Ghana’s parliament has passed the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill 2023, under a certificate of urgency.
The development will bring significant changes to the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
GhanaWeb reports that the amended bill grants the Ministry of Interior the authority to issue licenses for the cultivation of cannabis, thereby enabling the utilisation of the plant for various beneficial applications.
The Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill was approved after its third reading, according to the speaker of the parliament, Alban Bagbin, who disclosed this during the proceeding on Wednesday.
This follows a Supreme Court ruling which impeded the passage of the law by striking out section 43 of the law as unconstitutional.
Although, section 43 of Act 1019 stipulates that the Minister on the recommendation of the Commission may grant a licence for the cultivation of cannabis popularly referred to as ‘wee’ in Ghana.
It would not be more than 0.3 per cent THC content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed for medicinal purposes.
The passage of the bill into law opens the door for companies to obtain licenses to grow plant that has no more than 0.3 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol on a dry-weight basis, according to the provisions.
Supreme Court invalidated provisions within the Narcotic Control Commission Act that permitted the cultivation of specific types of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.
The court contended that these provisions contravened Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution. Despite an appeal filed by the Office of the Attorney-General, the Supreme Court dismissed the review application in a narrow 5-4 decision.
During the parliamentary debates surrounding the amendment of the bill, Members of Parliament emphasised the importance of cultivating certain types of cannabis.
They underscored the potential benefits that can be derived from harnessing the properties of cannabis for industrial and medicinal uses.
However, the Ministry of Interior will now have the responsibility of issuing licenses for cannabis cultivation, facilitating the growth of this industry and opening avenues for further exploration of its potential, with the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill 2023
