From “Can You Eat Hemp?” to Hemp Foods in Australia

Every now and then, we come across a piece of Made In Hemp history that makes us stop, smile, and remember just how far the Australian hemp industry has come.

This old magazine feature and advertisement from 2013 is one of those moments.

The headline says it all:

“Can you eat hemp? Answer: yes and no.”

At the time, the Australian hemp community was in a very strange position. Hemp seed products were already being sold and consumed in countries such as the United States, Canada, parts of Europe and throughout Asia, yet in Australia the rules were still unclear, restrictive and incredibly frustrating for growers, retailers, educators and customers.

Australians could legally use hemp seed oil for skin and body care, but hemp foods were still caught up in outdated concerns and regulatory hesitation. For businesses like Made In Hemp, it meant spending years explaining the same thing over and over again:

Hemp seed foods are not marijuana. Hemp seed oil is not CBD oil. Hemp seeds are a nutritious food ingredient, not a drug product.

A Snapshot from Before Hemp Foods Were Legal

Looking back now, the language feels almost unbelievable. The article captured a time when the Australian hemp industry was still having to argue for something that many other countries had already accepted: that low-THC hemp seed products could be safely used as food.

For those of us who lived through that period, it was not just a technical debate. It affected real businesses, real farmers, real customers and real opportunities for Australian agriculture.

Hemp seeds, hemp seed oil and hemp protein were already being recognised internationally as versatile pantry ingredients. Yet in Australia, the industry was still waiting for legislation to catch up with common sense.

That finally changed in 2017, when low-THC hemp seed foods were permitted for sale as food in Australia and New Zealand. For the hemp industry, it was a long-awaited turning point.

Made In Hemp Was There Before Hemp Was Trendy

One of the reasons we love finding old pieces like this is that they remind us of where Made In Hemp started.

Before hemp was appearing in smoothie bowls, protein powders, skincare routines, natural fibre clothing and wellness cupboards, Made In Hemp was already talking to customers about the difference between hemp seed oil, hemp foods, industrial hemp and cannabis.

We were part of those early conversations. We were answering the awkward questions. We were trying to explain why a plant could be misunderstood for so long, and why hemp deserved to be seen for its practical uses in food, fibre, skincare and agriculture.

In many ways, that has not changed. The questions have evolved, but education is still a huge part of what we do.

From Confusion to Everyday Use

Today, hemp foods are no longer treated as a strange or suspicious idea. Australians can buy hemp seeds, hemp protein powder, hemp seed oil and hemp flour for everyday use.

Customers use hemp seeds in breakfast bowls, smoothies, salads, baking and snacks. Hemp protein powder has found its place in plant-based diets. Hemp seed oil is used as a cold-pressed finishing oil. Hemp flour is being explored in baking, animal feed blends and bulk ingredient applications.

That shift did not happen overnight. It happened because growers, retailers, educators, researchers and everyday customers kept pushing through the confusion.

And it happened because people kept asking questions.

The Question Has Changed

In 2013, the big question was:

“Can you eat hemp?”

Now, the questions are different:

• What is the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil?
• Is hemp protein a good plant-based protein?
• How do I use hemp seeds in food?
• Where is hemp grown?
• What makes hemp clothing different?
• Why is hemp still so misunderstood?

That is progress.

We have moved from defending hemp’s right to exist as a food ingredient, to helping people understand how to use it well.

A Little Bit of Pride Is Allowed

Hemp has never been the easiest industry to work in.

It has been held back by outdated laws, public confusion, payment restrictions, advertising limitations, imported product pressure, inconsistent language and ongoing confusion around hemp, CBD and cannabis.

But when we look back at this 2013 article, we do feel proud.

Proud that Made In Hemp was part of the conversation before hemp foods were legalised. Proud that we are still here. Proud that Australian customers can now access hemp seed foods more easily. Proud that the conversation has grown beyond fear and confusion.

And proud that hemp is finally being recognised for what it has always been: a practical, versatile and valuable plant with a place in food, fibre, skincare and sustainable agriculture.

Where Made In Hemp Is Now

Today, Made In Hemp continues to work across many parts of the hemp industry.

We retail hemp clothing, hemp foods, natural fibre socks, homewares and small-batch skincare. We manufacture our own hemp skincare range from our Long Jetty base. We operate physical stores in Long Jetty and Islington. We continue to educate customers on the difference between hemp seed oil, CBD oil, medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp.

We are also licensed industrial hemp growers, with a long-term interest in Australian-grown hemp, plant-based formulation, fibre, food and farming.

So when we find an old article asking whether Australians can eat hemp, it feels like more than a throwback.

It feels like a reminder of why this work mattered in the first place.

From “Yes and No” to “Yes”

In 2013, the answer to “Can you eat hemp?” was complicated.

Today, thankfully, the answer is much simpler.

Yes, Australians can eat hemp seed foods.

And after all these years, we are very happy to still be here helping people understand, use and appreciate this remarkable plant.