EU guidelines allow the growth of hemp containing no more than 0.2% of the psychoactive agent THC

The total amount of land in Ireland used for the production of hemp, a variety of cannabis, has grown from 18 hectares to 230 in two years.

The figures released by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) also show that 24 farmers have been issued licences to grow hemp in 2018, up from seven in 2016. Growing demand for cannabidiol (CBD) oil products made using hemp is believed to be one of the main contributors behind the increasing number of farmers choosing to cultivate the crop. Users claim CBD products — classified as food supplements in Ireland — help them to relax and sleep.

David Finn, a professor of pharmacology at NUI Galway, told The Sunday Times how the growth in cannabis-based products was a