The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has emphasized that the recent legalization on the use of cannabis did not endorse the recreational use or smoking of the drug.
“We must dispel misinterpretation of the new Act, The provision is designed to strike a prudent balance between the harassing of the drug for industrial and medicinal use of not more than 0.3 per cent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, while maintaining our robust control of narcotics to ensure the safety and well-being of our society,” Mr. Bagbin said this in Parliament to correct the misconception about the new Act.
He indicated that seedlings of the 0.3 per cent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) type of cannabis was our currently available in Ghana; hence, it was too early for people to start celebrating.
The Act gives discretional powers to the Ministry for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to grant lincences for the cultivation of a small quantity of cannabis, for industrial and medicinal purposes.
The Speaker warned the public that the Act remained in full force, detailing an extensive list of penaltities for unlawful activities associated with the use of cannabis.
He stressed that the Narcotic Control Commission Act categorized ‘wee’ as a narcotic drug.
“This provision underlined our unwavering stance against the illicit use of narcotics, while simultaneously recognizing its potential benefits for industrial and medicinal use,” he said.
The Speaker said to underscore the intent of the license, section 43 (2) of the Act expressly stated that it should not be extended to recreational use.
“That the prohibition against the unlawful cultivation, possession and use of Narcotics clearly outlined in Section 39 to 42 of the Act remains unaffected,” he added.
Parliament passed the Narcotics Regulation Commission Amendment Bill, 2023, last week. The Bill will amend the Narcotics Commission Act, 202 (Act 1019).
It amended Act 1019 to reintroduce Section 43 that provided an opportunity for Parliament to debate the policy rationale of the provision in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitutional and ruling of the Supreme Court.
