Unlocking commercial potential of CBD for UK farmers – report available here!

Outdated restrictions  – that prevent hemp farmers from processing and extracting CBD from the leaves and flowers of hemp – are excluding British farmers from participating in the rapidly-growing CBD market and is leaving the UK reliant on imports.
This is according to George McBride, co-founder and CEO of Hanway Associates. The company is supporting the Agri-TechE ‘Farmer to Pharma’ event.

Pleasant Lands campaign aims to reform regulations

George explains that a campaign ‘Pleasant Lands’ has been launched that aims to push for reforms to the hemp regulations and unlock  this opportunity for UK farmers and small businesses. It is led by Volteface, a drug policy not for profit, and is supported by Hanway Associates.
“The reforms would unlock the economic potential of CBD production for UK farmers – as they currently have to destroy the CBD containing flowers of the plant when they harvest the fibres.
“We think that many of the Agri TechE members could stand to benefit from the reforms.”
Hemp is a versatile, environmentally beneficial and high value crop that should be making a significant contribution to the UK economy. However, it remains classified as a niche crop – with UK cultivation estimated at only 800 hectares annually.
The Pleasant Lands Report, published 21^st April 2021, aims to provide accessible information and legal advice to growers and regulators on the topic of hemp and CBD production in the UK.

Creating a new UK industry

Pleasant Lands has been launched to campaign to allow the extraction of CBD from UK hemp, and wholesale of the crop for this purpose. This reform would raise crop value, boost cultivation and improve the environment, whilst also creating a new UK industry.
YouGov polling has shown that there is overwhelming support for this policy, with three quarters of respondents agreeing that UK hemp farmers should have the freedom to process the flowers and leaves of hemp crops grown in the UK to supply CBD.
The campaign will raise awareness of this issue, supported by the published report, that will outline to the government: how the current licensing framework disadvantages British hemp farmers, the economic and environmental benefits of allowing CBD extraction from hemp, a legal pathway to reform and recommendations for future licensing regimes. To inform this work, Volteface has assembled strategic partnerships with the leading experts in hemp regulation and extraction:

• Gary Grant: Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Licensing and barrister at Francis Taylor Building
• Robert Jappie: Specialist in Cannabis Law & Regulation and Partner at Ince
• Dr Henry Fisher: Chief Scientific Officer at Hanway Associates

Volteface is committed to drawing on the experiences of British hemp farmers and this is a call for stakeholders to join the campaign’s coalition.
Liz McCulloch, Director of Policy at Volteface, said: “ With the UK on the brink of deep recession , Volteface will be presenting the government with a primed policy solution that will drive up economic growth and jobs and support green recovery.” For more information about how to support Pleasant Lands, please get in touch at info@volteface.me

Farmer to Pharma event

The Agri-TechE   Farmer to Pharma event is on the 12th May 2021 –  to register.