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UK hemp farm could lose £200,000 in crop destruction UK hemp farm could lose £200,000 in crop destruction
(32 minutes later)
One of the UK's largest hemp farms expects to lose an estimated £200,000 of sales by destroying its crop after losing its licence to grow it. One of the UK's largest hemp farms, Hempen, expects to lose about £200,000 of sales by destroying its crop after losing its licence to grow it.
Last year, the Home Office said UK farmers could not harvest hemp's flowers for cannabis oil, or CBD, and could only grow seed and stalk. Last year, the Home Office said UK farmers could not harvest hemp's flowers for cannabis oil, or CBD, but could continue to grow seed and stalk.
The ruling stops farmers extracting the CBD from the flowers - the most valuable part of the crop. However, last Thursday the Home Office told the firm they would have to cease production entirely.
Hempen farm is appealing against the decision to revoke its licence. Hempen said it was being unfairly penalised and would appeal.
The BBC has asked the Home Office for comment. It also criticised a "lack of clarity" in government regulation. The BBC has asked the Home Office for comment.
The final decision was made at the end of last week and the Oxfordshire farm says it started the destruction of its crop on Monday to remain within the law. Following Home Office guidance last November, Oxfordshire-based Hempen said it had stopped growing Hemp for CBD purposes.
It instead focused its growing efforts on seed and stalk, which can be used to make cold-pressed seed oil and hemp flour among other products.
The not-for-profit business said it had then reapplied for its hemp grower's licence - which it had held for four years - in December. However, last week it was rejected.
The farm says it started the destruction of its crop on Monday to remain within the law.
'Crops left to rot''Crops left to rot'
Hempen would normally sell cold-pressed seed oil and hemp flour from its crop. The company employs 12 people and also uses some casual staff. It hopes to avoid job losses by changing its product offering and continuing to supply CBD by importing it from a European partner, which is legal.
It employs 12 people and also uses some casual staff. It hopes to avoid job losses by changing its product offering and continuing to supply CBD by importing it from a European partner.
The plants are being cut down and crushed by a tractor over the farm's 40 acres of hemp fields.The plants are being cut down and crushed by a tractor over the farm's 40 acres of hemp fields.
Hempen co-founder Patrick Gillett said: "In challenging economic times for British farmers, hemp is offering green shoots of hope as a rare crop that can pay for itself without subsidy.Hempen co-founder Patrick Gillett said: "In challenging economic times for British farmers, hemp is offering green shoots of hope as a rare crop that can pay for itself without subsidy.
"Instead of capitalising on the booming CBD industry, the Home Office's bureaucracy is leading British farmers to destroy their own crops, and millions of pounds' worth of CBD flowers are being left to rot in the fields.""Instead of capitalising on the booming CBD industry, the Home Office's bureaucracy is leading British farmers to destroy their own crops, and millions of pounds' worth of CBD flowers are being left to rot in the fields."
He added that he felt the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should take over responsibility of regulating farmers from the Home Office.He added that he felt the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should take over responsibility of regulating farmers from the Home Office.
What is hemp?What is hemp?
Hemp is a strain of the cannabis plant that contains little or no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but does contain CBD.Hemp is a strain of the cannabis plant that contains little or no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but does contain CBD.
THC is the part of the plant that gets people high, which is something that CBD cannot do because it has no psychoactive effect.THC is the part of the plant that gets people high, which is something that CBD cannot do because it has no psychoactive effect.
Hemp is used for a wide variety of things, including fibreboard, environmentally-friendly plastic substitutes and - outside the UK - for food. It can be turned into everything from clothes to shoes, paper, animal feed and building insulation.Hemp is used for a wide variety of things, including fibreboard, environmentally-friendly plastic substitutes and - outside the UK - for food. It can be turned into everything from clothes to shoes, paper, animal feed and building insulation.
UK hemp-growing rulesUK hemp-growing rules
The Home Office has various rules and conditions for people to grow hemp in the UKThe Home Office has various rules and conditions for people to grow hemp in the UK
Source: Home Office websiteSource: Home Office website