The Parliament of Ghana has officially legalised the cultivation of cannabis for medical and commercial purposes, following approval of the Narcotics Control Commission Regulations 2023.
Speaking on the development, Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery clarified that the legalisation should not be interpreted as permitting cannabis for recreational purposes.
The cannabis and Organic CBD Nugs, which is meant to be grown strictly for health and industrial uses, must have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 0.3, which the ministry is working on introducing varieties.
Meanwhile, Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza cautioned against the potential abuse of the substance and its health implications on people in Ghana.
“… None of you is talking about the potential of abuse and how that can degenerate into mental health problems we already have in this country. Why are we pretending that this is going to solve our problem? Minister? Do you even know how many people in this country are smoking weed?” Agbodza queried.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa), also called marijuana is a plant that is cultivated as a medicinal and recreational drug. It contains chemicals known as cannabinoids, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Cultivating the plant is illegal in most countries due to the high level of its abuse. However, the economic prospects and health benefits of cannabis cannot be overlooked.