Growing Cannabis Could Boost British Farming, says MP
“progressive approach” to medicinal cannabis could boost incomes
Former Conservative minister and MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, David Mundell has made bold claims in parliament that a “progressive approach” when it comes to medicinal cannabis could help boost incomes for British farmers. The knock-on effect could also result in the creation of thousands of jobs in rural areas of the country.
“This is a sector that is set to grow, and create wealth and jobs, particularly in some of the most challenging rural environments in the UK.”
Is Medicinal Cannabis Legal in the UK?
Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2018 in the UK, allowing for cannabis to be available on prescription on the NHS for specifically listed medical conditions. Although it still proves difficult to obtain for many.
In a recent parliamentary debate, Mr Mundell said that medicinal cannabis was a total contrast to the “dank, tinfoil-wrapped illegal production rooms”. Mr Mundell was talking in particular about the private medicinal cannabis cultivation and extraction company, Hilltop Leaf, which is situated in his constituency. He also asserted that the sector had "potential to bring more than £1 billion to the UK economy”.
In the recent debate, Mr Mundell delivered “an economic case for medicinal cannabis” stating that a “more progressive approach” could enhance the economy of rural UK constituencies.
“The fledgling cannabis sector is essentially horticulture and is located in rural and farming communities like the one I represent. In my constituency, I have seen Hilltop Leaf develop clean growing and processing facilities equipped with quantum sensors, microscopes or high-tech leaf barometers. This is in stark contrast to the damp, tinfoil-wrapped rooms of illegal cultivation.”
Mr Mundell added: “I think it is more important in this context that we see the industry and the modern, progressive industry as a step forward. It is an investment that I strongly support in my constituency. I hope that good horticultural, administrative, management and logistics jobs will come out of this, connecting young people to the area, because too often they feel the need to leave this community for opportunities".
“The Hilltop site should also be able to meet around 10% of the UK’s medicinal cannabis needs, I certainly hope that Hilltop can go even further because the medicinal cannabis sector has the potential to bring in over £1 billion to the UK economy.”
“It is believed that tens of thousands of jobs could be made available if the regulatory, legal and medical frameworks in the UK were aligned with the norms elsewhere, but unfortunately the complex rules and burdensome duplication of regulations around prohibition are holding the sector back.”
CBD is already widely available to the public on the high street, with the UK CBD market being the second largest in the world.
“However, cannabis licensing laws mean that the flowers and leaves containing the CBD have to be destroyed, and then overseas imports meet the local CBD market, and the UK supply chain does not benefit from this. Growers are giving up the opportunity to produce a crop worth £10,000 per acre, compared to £400 for wheat, because of this approach. At a time when rural Britain is struggling, these kinds of yields will put real benefits and income in farmers’ pockets.”
Health Secretary Karin Smyth responded “If we want to see more cannabis-based medicines routinely available on the NHS, we need more research. The National Institute for Health and Care Research, also known as the NIHR, and the NHRA (National Health Reform Agreement) are there to help manufacturers and researchers create new medicines and plan credible studies. This is why I firmly encourage the manufacturers of these products to invest in research, to prove they are safe and effective, and to meet the rigorous standards that we expect of all medicines."
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