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I speak to Varin about the parlous state of the Northern Ireland hemp industry.
It has remained too long a cottage industry and without buy in from local government, Stormont and of course Westminster that’s the way it’s going to stay.
It’s the story I hear the planet over, a complete lack of investment to develop proper processing facilities for industrial hemp.
Being part of the UK Northern Ireland has the same issues as England & Scotland a beyond useless labour government with zero understanding of and desire to develop hemp and don’t forget the standard UK party political nepotism which means quietly a limited number of people get to line their pockets.
Also, being Northern Ireland, there is also an element of Irish politics at play where north and south aren’t really talking to one another in anything but the flimsiest way.
Now.. wouldn’t it be great if it were hemp and cannabis that led the charge in change. Yes i know that’s somewhat naive looking at the power of the black market drugs trade in the south at the moment but it’s a nice thought.
Thankyou Varin for talking to the Karma Koalas but also finding positives in a landscape that isn’t offering too many at the moment.
Varin Marshall
Why hemp?
Northern Ireland has a unique opportunity to establish a leading position within some of the most important and rapidly growing agricultural and industrial markets that have emerged for decades.
In response, the Northern Ireland Hemp has been formed by a group of hemp businesses and industry advocates. It is part of a growing worldwide movement that supports hemp and the use of the plant and we have joined together to promote a healthy and robust hemp industry here in Ireland.
