The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has provided advice on a proposal to amend the licensing regimen for industrial hemp.
In April this year, then-Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire Chris Philp wrote to the ACMD to request their advice on raising the THC limit for industrial hemp varieties to at least 0.3% – currently, it’s 0.2%.
He also asked for guidance on amending the 2010 (Fees) Regulations so that the lower fee (of £580) applies to licences issued for the cultivation of any plant within the scope of proposed revised industrial hemp licensing policy.
The ACMD has responded, stating it is supportive of the proposed THC threshold change for industrial hemp grown outdoors for seed production or for use of the non-controlled parts of the plant; as the potential benefits outweigh an increased risk of harms.
The non-controlled parts of the cannabis plant are the mature stalk and seeds. The controlled parts (including leaves and flowers), regardless of their THC content, must be retted at the licensed location or otherwise lawfully disposed of. Retting is a form of composting, using moisture and microbes to break down organic matter. It’s a process often carried out in connection to producing hemp fibre.
Raising the level to THC 0.3% would bring the UK in line with the European Union and countries such as the US, Canada and China. But some countries allow for levels up to 1%, giving growers in those jurisdictions more choice of varieties and less chance of crops going “hot”. A “hot” crop – where plants have been detected with levels above the legal threshold – usually have to be destroyed and depending on the circumstances and local laws, the grower may be prosecuted.
The ACMD has recommended the Home Office conduct an assessment of the impact of the legislative change after two years, should it be implemented. As part of this change, ACMD also doesn’t see any issue with applying the lower fee of £580, which would otherwise be £4,700 for crops above 0.2% but below 0.3%.
The number of hemp licences in the UK grew from 6 in 2013 to 136 last year. Licences are issued for three growing seasons. While a first-time licence costs £580, repeat growers currently pay £326.
Back in April, then-Farming Minister Mark Spencer said industrial hemp had huge potential to unlock new streams of revenue, expand the UK’s bioeconomy without permanently removing land from food production, and bring wider environmental benefits.
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