The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has published an official recommendation that, the UK THC limit on industrial hemp should be raised to 0.3%, in order to align with the EU.
The recommendation followed the council’s announcement, in April, that significant changes would be made to the framework surrounding the industrial hemp industry within the country. Alongside changes such as extending the duration of cultivation licenses, deferring start dates of said licenses and farmers being allowed to grow hemp anywhere on their farm, the Home Office also asked for advice on whether ‘The THC permissible industrial hemp varieties could be safely raised to 0.3%.’
Within their advice the ACMD said:
“There may be potential economic and environmental benefits to an increase in the maximum THC content in industrial hemp which is expected to provide growers with access to substantially more hemp varieties [Madden et al, 2022]. The proposed increase in THC content would also increase the markets to which the UK could export industrial hemp.”
Speaking to Business Of Cannabis, CEO and Co-Founder of Tencious Labs, Nicholas Morland said:
“This is a much more significant development than people realise.
“It’s actually a very material step forward and marks the start of momentum in the right direction, where we’ve previously had very little. For the first time, this allows the science to come through without being influenced by specific interests, which is incredibly exciting. This feels like a pivotal piece of the puzzle.”
If the government do follow the advice, they are further advised to revisit the problem within the next two, with Europe having only changed their regulations in 2023. The structure would also see growers pay £580 for the licence to grow hemp not exceeding THC levels of 0.3%.
The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) have also welcomed the advice. UK representative for EIHA, Tony Reeves, said: “We welcome this progressive move by the ACMD to support an increase of THC ‘in the field’ from 0.2% to 0.3%.
“This would align the UK with the EU and North America and help facilitate international trade for local operators. We are optimistic this development represents a new willingness to back the UK hemp industry with all the consumer, environmental and economic benefits it represents.”
ACMD Recommend Increase To THC Levels Of UK Industrial Hemp Farming
The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has published an official recommendation that, the UK THC limit on industrial hemp should be raised to 0.3%, in order to align with the EU.
The recommendation followed the council’s announcement, in April, that significant changes would be made to the framework surrounding the industrial hemp industry within the country. Alongside changes such as extending the duration of cultivation licenses, deferring start dates of said licenses and farmers being allowed to grow hemp anywhere on their farm, the Home Office also asked for advice on whether ‘The THC permissible industrial hemp varieties could be safely raised to 0.3%.’
Within their advice the ACMD said:
“There may be potential economic and environmental benefits to an increase in the maximum THC content in industrial hemp which is expected to provide growers with access to substantially more hemp varieties [Madden et al, 2022]. The proposed increase in THC content would also increase the markets to which the UK could export industrial hemp.”
Speaking to Business Of Cannabis, CEO and Co-Founder of Tencious Labs, Nicholas Morland said:
“This is a much more significant development than people realise.
“It’s actually a very material step forward and marks the start of momentum in the right direction, where we’ve previously had very little. For the first time, this allows the science to come through without being influenced by specific interests, which is incredibly exciting. This feels like a pivotal piece of the puzzle.”
If the government do follow the advice, they are further advised to revisit the problem within the next two, with Europe having only changed their regulations in 2023. The structure would also see growers pay £580 for the licence to grow hemp not exceeding THC levels of 0.3%.
The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) have also welcomed the advice. UK representative for EIHA, Tony Reeves, said: “We welcome this progressive move by the ACMD to support an increase of THC ‘in the field’ from 0.2% to 0.3%.
“This would align the UK with the EU and North America and help facilitate international trade for local operators. We are optimistic this development represents a new willingness to back the UK hemp industry with all the consumer, environmental and economic benefits it represents.”