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Although hemp comes from the cannabis plant family, hemp and the cannabis we use in medicine are not the same thing. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that is most often cultivated for its fibre.
The cannabis plant produces over 100 cannabinoids, a class of chemical compounds that interact with receptors in our cells and alter the release of chemicals in the brain. Two of these compounds, that you’ve probably heard of, are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is psychoactive and cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-psychoactive.
Hemp contains .03% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). And this low THC content means it’s unlikely it’ll cause the ‘high’ feeling cannabis can be associated with.
Cannabidiol (CBD) can also be extracted from hemp. When we talk about CBD flower (flower that contains high amounts of CBD and lower amounts of THC) these typically come from hemp plants, as they don’t produce a lot of THC.
Whilst it is legal to grow hemp in the UK, there are certain licences that farmers require. And as CBD becomes more popular, following all UK hemp laws and regulations should be a priority. We’ll be exploring these legal requirements below as well as the history of hemp and how to get a cultivation licence.
History of Hemp in the UK
We know that hemp dates all the way back to the Bronze Age. Hemp fibres were found by archeologists amongst weapons and other items at a site in St Andrews, Scotland.
Roman Britain and the Anglo-Saxons both farmed hemp for fibre, using it to create cords, sails, fishing nets, clothing, and other important materials. Romans also likely pressed the seeds for oil.
There’s strong evidence that suggests hemp farming continued, and expanded, throughout mediaeval England. Places across the UK with ‘Hemp’ or ‘Hamp’ in the name, like Hampshire, were hubs of hemp production.
Royalty and religion increased and decreased the use of cannabis in the UK over the next few hundred years. In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII declared hemp-based therapies ‘an unholy sacrament of satanic rituals’.
In 1533, King Henry VIII ordered farmers to grow hemp on a dedicated percentage of their land or they would face a fine. This was due to the growth of England’s supreme seafaring military. The hemp fibre was once again needed for ropes, sails, uniforms, and numerous other materials important to the Crown.
In 1923, The League of Nations called for tighter controls over cannabis use. However, Britain asked for more evidence before any controls were imposed due to the positive findings of the India Hemp Drugs Commission. It concluded that moderate use produced practically no bad effects and instead may be beneficial.
In 1928, The Dangerous Drugs Act became law. Recreational use of cannabis in the UK was made illegal. And it wasn’t until 1992 that the Home Office was able to lift restrictions on hemp cultivation.
In 2001, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced that cannabis would be moved from Class B to Class C, making possession a non-arrestable offence, and in 2004, this was formalised into law. But then we go backwards again. In 2009, cannabis went back to being Class B under the reasoning that it was more harmful to the body than previously thought.
Finally, in 2018 medical cannabis was legalised in the UK again. However, strict regulations are in place, limiting access. Despite these constraints, the UK medical cannabis market is the second largest in Europe.
Today, there are many benefits of hemp in the UK. These can include:
- Textiles and clothing
- Paper
- Building materials
- Fuels
- Biodegradable plastics
- Oils
- Food products like oil or hemp milk
- Some CBD products
Is Hemp Cultivation Legal in the UK today?
The Industrial Hemp Regulations 2001 states that, with a special licence issued from the home office, the hemp plant can be grown. However, only certain parts can be legally harvested, which is where hemp cultivation in the UK can get a little confusing.
The seeds and fibres are the only part of the plant that can actually be legally collected. And the leaves and buds (flowers), where the majority of cannabinoids including CBD and THC are found, have to be destroyed as soon as they’re separated from the harvested plant.
Which doesn’t really seem logical. Although farmers in the UK are only allowed to grow hemp cultivars that contain less than 0.2% THC, cannabis products are legal to sell over the counter in supermarkets as long as they do not exceed 1mg of THC per ‘container’ (bottle or packet). And products with higher levels of THC can be prescribed by licensed clinics like Alternaleaf. Plus, don’t forget, products containing only CBD are completely legal in the UK.
But they still have to destroy the parts of the plants that contain THC and CBD. This is something that will hopefully be reviewed in the future, when more evidence presents itself to back the fact that THC and CBD have a lot of medical benefits.
These rules and regulations are much more complicated than what the rest of Europe has to follow. Which is the main reason UK hemp farmers are lagging behind their European counterparts.
Obtaining a Hemp Cultivation License
So, let's go back to that special licence we were talking about. On top of the restrictions, you’ll need a hemp cultivation licence if you want to cultivate hemp on a commercial level. And this application goes through the Home Office. Just head to their Drug Licensing website, and fill in the MD-29 form. Then you’ll want to let your local police station know that you’re growing it.
Summary
Yes, hemp is legal in the UK. But there are rules and regulations, particularly around growing hemp, that must be followed.
Although there is a THC limit for hemp in the UK, this only applies to products sold over the counter in supermarkets or online. Products prescribed by licensed clinics like Alternaleaf can contain more THC, because doctors and pharmacists understand what is safe to consume. And this is incredible, because higher levels of THC can be more beneficial when it comes to relieving certain symptoms.
Hopefully with more research, these rules will shift. The easier it is to grow, the more widespread it can be used, and the more people it can help.