Ireland needs to ‘grow up’ over stigma towards hemp industry

'Hemp is doing good things, it’s helping and healing people'

The conference heard hemp crops are ‘not so simple to sell’ because markets are ‘emerging and only developing’ and due to legislation.

The emerging hemp industry in Ireland is in a “catch-22”, according to Robert Johnson of Hemp Cooperative Ireland.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner at the recent Irish Hemp Event held at Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Research Centre in Dublin 15, Mr Johnson said that unless more hemp is grown, there won’t be the processing facilities put in place on a scale, but that farmers interested in growing it also need the stability of facilities and a market.