Hemp in the British Isles

Abstract Hemp has been traced back to 343 BC in the UK, with record of its use in Roman times as well, and on into the Middle Ages. Cultivation was widespread, with record of hemp in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. In each of these countries there is record of it being grown in many locations, with place names reflecting this fact to this very day. The availability of hemp made it possible for the English to greatly increase their naval powers, but ultimately hemp had to be imported to maintain their military and economic primacy. By the nineteenth century, most of the hemp used by the United Kingdom was imported from Russia, with Italy as a supplier of the highest quality grades. The dependence of the nation on such a product was of concern to many legislators, who argued for an increase in domestic cultivation for reasons of national security. Ultimately, metal ships and steam power reduced the need for hemp in the British Navy, and production virtually ceased. In the 1980s the ecological movement took an interest in hemp, and hemp was re-introduced. It is now legal to grow hemp with a licence from the Home Office. Acreage has been increasing since the mid-1990s, when a few thousand acres were being grown. Most of the hemp grown in the UK is for seed and oil production. The industry is growing dramatically in the UK, where locally grown hemp provides most of the hemp based food products sold. Other applications of hemp, such as clothing, are also available to the public, but are imported, as in the case of Braintree Hemp Clothing (UK), which used Chinese hemp. This shop and other high profile shops have caught the public imagination in the UK, with a little help from such well-known figures as Anita Roddick and Woody Harrelson. Outlets from Tony's Hemp Corner in London to The Hemp Shop in Brighton are now doing well with a range of products including paper, body products, clothing and food.