Mr. Marcus McCabe:

When we are looking at toxic levels of any material, whether a pesticide or any chemical whatsoever, the first thing we look at is the no observable effect level, NOEL, and the lowest observable effect level. We then have an acute dose and what is known as the LD50, the lethal dose. Obviously we do not want to be in the range of a lethal dose; we want to be in the safe zone. I will take coffee as a good example. If one has a sip of coffee, there is going to be no observable effect. After one or two cups of coffee, one is into the lowest observable effect level. After five or six cups of coffee, one is going to feel a bit sick because one has had too much. This is all very practical. The problem we have at the moment is that the level that is being used by Irish agencies is in the no observable effect level. This has been noticed as being dangerous. It is a real problem because businesses are being closed down because the science based on the toxicity is not being looked at properly. That is a fundamental problem in the hemp industry.