You will need a licence if you intend to grow hemp for commercial purposes. There are three licences available to engage in activities associated with the commercial production of industrial cannabis:
- grower licence
- researcher licence
- seed handler licence.
A grower licence will allow you to:
- possess and supply industrial cannabis and produce industrial cannabis plants and seed from planting seed - planting seed means cannabis seed that has been harvested from a cannabis plant with a THC concentration, in the plant's leaves and flowering heads, of not more than 0.5%
- possess and supply industrial cannabis seed to a researcher, another grower, seed handler or analyst supply processed cannabis to authorised persons.
A researcher licence will allow you to:
- possess and supply for research purposes, industrial cannabis and class A and B research cannabis plants and seed
- produce industrial cannabis and class A and B research cannabis plants and seed for research purposes
- supply processed cannabis to authorised persons.
There are two types of research plants.
- Class A research cannabis plants - have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 3% or more in its leaves and flowering heads. These plants must be grown in a locked glasshouse.
- Class B research cannabis plants - have a THC concentration of more than 1% but less than 3% in its leaves and flowering heads.
A seed handler licence will allow you to:
- possess industrial cannabis seed for the purpose of storing, denaturing and trading in the seed
- supply industrial cannabis seed and processed cannabis seed to authorised persons.
If you hold any of the above licences, you must maintain records of your activities, including any industrial cannabis in your possession and when and how much you plant.
