High Court dismisses Andrius Bogusas’s THC ban challenge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The High Court dismissed Andrius Bogusas’s judicial review challenge to Ireland’s ban on selling products containing THC. The proceedings were reported on 9 November 2022.

Mr Justice Alex Owens ruled that Bogusas could not rely on EU free movement law to import or sell hemp oil containing THC in Ireland. He also found that Bogusas was not entitled to an order requiring the Minister for Health to revisit restrictions on substances containing any amount of THC.

The action followed the seizure by Customs on 21 October 2020 of goods including oils imported from Slovenia. Bogusas said the goods were legally made in another EU country and contained less than 0.2% THC.

The court also found that the action was brought outside the three-month time limit and declined to extend time for judicial review of the seizure.