Growing weed in the UK

The UK government administration is in a state of flux when it comes to approving regulated medicines. This state of instability is the result of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and 2001 and other subsidiary statutes.

As things stand, the medical and therapeutic gospel of certain regulated drugs, particularly cannabis, has garnered media attention. Now the cannabis industry appears to be evolving both in the UK and globally with CBD products being advertised as wellness products. But when it comes to how such products are perceived by the UK government, selling such products would be illegal.

Another piece of bad news on this subject would be that growing cannabis in the UK is also considered illegal unless you are licensed to do so. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1979, the cultivation of any cannabis strain, regardless of THC content, is illegal in the UK.

Put simply, this means that all cannabis strains in the UK fall under the umbrella of ‘illegal weed’ and cannabis cultivation is not legal. So, as the average person looking to grow cannabis in your small garden, you will be doing so illegally in the UK, regardless of strain or THC content.

The law doesn’t care if you intend to use it for personal use or grow it for sale. Anyone caught growing cannabis faces up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine. Although growing cannabis in the UK is illegal and difficult for businesses, CBD can be easily imported into the country.

Industrial cannabis cultivation as a business

Currently, UK companies can apply to the UK Home Office for a license to grow cannabis. Known as the Controlled Drug Domestic License, the license allows companies to grow low-THC (industrial hemp) cannabis to harvest its seeds and fiber.

The license does not permit the cultivation and harvesting of cannabis flowers with high concentrations of THC, nor the extraction of CBD. In layman’s terms, the license does not allow CBD production.

Undoubtedly, this law seems quite bizarre to many people. Applying for a cannabis cultivation license is not a simple process like in other countries. Some specific requirements and regulations must be met before one can even apply. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will get the license.

Cannabis cultivation license in the UK

Certain regulations must be met before one can apply for a cannabis cultivation license in the UK, and as mentioned earlier there is no guarantee of obtaining one. When applying for a license to grow cannabis plants outdoors or indoors, businesses must submit several documents, pay other application fees, and then hope to get the license. After a few years, you would then have to reapply after this license expires.

How to get a cannabis cultivation license in the UK

If you are determined to obtain a cannabis cultivation license in the UK, here is a step-by-step process on how to do so in accordance with the regulations set out by the UK Government.

You would first have to go through a Disclosure and Blocking Service review to ensure your criminal records are clean. Next you pay an application fee of £580 if you are a new applicant or £326 for a renewal. If you are required to make a compliance visit, you will have to pay a total fee of £1,371.

As soon as this is done, your application form will be submitted online. Apart from that, additional documents will be requested along with your application form. These include;

• Contact and Personal Information

• Information about the farm, size and location of the kikes

• Intended type of seed to be planted

• Confirmation that the specific seed has been approved by the government.

Once all the documents have been submitted, you would have to wait between 4 and 6 weeks to be rejected or approved.

Things to consider about the cultivation license

Aside from how difficult it is to apply for a growing license, there are several other requirements that must be met to ensure your license is valid when approved. These requirements include;

• Farmers with multi-year licenses are required to submit an annual license verification statement at the beginning of the year. This judging process also requires that you submit growing season records that include sowing details, growing area, and yield.

A complex regulatory landscape

The opaque and complex licensing regime has made it difficult for new entrants to venture into the UK cannabis market. These enormous regulatory barriers now serve as a barrier to entry for the developing UK medicinal cannabis industry.

As a newcomer looking to grow cannabis in the UK, you would need to ensure a smooth supply chain for your product, source various facilities, apply for a license, comply with all regulations, secure an ideal site, design and review low cost energy sources and so on. That’s a whole lot of farmers. With all of this in mind, and especially the fact that obtaining a license is not guaranteed, many are discouraged from venturing into the UK cannabis market.

Conclusion

So far, only 20 active cannabis cultivation licenses have been granted to cannabis companies between October 2018 and 2019. Although these regulations and the lengthy licensing process are slowing the development of the UK cannabis market, more are expected. Because the wave of cannabis reform seems unstoppable and would soon hit Great Britain with full force. So business opportunities for UK operators will soon abound.

Cannabis legalization in the UK continues, READ MORE…

THE MAYOR OF LONDON WANTS TO DECRIMINALIZE WEED!