Industrial Hemp Act No. 34 of 2021.

The purpose of this Act, comprising 26 articles, is to govern the production, distribution, trade, and licensing aspects concerning industrial hemp within Zambia. The Lead Agency is tasked with issuing licenses for various activities involving industrial hemp, and it is an offense punishable under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to engage in any of these activities without a proper license. Therefore who intends to grow, process, distribute, buy, export or conduct research on industrial hemp shall apply to the Lead Agency in a prescribed manner and form on payment of a prescribed fee (article 5). Article 15 provides for the import and export of the seeds, and establishes that a person who intends to import and export industrial hemp seed shall do so in accordance with this Act, the Plant Variety and Seeds Act and the Plant Pests and Diseases Act. Under article 19, authorized officers have the right, with a warrant, to enter, inspect, and search premises where industrial hemp activities occur, seize relevant materials, take samples, and utilize electronic devices for inspection purposes. Additionally, the Act provides for the establishment and maintenance of a register containing information about licensed industrial hemp entities (article 22).