The Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023 has been approved by Parliament.
This means that the Ministry of Interior is required to grant licenses for the cultivation of cannabis in order to make it possible to use this plant for a variety of advantageous purposes.
The Supreme Court blocked the law’s passage by declaring section 43 of it unconstitutional, which led to the current development.
According to Section 43 of Act 1019, the Minister may, upon the Commission’s recommendation, grant a license for the industrial cultivation of cannabis, commonly known as “wee” in Ghana, with a THC content of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis for the purpose of producing fiber or seed for medical use.
The Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, July 12, and it consists of a single clause that, if passed, will allow the Minister to authorize the cultivation of cannabis in the nation.
The purpose of the bill, according to a report from the Committee on Defence and Interior, is to amend the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019). To give the Minister the authority to issue a license for the industrial, for the production of fiber or seed, or for medicinal purposes, cultivation of cannabis with a THC content of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
Meanwhile, the 275 members of Parliament unanimously agreed to pass the anti-LGBTQ bill that is currently before the chamber.
This comes after the 36-page document was subjected to months of public discussion and approval by legislators and stakeholders following its introduction in 2021.
The contested legislation has already been the target of several legal challenges; the most recent lawsuit was only made public on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
