Space cakes or hash brownies are food products made from cannabis in a herbal or resin form as an ingredient. They are eaten as another way of experiencing the effects of cannabinoids without actually smoking marijuana. Users report that the high is different from smoking, usually more powerful and often lasting longer.

Well pretty soon here in Australia we could be seeing cannabis ice cream, cannabis cake and even cannabis beer, so I am told as they are to be cleared on health grounds by the nation's food watchdog, despite fears the "marijuana munchies" could trigger positive drug tests.

Deregistered Sydney doctor Andrew Katelaris has sought to lift Australia's ban on food derived from cannabis. Dr Katelaris, who is appealing against his deregistration for supplying medical marijuana to patients, claimed the seeds of industrial hemp contained more Omega 3 acids than seafood and claims that he is looking at making ice cream and health food bars.

The vision is that anything you can do with soy beans or dairy you can do better with hemp seed. A  Food Standards investigation concluded that industrial hemp contained such low levels of the psychoactive substance (THC) that anyone consuming the food would not feel its effect.

Hemp seed is claimed as being a nutritious food containing sizeable amounts of protein, polyunsaturated fats and dietary fibre, omega-3 omega-6 as well as micronutrients such as thiamin, vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron. All these are required for vital body functions, including the immune response, lipid hydrolysis, blood clotting, vascular dilation and cardiac function. These and other polyunsaturated fatty acids also play a vital role in maintaining cell membrane structure.  

An exemption is already in place in New Zealand for hempseed oil.

An application to permit food derived from hemp is currently being considered by FSANZ.

FSANZ is assessing that application and has released a paper for public comment. FSANZ has not identified any public health and safety concerns associated with consuming hemp foods.

FSANZ also acknowledges that food ingredients must be declared in the statement of ingredients by the common name of that ingredient, a name that describes the true nature of the ingredient. If hemp is considered to be a characterising ingredient in the food, then the percentage of hemp in the food would  need to be declared. Labelling requirements will be considered as part of the FSANZ assessment of the current application for approval.

To date FSANZ has not identified any public health and safety concerns associated with consuming hemp foods.

For more info check out -

 http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/scienceandeducation/factsheets/factsheets2011/industrialhempasafoo5102.cfm