In her new role as Minister for Crime and Policing Hull MP Diana Johnson has announced changes in the law to make it easier for farmers to grow industrial hemp.
Under the changes, licence holders will now be able to grow hemp anywhere on a licensed farm, reducing the unnecessary burden on farmers who currently have to set out the exact field where they will grow the plants within a farm. This change is expected to come into effect for next year’s growing season.
In time for the 2026 growing season its planned to extend the maximum period for a licence from three to six years, subject to compliance with the licence terms, and to allow those applying for a licence to defer its start date by up to a year, helping farmers to make business planning easier.
She said: “These reforms will bring an important boost to this industry and cut down the unnecessary burdens that have been placed on businesses.
“We want to make it easier for licence holders to capitalise on the economic potential of legally growing hemp.”
Hemp is a variety of cannabis with low-THC levels, which is currently defined as a maximum of 0.2%. The plant is legally grown for the construction and textiles industries, and only farmers with a licence are allowed to plant it.
