Chris Flood
Ceist:33 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, his Department or any of its agencies has in relation to the development of hemp as a commercial crop. [8784/95]
Written Answers. - Development of Hemp as Commercial Crop.
My Department has no plans at this time for the development of hemp as a commercial crop. Information on cultivation aspects of the crop is available, and the research services of Teagasc have grown experimental crops under Irish conditions. There has been no commercial production of the crop in the country.
The position is that hemp (cannabis) is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and its cultivation is prohibited except under licence granted by the Minister for Health. Licences could only be granted in cases where sufficient security and control of the crop could be guaranteed.
There is no processing plant for hemp in the country and the large investment involved could only be justified if an extensive area of raw material crops were available. This would not be feasible because of the control and security requirements.