Irish hemp farmers are operating in a legal grey area

Farmers and industry representatives say Irish law is holding back the development of a large-scale hemp industry, due to a no-tolerance policy over the cannabinoid compound THC, which forms part of the plant

Daniel Lyons and Laura Jayne Foley, founders of Wild Atlantic Hemp: ‘Until they put a sub-line into the legislation saying THC trace amounts are allowed in food from hemp production, you’re still going to be in a grey area’. Picture: Barry Cronin