leafie
  • Articles
    • Cannabis
    • Psychedelics
    • Culture
    • Product Reviews
  • News
  • Products
    • Dry Herb Vaporisers
    • Grinders
    • Rolling Papers
    • Pipes & Bongs
    • Bookshop
    • Apparel & Merch
  • My Account
  • Contact Us
5K
2K
889
0

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

leafie leafie
leafie leafie leafie
  • Articles
    • Cannabis
    • Psychedelics
    • Culture
    • Product Reviews
  • News
  • Products
    • Dry Herb Vaporisers
    • Grinders
    • Rolling Papers
    • Pipes & Bongs
    • Bookshop
    • Apparel & Merch
  • Cannabis

In conversation with the National Hemp Service

‘Old plant – new thinking’ is a great tag line for the National Hemp Service, a hemp shop and cafe run by enterprising couple Chloe Kerslake-Smith and Tommy Corbyn. Based…
  • Lotte Evans
  • February 8, 2022
  • 6 minute read
‘Old plant – new thinking’ is a great tag line for the National Hemp Service, a hemp shop and cafe run by enterprising couple Chloe Kerslake-Smith and Tommy Corbyn. Based in North London, the National Hemp Service stocks a broad range of products including their own brand of CBD products. It also acts as the headquarters of the online store that sends orders across the UK daily and abroad on request.
However, it’s also a lot more than just a café and shop; National Hemp Service is a place for learning about hemp and cannabinoids. Chloe and Tommy are proud advocates for cannabis legalisation and a total overhaul of the UK drug laws and are on a mission to destigmatize this much undervalued and overlooked plant. We were keen to hear more, so we hooked up for a chat…
When asked what it was that inspired them to start the National Hemp Service, Tommy admitted that, for a very long time he has wanted to do something to publicly promote the many positives the cannabis plant has to offer. “I can’t think of a single other plant that has the ability to do such a wide array of things and yet it has been demonised for generations.” His mission is to do everything he can to show this incredible plant in a positive light and dispel some of the myths around it. He believes that there is no end to the number of people that cannabis can help and, the downsides to fully embracing it are few and far between. In years to come see cannabis, in its many different forms, playing a much bigger and better role in all of our everyday lives.
In his youth, Tommy was perplexed by the prohibition of cannabis. Growing up in London he admitted that cannabis use appeared to be everywhere, and universally accepted as being far less harmful than alcohol. Yet somehow it was still classed as illegal. In his opinion “…its legal status seemed to be used more as a tool for police to harass people they didn’t like the look of (often ethnic minorities), a far cry from any sort of harm reduction or benevolent care for people’s health.” Later on, and after he had learnt more about the plant, he came to the conclusion that its prohibition was more likely rooted in racism and influenced by the need to protect vested interests, and less to do with protecting people. This realisation is what ignited his passion for changing people’s perception of the incredible crop, and still drives him today.
Chloe on the other hand, first discovered the health benefits of cannabis when she unsuccessfully sought pain relief, initially through conventional routes. Prescribed daily painkillers left her with unpleasant side effects, but then she discovered the world of cannabinoids and extracts. She started taking CBD, first in chocolates, moving onto in oils, then balms. She realised the benefits and so recommended it to her friends and family and agreed that it “…really opened my eyes to the future of it. It’s so versatile, anyone can use a CBD extract in some way, everyone can benefit.” And like Tommy, she is baffled by the legal hypocrisy around cannabis.
Compared to our current government’s stance on cannabis use, both Tommy and Chloe believe the people of the UK are eager to embrace hemp and cannabis, and cite the commercial growing of cannabis on UK soil, which is then exported overseas, as one example of the hypocrisy of the current legal situation. As Chloe explained, “Our government stays quiet about the proven uses of the plant. Instead, they quietly issue licenses for commercial growers in Norfolk and such, so that they can profit from the international market. It astounds me every day that we’re Europe’s largest exporter of cannabis, yet we have it criminalised on our own streets.”
Tommy feels that our government and the political structures are being deliberately slow to address the cannabis issue, especially as there is now ample evidence from abroad showing that cannabis is a beneficial plant. Only when it’s legalised and made accessible for consumption and research, explains Tommy, will we know just how useful this plant could be. “But for the Tories to admit that they’d also have to address the last five decades of propaganda and punishment done in the name of criminalisation, so they’re dragging their heels as much as possible” asserts Tommy.
