Turkey Sets Hemp Quota For Medical Products

In 2016, hemp cultivation became legal in 19 provinces in Turkey for industrial purposes. Aspiring hemp producers must obtain the country’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock permission before beginning operations. Hemp product permits are valid for a maximum of three years in Turkey.

Regulators in Turkey recently announced that annual hemp cultivation in the country will be limited to 5,000 square meters and 120,000 plants ‘for the production of pharmaceutical active ingredients.’ Many medical cannabis products around the globe incorporate cannabidiol derived from hemp plants.

“Exempt from these restrictions are universities, research institutes within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and organizations with research permits, which may conduct scientific and R&D projects without being subject to the quota. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will oversee the allocation of the quota.” stated Daily Sabah in its local reporting.

The modern push to boost Turkey’s emerging hemp industry came in 2019 when Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, announced that the country would take steps to increase production. Turkey was experiencing an economic crisis, and increased hemp production for the purpose of medical cannabis product exports was established to try to address the problem.

Turkey has a long history of cannabis and hashish production going back many centuries, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that the country outlawed production due to pressure from the United States.

According to a recent market analysis by Spherical Insights LLP, the global industrial hemp market is projected to be worth an estimated $24.30 billion by 2033.

“The Global Industrial Hemp Market Size is to Grow from USD 5.38 Billion in 2023 to USD 24.30 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.27% during the projected period.” the researchers stated.