Industrial hemp licensing

Controlled drugs are drugs named in misuse of drugs legislation. Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and in the Misuse of Drugs Designation Order 2015.

If your company or organisation want to cultivate industrial hemp you need to apply for a controlled drugs domestic licence.

If you are a new or existing grower read our hemp factsheet for information on the licensing process for industrial hemp.

Licences for industrial hemp are generally valid for 3 growing seasons. The licence only allows for the industrial use of the seed and fibre, which are non-controlled parts of the hemp plant. The licence does not allow for the use of the flowers or leaves (‘green’ or controlled materials).

2025 growing season - important dates for prospective applicants

Before you apply

Prospective and repeat growers of industrial hemp should ensure that prior to application that they have:

• read the industrial hemp application guidance to help you apply ensuring all relevant / requested information is provided in the correct format
• applied to register as a customer on the controlled drugs licensing system. If your application is successful, you will receive a username and password. You do not need to register again each time you apply. You can register at any time, so you are ready to apply when applications open. If you have forgotten your login details or need your password reset, email dflu.dom@homeoffice.gov.uk. You may apply to register as a customer at any time, but if you apply to register on or after 1 April 2025 your registration may be rejected
• made sure that each person named on the application form holds a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The DBS check must be done by Security Watchdog. You can contact them on 01420 558 752 to apply for one. If you have a DBS check by another company, we cannot accept your certificate. If you, or anyone named on the application, already has a DBS check in place for drug licensing purpose dated 3 years or older from Security Watchdog you will need to apply for a new DBS check. You can obtain your enhanced DBS at any time before a licence application is made. If you have an enhanced DBS check (irrespective of which umbrella body this was obtained through) and have subscribed to the DBS update service, you should include this information in your licence application
• submitted your annual hemp return (failure to do so will result in applications being rejected)

Thursday 2 January 2025

Applications for licences to cultivate in the 2025 season can be made from this date. Applications received before this date will be rejected.

Friday 28 February 2025

Last date for new prospective growers of ‘industrial hemp’ for seed and/or fibre only to apply to register as a user of our drug licensing portal. If approved, you will be able to apply for a license.

Tuesday 1 April 2025

Last date for first-time or repeat growers of industrial hemp for seed and/or fibre only to submit licence applications. This is so that we can try to reach an initial decision on applications by Wednesday 30 April 2025.

 You must have completed enhanced DBS checks for each person named on the licence application before submission. The application must be limited to outdoor cultivation a purpose wholly covered by the hemp policy as set out in our grower factsheet. If you intend to cultivate outside of this policy - for example indoors, harvesting leaves or flowers - you may not use this process to apply.

If you apply after the cut-off dates

If you apply to register after 1 April 2025 or apply for a licence after the cut-off date, we cannot guarantee processing times and we may have to reject your application or registration request. This is because it would not be practical to consider an application and issue a licence for outdoor cultivation before you need to start sowing, and cultivation cannot take place without a licence.

If you apply before the application window opens

If you apply for a licence before the application window opens, we will reject your request and you will need to reapply.

Application windows

The application window was introduced in response to requests from those who may make late notice decisions to cultivate. The window offers clarity over the time needed to consider an application, where all documents and information have been submitted as requested on time. Industrial hemp application timelines represent a significantly compressed decision timeline/process from other controlled drug licence applications and as such are only applicable to applications made wholly within the scope of the hemp policy.

Apply for an industrial hemp licence

We will require a map of your proposed growing location, highlighting the premises extent, key features such as waterways, hedges and public footpaths and clearly identifying the intended growing location(s) within the property. You should upload this with your application.

Please also note:

• if you save a partially completed application form it will only stay in the portal for 5 days and will auto delete if not submitted

• an amendment application form can only be submitted if you are in receipt of the ‘application reference’ received in an acknowledgement email and you have an application that is still under our consideration

• after completing the application form you will have the option to generate a PDF however, you must return to the main page to press ‘submit’

• upon submission you will receive a ‘submission reference’ - contact us if you have not had an acknowledgment email containing an ‘application reference’ after 5 days

• if a ‘submission reference’ is not received then this would indicate that you have not submitted a successful application

• you can upload files to a total maximum of 25 MB - if you exceed this, you may still be able to submit your application but we will not receive it. Check the document size before you submit your application

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Fees

Our fees cover the costs of processing an application and are charged per licensing decision so different fee levels may apply. The fee levels are set out in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2010. Read the full list of fees for controlled drugs licences.

After you apply

If you have previously held an industrial hemp licence and are applying for a new licence, consideration will be given to whether all annual hemp grower statements for the previous year(s) have been submitted. If this has not been done, you must provide a statement on your application form outlining your reasons for this. Failure to do so will result in your application will being rejected and you will need to re-apply.

If your controlled drugs licence is approved, you will receive an email with instructions for payment. We will not issue your licence until the fee is paid.

Once you have paid, the licence will be sent electronically via email.

If you cancel your application

We consider how much to charge for cancellations case by case.

You may be charged any costs already owed, relating to administration, travel or accommodation arrangements, if:

• you cancel a compliance visit more than 48 hours after it is confirmed
• you request to change the time or date of a compliance visit more than 48 hours after it is confirmed
• you withdraw your application after it has been accepted and you receive an acknowledgement letter from us
• you cancel your application after you receive an outcome from us

We may also ask for our administrative costs to be paid within 10 working days. We can email you extra information about these costs.

Annual hemp grower statement

As a licensed industrial hemp grower, you must submit an annual hemp grower statement by 1 May each year, regardless of whether you cultivated in that year or not. Failure to do so is a breech of your licence conditions.

Thefts and losses

You can report any theft or unaccounted losses of controlled drugs by email to dflu.dom@homeoffice.gov.uk using the thefts and losses form.

Licence no longer needed

If your company no longer needs a controlled drugs licence you will need to submit a controlled drugs licence return premises closure statement. Even if you continue to trade but no longer handle controlled drugs you will need to submit a statement.

Personal information

You can read details of how we handle your personal information.

Contact details