Undeterred by the current legal situation, Tommy and Chloe have sought to promote better understanding by throwing their energies into their National Hemp Service enterprise, and it seems to be working. They reach out to millions of cannabis users through their online presence, and their café and shop in Finsbury Park welcomes new visitors every day who are curious to learn more about the wonders of hemp and CBD.
On their National Hemp Service website, it proudly states that every product stocked has been carefully chosen by their founders for being ethical, sustainable, natural, and high quality. For Chloe, it is important that they celebrate this plant in the right way. The CBD market has boomed in the last few years with hundreds of products on the market but, there’s a huge variety in quality out there, “we want to show the best, so we look for genuinely effective products that are as ethical and sustainable as possible.” As they explained, their mission is simple: to present people with innovative hemp products that don’t damage the planet, something which Tommy feels very strongly about. “I want to prove that you can prioritise ethics and have a profitable business.”
Tommy was excited to share his current project with a British business called Solkiki, which creates delicious vegan chocolate infused with CBD. Their cacao beans are sourced via direct trade with farmers who set their own prices. They don’t use any animal products and they produce their chocolates by hand in Dorset, even working off-the-grid using renewable energy. A company like Solkiki, which shares Tommy’s and Chloe’s ethnics is something that inspires them to source and stock their products.
Tommy and Chloe, through their National Hemp Service projects, have created a great sense of community within the hemp and cannabis space where they have been active in awareness and education, advocating for the plant and against its restrictions. They explained that hemp is just one term for particular strains of Cannabis Sativa, and they don’t create a distinction between supporting hemp but not cannabis or vice versa.” This plant has a multitude of forms and a variety of uses and each of those should be explored to their fullest potential, that’s our goal.”
The pair take every opportunity to speak about the potential of cannabis and to combat the stigma that’s constantly churned out from higher authorities. For example, to raise awareness, Tommy planted cannabis seeds outside Scotland Yard with ‘Seed The Future’ campaign. He protested outside parliament with families demanding medical access, attended conferences, meetings and debates. “There’s a massive community of grassroots activists to get involved with and they’re the ones who’ve taught me the most.”
“We’ve met so many incredible people who are part of the community over the last few years. From local meetings at patient network clubs to big CBD expo’s like Product Earth and the CTA, it’s been so interesting to see how many different people are engaged with this plant in some way.”
Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same views, and the National Hemp Service has been the subject to some cynicism by reporters from the Daily Mail newspaper. Focusing on a negative view of the cannabis and hemp community is not something that’s going to deter Tommy. He feels that it’s simply a sign that he’s doing something right. “The majority of the British public support changing the law on cannabis, but the Daily Mail thrives on controversy and fear-mongering so, of course, they choose to demonise it when it suits them. The day they feature me positively is the day I’d reassess my life choices!”
So, what is coming up in the future for the National Hemp Service? We’ll leave the last word to Tommy, “I’m really excited to keep adding new and interesting products to our range. As the science evolves, so will we. We’ve partnered with some excellent UK businesses to create them and have some truly outstanding stuff on the way. Stay tuned!”
Visit the National Hemp Service website –  https://nationalhempservice.co.uk/
0
0
0
Mamedica

Mamedica
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Share
Share
  • Sale! PAX Plus portable dry herb vaporiserSelect options

    PAX Plus Vaporiser (With Free Grinder)

    £225.00 £175.00
  • Sale! Leaves of Grass by Hassan I. Sabbah - A Compendium of MarijuanaAdd to basket

    Leaves of Grass: A Compendium of Marijuana – Hassan I. Sabbah (1971 1st Edition)

    £175.00 £110.00
  • Sale! hoj klip cannabis grinder ukAdd to basket

    Høj KLIP [kli-p] Grinder / Slicer

    £147.00 £130.00
  • Sale! The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe (First) (1968)Add to basket

    The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test – Tom Wolfe (1968 UK 1st Edition)

