Often confused with its intoxicating kin, or what we mostly refer to as cannabis (which is still a Class B controlled substance), hemp is actually just one variation of the cannabis sativa L. species. For plants to be classed as hemp here in the UK, they must be grown from approved seeds containing no more than 0.2% of the psychoactive cannabinoid, known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
While hemp is legally grown in the UK for commercial purposes, the required licences are expensive and the process is complicated. Hemp has such low THC content that consuming it does not cause any psychotropic effect, and with the rise of CBD as a wellness aid, addressing all the regulatory hurdles should be a priority.
This guide explores the legal framework, licensing requirements, and guidelines surrounding hemp cultivation here in the UK. Whether you're a farmer entering the industry or curious about hemp's benefits, this article provides valuable insights and a deeper understanding of its history, current status, and future prospects.
Key takeaways
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The history of hemp cultivation in the UK is fascinating, and before its prohibition in the 1920s, hemp was a staple crop that was grown for its strong fibre and nutritious seeds.
In fact, King Henry VIII passed a revolutionary law for the time, making it a legal requirement for land-owners to provide a portion of their holdings for cultivating hemp, predominantly due to its use as ropes and sails.
Following the prohibition of cannabis, industrial hemp began to decline. Despite not producing the same psychoactive effects as cannabis, hemp’s association with the THC-dense varieties of cannabis led to both sides of the Cannabis sativa L. species being grouped together and heavily stigmatised.
But where does this leave hemp today?
Today, Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and it’s an offence to grow any plant of the genus Cannabis, hemp included, without a Home Office licence.
To grow hemp in the UK, a Home Office controlled drugs licence is required, which can be applied for through the controlled drugs licensing system. Each grower and site for hemp cultivation must be individually licenced.
This licence still only covers the seeds, fibre and mature stalks of the plant while the flowers and leaves remain controlled. This means growers are required to destroy the ‘green’ material (leaves and flowers) that are not licenced for use.
As of the 2026 cultivation season, the licences issued for outdoor cultivation of industrial hemp are issued with up to six years validity, compared to three, although there are exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Holders are still required to complete an annual licence review statement at the start of each growing season, or the licence may be revoked.
Yes, but only under strict regulations.
To grow any amount of hemp in the UK, you first need to acquire a Home Office domestic licence to produce, supply or possess controlled drugs, in this case a licence for low-THC cannabis (industrial hemp) cultivation.
Applying for this licence is done online and requires you to register as a user of the Home Office controlled substance licensing system, for which you will receive an auto-generated username and password which you can use to access the system if your registration application is successful.
Once you have access to the application portal, you need to complete the form for an industrial hemp cultivation licence, which requires:
The growers details (Names, business addresses, contact details, position of the people to be included on a licence)
Farm business/company/organisation details (whether you are operating as an owner occupied, whole tenanted, or bare-rented farm)
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (within the last 3 years)
Details about the premises (particularly any physical security arrangements)
Details on your record-keeping (what records you keep and in what format they held)
Customer and supplier details (where you get your seed and to whom you intend to supply the products of cultivation)
Seed details and end use (what seed type you use and what industrial end use you have for the product)
Supporting documents (for those whose cultivation location is not a owner occupied or whole-farm tenanted farms and/or those that rent a field from a farm)
Fee payment information (who the invoice is to be sent to and their contact details)
Where and who the licence is to be sent to (including contact details)
Once your application has been submitted, it will be validated and appraised. If more information is needed or a visit needs to be organised, you will be contacted, otherwise your application progresses to the final decision stage. Every application is considered individually taking into account their merit and risk factors.
If your application is successful, the invoice for fees will be sent. The current fees for a hemp cultivation licence are £580 in the first instance and £326 for renewal if no site visits are required, or £1,371 if a compliance visit is needed. No licence will be issued until these fees are paid.
As mentioned, these licences are now valid for up to six years, and all licence holders should inform their local police of growing locations.
No. As explained above, hemp can only be grown in the UK with a Home Office Licence, which requires a defined commercial end use (such for fibre or seeds), and you need to inform them in your application on the intended location.
As such, you cannot grow hemp in your garden as it would not be a licenced site by the Home Office.
Hemp seeds, hemp oil and hemp fibre come from parts of the hemp plant that are not controlled, which means they are legal to buy and use.
