Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant with very low levels of THC. It has been grown for fibre and seed for centuries, but in UK law it is still cannabis, so growing it requires a licence. This guide explains how licensing works, which parts of the plant can be used and how hemp relates to CBD. It is general information, not legal advice.

Key points

  • Growing hemp in England, Wales or Scotland needs a Home Office licence. In Northern Ireland, licences come from the Department of Health.
  • Licences cover approved seed varieties with no more than 0.2% THC, grown outdoors for fibre and seed only.
  • The leaves and flowers are controlled and cannot be used under a hemp licence.
  • From the 2026 season, Home Office hemp licences can last up to six growing seasons.
  • The government has agreed to raise the THC limit to 0.3%, but the change needs new legislation.

Why hemp needs a licence

Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and cultivating any cannabis plant without a licence is an offence. The Home Office’s industrial hemp factsheet explains that a special licensing route exists for low-THC varieties, often called industrial hemp.

What a hemp licence allows

Home Office hemp licences are for:

  • approved seed varieties with a THC content at or below the limit, currently 0.2%;
  • outdoor cultivation; and
  • use of the non-controlled parts of the plant only, namely the fibre (mature stalk) and the seeds.

The flowers and leaves are controlled parts of the plant. Under a hemp licence they cannot be used, and after harvest they must be retted on the licensed site or otherwise lawfully disposed of. Each grower and each site needs its own licence, and seed should not be sown until the licence has been issued.

Applying for a licence

The Home Office’s application guidance says applications are made through its online drugs licensing portal, within published application windows. Applicants need an enhanced DBS check, and the Home Office may carry out a compliance visit.

Published fees are £580 for a new low-THC licence, £326 for a renewal and £1,371 for a compliance visit if one is needed. Licences to grow high-THC cannabis, or to use the controlled parts of the plant, cost £4,700 and follow a separate, stricter process.

Recent reforms

The government announced changes to hemp licensing in 2024, with further detail since:

  • Whole farm licensing: from the 2025 season, licence holders can grow anywhere within their farm, depending on how the land is held, rather than on named fields only.
  • Longer licences: from the 2026 season, outdoor hemp licences are typically valid for up to six growing seasons, always ending on 31 December, with an annual review statement.
  • THC limit: the ACMD advised in October 2024 that raising the limit from 0.2% to 0.3% would bring benefits that outweigh the risks. In February 2025 the government accepted this and said it intends to make the necessary legislative changes. The Home Office factsheet, updated in December 2025, still gives 0.2%. We found no evidence that the new limit had come into force by October 2026.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, domestic controlled drug licences, including for hemp, are issued by the Department of Health through its Medicines Regulatory Group. Its hemp licensing information says each grower needs a licence, licences are usually valid for three growing seasons and growers must submit an annual statement. For the 2026 season, applications opened on 5 January and closed on 1 May 2026. Import and export licences for the whole UK are handled by the Home Office.

Hemp and CBD

CBD is found mostly in the flowers and leaves of the plant, which are the controlled parts. The Home Office says applications to produce CBD oils from controlled parts are not considered under the hemp policy, whatever the variety. A UK business wanting to extract CBD from those parts would need a full controlled drug licence, which is much harder to obtain.

Whatever the source of the CBD, finished products sold in the UK must meet the exempt product rules on THC and other controlled cannabinoids, including the 1mg per container limit. They must also comply with novel food law, covered in our guides to CBD legality and the FSA public list.

Hemp foods

The FSA says hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, ground hemp seeds and partially defatted hemp seeds are not novel foods and can be sold normally. Water infusions of hemp leaves, without flowering or fruiting tops, are also not novel. Any product made by selectively extracting CBD from the plant is a novel food and needs authorisation.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to grow hemp in the UK?

Yes, but only with a licence. In England, Wales and Scotland the Home Office issues hemp licences for approved low-THC varieties grown outdoors for fibre and seed. In Northern Ireland, licences are issued by the Department of Health.

Has the UK raised the hemp THC limit to 0.3%?

The government accepted the ACMD's advice in February 2025 and said it would make the legislative changes needed. As of October 2026, the Home Office guidance still gave the limit as 0.2%, and we could not find legislation bringing in 0.3%.

Can hemp farmers sell the flowers for CBD?

No. Under a hemp licence only the fibre and seeds can be used. The flowers and leaves are controlled parts, and using them would require a separate controlled drug licence.

Are hemp seeds and hemp seed oil legal to eat?

Yes. The FSA says hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are not novel foods, so they can be sold as ordinary foods if they meet general food law. CBD extracts are different and are regulated as novel foods.

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