“The report shows that medicinal cannabis is among the alternative crops which could be grown successfully in the South of Scotland,” Professor Russel Griggs, chair of South of SOSE, says in the press release.
“This ties in with SOSE’s recent announcement of support to Hilltop Leaf Limited, a private medicinal cannabis cultivation and extraction business, which aims to provide an alternative plant-based clinical treatment to synthetic pharmaceuticals in the South of Scotland,” Griggs adds.
Medicinal cannabis is now prescribed by the National Health Service for various conditions, including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, the SRUC notes. Marijuana and opium poppies “both offer opportunities to expand pharmaceutical crop production in the U.K.,” the college suggests.
“It is unclear as to whether medicinal cannabis will grow unprotected in southern Scotland due to climatic limitations as well as legal restrictions.” / PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES
The report, nonetheless, cites limitations for growing cannabis in the area. It is likely that just 2.8 per cent of available land would be suitable.
Additionally, “it is unclear as to whether medicinal cannabis will grow unprotected in southern Scotland due to climatic limitations as well as legal restrictions,” the report states. Field trials would be required to investigate the possibilities further.
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