Products from hemp that contain controlled cannabinoids (such as THC) like CBD oils, can have no more than 1 mg of each per container.
THC-dominant cannabis cultivars and products containing more than the 1 mg of each controlled cannabinoid threshold are controlled, and are illegal unless they come in medical form with a specialist doctor’s prescription.
Hemp is versatile and eco-friendly, but may also have a range of medical applications. CBD and hemp products are legal in the UK so long as they don’t exceed the 1 mg of each controlled cannabinoid per container rule, and their increasing popularity means the demand for hemp may provide more opportunities for farmers in the UK.
Hemp has also become a highly sought-after ingredient found not only in health foods, oils, and natural remedies but also in skincare products, textiles, and is making a splash in the construction industry.
Hemp seeds, in particular, have nutritional benefits due to their unique fatty acid composition and optimal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio that has some suggesting the potential for hempseed as a dietary intervention for preventing cardiovascular disease.
Hemp also has some environmental benefits, such as acting as a CO2 absorber, supporting biodiversity, restoring soil health, and its potential as a profitable venture for farmers which could positively impact local industries and manufacturing.
Hemp products like hemp seeds, hemp oils, and hemp fibre are legal as they are derived from the parts of the plant that are not controlled.
Products from hemp that contain controlled cannabinoids, such as CBD oils, are legal so long as they contain no more than 1 mg of each controlled cannabinoid per container.
Hemp has been found to have significant environmental benefits, acting as a CO2 absorber and restoring the health of contaminated soil. It is also highly nutritious, providing essential nutrients for overall well-being. Additionally, hemp cultivation can contribute to local industries and the economy.
At present, flower and leaf harvesting is restricted in the UK. UK farmers must also navigate through complex regulations and bureaucracy surrounding hemp cultivation.
With the increasing demand for hemp products and the potential for a multi-billion-pound industry, the UK hemp industry has a bright future. However, simplification of regulations and removal of restrictions on cultivation are necessary for this potential to be fully realised.
Cannabis (including hemp) was prohibited in the UK in 1928 and was added to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920.
While hemp tea is legal in the UK it is illegal to smoke hemp tea in the same manner it is illegal to smoke CBD flower, or illicit or medical cannabis.
No, hemp flower (or CBD flower) is illegal in the UK as the Home Office Licence only covers the seeds, fibre, and mature stalk. The flower and leaves remain controlled, making it illegal to smoke or possess in the UK.
The UK may have had a rocky relationship with hemp in the past, but things are beginning to look up. Although the restrictions that are currently in place hinder the industry's progress, hemp is here, and unlike the prohibition days that started a century or so ago, it is here to stay. Hemp is simply too versatile and too important in too many industries to be ignored any longer. With the right support, and by advancing hemp legislation, it could become a major player in the UK economy.
If you are living with a condition and wondering whether medical cannabis could help, our online eligibility checker is quick and free, letting you know in seconds whether you could qualify for treatment. Releaf provides tailored monthly packages, specialist consultations for medical cannabis, and a medical cannabis card, all based on your medical cannabis prescription.
We also have an extensive blog and a huge education section, plus an array of medical cannabis research, so feel free to head over if you want to learn more.
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In the UK, the hemp plant has been subject to various hyperbolic regulations depending on the political climate and time period. Under the order of monarchs like King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth I, hemp was an incredibly important plant that British farmers were required to grow by law to sustain both the country and the Navy.
Hannah Clark
Hemp oil is a safe dietary and wellness supplement, and you won’t feel any psychoactive effects from taking it. It contains a wide range of secondary cannabinoids and terpenes, with some hemp oils offering up to 18% CBD (cannabidiol). Hemp seed oil, on the other hand, is extracted from only the seeds of the hemp plant. It may contain trace amounts of CBD, but at such minuscule levels that it has no therapeutic effect. Hemp oil, specifically full-spectrum hemp oil containing CBD, holds promise as a safe and potential dietary additive for reducing anxiety symptoms.
Sam North
Hemp tea is made from the flowers or leaves of the hemp plant. Hemp is closely related to cannabis, but has a much lower THC content. THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, but thanks to the extremely low THC levels in hemp, ingesting hemp products produces zero intoxicating effects.
Editorial Team
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