The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is looking to diversify what its members grow. The group wants to meet with the Department of Health to discuss the possibility of changing laws so they can produce 'industrial hemp, CBD oil and medicinal cannabis'.
Pat Farrell is horticulture executive with the IFA. "I suppose people confuse, to a certain extent, recreational cannabis use and with cannabis use for industrial and medicinal purposes.
"Your listeners mightn't be aware but the tillage sector here in Ireland has probably declined by 20% in area since 2012. "We operate in commodity markets with the wheats and barley and oats and those type of things.
"We're always kind of looking for alternatives or niche markets - and hemp is one of those".
Read more at newstalk.com