To: Michael Creed - Minister for Agriculture

Growing low THC Hemp - remove the existing licensing requirements

This petition calls on the Minister to remove completely the existing Industrial hemp licensing requirements.

Why is this important?

Growing hemp requires no pesticides or herbicides, can be grown in poor soils, fixing nitrogen and preventing soil erosion, it absorbs more carbon per hectare than any other commercial crop or forestry. Hemp has 25,000 different uses, It can be used to make significant quantities of paper, textiles, building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel to name a few.

The Low THC Cannabis (Industrial Hemp) Licensing requirement is unnecessarily complicated and expensive. It is a ‘cash crop’ that could restore the fortunes of UK farmers and the environment while there is no reason, other than protecting the interests of a couple of very large companies with questionable government connections, that growing this crop in this country in the 21st century should require a license.

In 1533, King Henry VIII made hemp cultivation compulsory by law. They could even pay their taxes with Hemp.

President Trump has recognised its importance and has made it legal to grow in the US.

Why cut down a tree when you can use hemp?