In Dublin’s
fair city
Dublin
As Ireland rolls out the Medical Cannabis Access Programme
(MCAP), Europe Canna Expo, the biggest business event for CBD
in Europe, hosted public offi cials and members of the medical
and farming communities at one of the country’s most historic
hotels, The Shelbourne on Stephen’s Green.
Ireland has a rich but little-known
history with hemp. There’s even a
word for it as gaeilge, cnáib.
In the 60s, the agriculture and food
development authority Teagasc fi rst
looked at hemp as a suitable material
in paper and fi bres. That research
declared hemp as “suitable for textile
production.”
In the decades which followed,
further trials proved the crop to
produce high yields of biomass from
low input and 150 hectares were
grown in Irish soil in 2008 as a result.
Teagasc then found hemp to work
in suppressing the growth of weeds
and returning nutrients to the soil – a
happy coincidence given the reliance
of the Irish economy on the farming
sector.
Ireland, albeit a small island which in
the past has relied signifi cantly on
agricultural exports, covers an area of
130
69,798 km², of which agricultural land
covers 71.6%.
The value of cultivation and farming
doesn’t stop there. The Irish
agricultural sector accounts for 7.7%
of all employment with agri-food
exports accounting for over 11% of
total Irish merchandise exports. It’s
estimated that 9% of Irish farmland
is allocated to cereals and other crop
production such as hemp.
It’s about time, then, that high profi le
CBD events on the European circuit
came to Ireland. Europe Canna Expo
held its fi rst event in Dublin in March,
and by the sounds of it, it won’t be
their last.
Sal Noble is the organiser behind
London Canna Group’s exhibitions.
He said this was a 100% Irish event,
focusing on Irish issues surrounding
legal cannabis.
“The event surpassed our
expectations and we felt immense
hospitality and gratitude from the
Irish audience.
“Most importantly, it provided a
platform for cannabis patients and
researchers in Ireland to convey
the key message and driving force
behind why we do what we do; to
address the urgent need for greater
accessibility to medical cannabis.
“In the case of our event, this was
specifi c to Ireland, and we feel
that bringing ECE to Dublin has
been the spark that was needed to
stimulate conversation and provide
the essential education required for a
progressive push for accessibility.”
Paul Raggett is events director at
Europe Canna Expo:
“We are extremely pleased with
ECE Dublin, held at The Shelbourne
Hotel. The fi rst event of its type in
Ireland has really put the patient
discussion around medical cannabis,
cannabinoids and CBD on the map.
The high-level of attendees, including
current and future members of the
Irish government, has shown how
important this discussion is and
how we as an organisation can help
drive this change. We look forward to
returning to The Shelbourne in 2021
with an expanded agenda, giving a
platform to the leading researchers,
patient advocates, cultivators and
business executives".
As the Irish proverb says: Sábháil an
foghmhar fhad is tá an ghrian suas
(Make hay while the sun shines).