    £300.00 £200.00
Lotte Evans

Lotte completed her degree in Film and Media Studies at the Manchester School of Art in the summer of 2020, and shortly after started at leafie as a content and social media assistant.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

ADVERTISMENT

Latest News

  • caterpillar on plant
    • News
    Cannabis could be used to make pesticides for crops according to ‘exciting new research’
    • Kevin Dinneen
    • December 5, 2023
  • soldier with ptsd in therapy
    • News
    MP calls on the EU to help his country become a hub for psychedelic research, as huge PTSD crisis looms
    • Kevin Dinneen
    • December 4, 2023
  • wild hemp
    • News
    THC and CBD found in 17th-century bone samples suggests pre-modern Italians may have loved weed
    • Kevin Dinneen
    • December 1, 2023

Popular Articles

  • The PAX Plus, PAX 3 and PAX Mini in comparison
    • Cannabis
    PAX Plus vs PAX Mini vs PAX 3 – which vaporiser is best?
    • Liam O'Dowd
    • December 6, 2023
  • woman laughing with joy psychedelic concept
    • Psychedelics
    Healing with joy – Is the medicalisation of mushrooms missing the point?
    • Oli Genn-Bash
    • November 29, 2023
  • man raising hand during citizens assembly on drugs in ireland
    • Cannabis
    Ireland – a country on the road to cannabis reform?
    • Sarah Sinclair
    • November 30, 2023

ADVERTISMENT

Featured Products

  • stoner t-shirt Happy Stoner Unisex Organic Cotton T-shirt £30.00
  • Free Weed Corduroy Cap £28.00
  • leafie own brand king size slim rolling papers leafie King Size Slim Organic Rolling Papers
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    £2.00
  • free weed tshirt leafie Free Weed Unisex Organic Cotton T-shirt £30.00

Join team leafie

Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of our articles delivered to your inbox.

Be first in line for free leafie merch, discounts and competitions. No spam, ever. Pinky promise.

Related Articles

The PAX Plus, PAX 3 and PAX Mini in comparison
Read Story
  • Cannabis

PAX Plus vs PAX Mini vs PAX 3 – which vaporiser is best?

  • Liam O'Dowd
  • December 6, 2023
man raising hand during citizens assembly on drugs in ireland
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Ireland – a country on the road to cannabis reform?

  • Sarah Sinclair
  • November 30, 2023
concept of woman suffering with intrusive thoughts
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Medical cannabis and obsessive-compulsive disorder – what you need to know

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 23, 2023
woman holding storz & bickel dry herb vaporiser towards camera
Read Story
  • Cannabis

The beginner’s guide to vaporiser temperatures

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 20, 2023
man lighting cannabis joint
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Stoner Science: Does weed make you stupid?

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 15, 2023
h4cbd being added to a test tube
Read Story
  • Cannabis

What is H4-CBD? Is it legal in the UK?

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 9, 2023
macro photo of cannabis with mould growing on it
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Cannabis mould – what is it, and how do you spot it?

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 1, 2023
medical cannabis in a container next to a dry herb vaporiser
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2023 – what to expect and how to attend

  • Emily Ledger
  • October 30, 2023
cannabis patient holding an asthma inhaler
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Everything you need to know about cannabis and Asthma

  • Emily Ledger
  • November 7, 2023
protester holding fist in the air
Read Story
  • Cannabis

The true social impact of cannabis prohibition in the UK

  • Emily Ledger
  • October 24, 2023
cannabis seedling growing in living soil
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Living soil cannabis is coming to the UK medical market, but what is it?

  • Ruby Deevoy
  • October 24, 2023
close up on the eyes of a drug sniffer dog
Read Story
  • Cannabis

Dogs of war – one man’s never ending battle against sniffer dogs

  • Simon Doherty
  • October 17, 2023
leafie logo
  • Articles
  • Cannabis
  • Psychedelics
  • Culture
  • News
  • Product Reviews
  • Login / Register
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Advertising on Leafie
  • Terms & Conditions
Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin

© LEAFIE LIMITED 2023. All rights reserved.

  • Disclaimer
  • Complaints
  • Privacy Policy