House Of Reps Considers Bill To Legalize Use Of Cannabis

A law that would have significant impact on the nation’s pharmaceutical industry is now in the legislative mill of the House of Representatives.

Titled “The Cannabis Control Bill, 2020,” the Bill seeks to regulate the cultivation, possession, availability and trade in cannabis for medical and research purposes.

Sponsored by Princess Miriam Onuoha, the member representing Isiala Mbano/ Onuimo/Okigwe federal constituency of Imo State, the Bill has been introduced for debates in the house of reps.

Cannabis is one of the psychotropic substances that are classified as illicit in Nigeria. But many have continued to illegally grow and trade in it across the country.

Cannabis has also, for years, constituted the highest seizure of illicit drugs by the National  Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

Princess Onuoha  said the objectives of the Bill include to  Provide for a registration and licensing system for Cannabis farmers and processors;  establish a  registration and licensing system for Cannabis famers and processors;  regulate the cultivation , processing,  availability and trade of Cannabis for medical  purposes and promote public awareness about the cultivation, processing, availability and trade of Cannabis for medicinal and research purposes and its use in relation to medical or health purpose.

The Bill had already been hailed by the Civil Society Organization Stakeholders on Farming for Medical Use Initiative, which described it as a “strategic” bill that would unlock the potentials of cannabis. It also called on the legislature to ensure the bill becomes law as soon as possible.

If passed into law, it would make cultivation and trade in cannabis legal, although under strict regulations.

The growth and use of cannabis would be strictly regulated by relevant agencies of the government which shall have powers to register and issue licenses to growers, processors, and users while also developing awareness on the growth and use of the substance.

It would also be the duties of the relevant agencies to advise federal and state governments on matters relating to Cannabis growers, producers, manufacturers and users, and educate the masses on the healthy and unhealthy use of Cannabis.

To avoid criminals taking advantage of the law, the Bill sets conditions for issuance of licenses, which must include a national identity card, certificate of good conduct from the Criminal Investigation Department or DSS and a recommendation from a medical practitioner of not less than five years’ experience.

Also, a licence for medical use of cannabis would only be given to a hospital whose medical practitioner has been duly licensed; a clinic or hospital which has been duly authorized, permitted and licensed to prescribe medicines for patients.

The Bill prohibits issuance of cannabis licence for medical use if such a person is without a proof that “ he is either a medical doctor and intends to use it for medical purposes or a pharmaceutical company who intends to use an amount of Cannabis which may be determined as required, in producing a medicine for the cure of a certain disease or an epidemic.”