in Fiji: www.change.org/p/decriminalize-cannabis-in-fiji-for-our-health-wealth-and-justice

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