Is Hemp Legal in United Kingdom?

Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in the United Kingdom only under a controlled drug licence issued by the Home Office's Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Hemp remains a controlled drug because the Act covers the whole cannabis plant, so growers, processors, and researchers need a licence even when working with approved low-THC varieties listed on the EU Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, which the UK continues to reference post-Brexit. Licences are typically granted for three years, attract fees set by the Home Office, and require detailed site security, GPS coordinates, and DBS-checked responsible persons.

The cultivation THC threshold is 0.2% in the leaves and flowering tops of the standing crop, the limit carried over from EU law. A Home Office consultation has considered aligning with the EU's 0.3% threshold and broadening permitted plant parts, but the 0.2% figure remained the operative cap as of 2025. Only the stalks, fibre, and seeds may currently be used commercially; harvesting leaf and flower for cannabinoid extraction is not permitted under a standard cultivation licence. Hemp seed, hempseed oil, and hempseed protein sit outside the novel food regime when produced from approved varieties and remain legal foods under retained UK food law.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.