In a significant milestone, the Parliament of Ghana, sitting in Accra, has recently passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023, into law after its third reading. The Speaker of the Parliament, Alban Bagbin, announced this development.
This new legislation grants the Ministry of Interior the responsibility of issuing licenses for the cultivation of cannabis for both industrial and health purposes in Ghana.
The road to passing this legislation was not without its challenges. Earlier, the Supreme Court had intervened and declared section 43 of the previous law, Act 1019, as unconstitutional. This section had previously authorized the Minister, based on the Commission’s recommendation, to grant licenses for cannabis cultivation. However, due to its unconstitutional nature, this provision was eliminated.
The Parliament addressed this issue by introducing a single clause Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which permits industrial-level cultivation of cannabis with a THC content of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis.
The passage of this bill opens up numerous avenues for utilizing the versatile plant in various beneficial applications. The government aims to explore its industrial potential in fiber and seed production and utilize its medicinal properties in a regulated manner.
With this milestone, companies can now obtain licenses for cultivating cannabis for obtaining fiber, seed, or medicinal uses while adhering to strict guidelines and quality standards.
The nation now joins the multibillion-dollar global industry and aims to harness the potential benefits of cannabis in a responsible manner.
