Guidance

Industrial hemp: licensing guidance

Information on the licensing requirements and application process for low THC cannabis (industrial hemp).

• From: Home Office
• Published: 11 November 2014
• Last updated: 18 December 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 18 December 2025

     Guidance updated to reflect change to standard licence periods. Factsheet updated with general changes for clarity and to reflect change to standard licence periods.

  2. 6 August 2025

     Updated guidance on if a company changes its name or address.

  3. 23 June 2025

     Guidance updated to reflect changes to application process.

  4. 18 December 2024

     Guidance updated.

  5. 22 November 2023

     Updated the application guidance to version 1.5.

  6. 3 January 2023

     Updates made to application guidance and factsheet to reflect changes to policy and processes.

  7. 12 May 2021

     PDF files replaced with html versions.

  8. 20 January 2021

     Updated industrial hemp licensing: application guidance to January 2021 edition.

  9. 15 January 2020

     Updated Industrial hemp licensing: factsheet.

  10. 20 November 2018

      Updated hemp licensing factsheet.

  11. 6 September 2017

      Guidance updated.

  12. 11 November 2014

      First published.

Documents

Industrial hemp cultivation: application and case processing guidance

HTML

Low THC cannabis (industrial hemp) licensing factsheet - domestic control measures and ‘industrial hemp’ policy

HTML

Details

If you need to grow low THC cannabis (industrial hemp), you should read the factsheet on licensing requirements before applying.

The guidance document contains information for growers on the licensing application process and fees.

Further information

More information about controlled drug licensing is also available.