Law to Open Hemp Market in Ghana

By Sechat Editorial

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After ups and downs, it seems that Ghana finally has legislation that will open the market for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis, as reported by Hemp Today portal.

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The country's Parliament recently approved the Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Bill 2023, setting the THC limit for hemp at 0.3% based on dry weight. Presumably, CBD will not be legal for over-the-counter sale but may be available as a medication.

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Past Efforts

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The Parliament of Ghana passed a law in 2020 legalizing the use of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, giving oversight to the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), a part of the Ministry of the Interior. This law drew criticism from stakeholders and was later overturned by the country's high court, which deemed it unconstitutional due to lack of parliamentary debate.

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Under the new law, the Ministry of the Interior retains oversight of hemp licensing and regulation.

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Stakeholders in Ghana have promoted hemp as a method to clean the environment and generate taxes. A study by Chinese researchers conducted in 2021 suggested that the country could cultivate hemp as a raw material for export and manufacture some semi-finished products for the domestic market.

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Revival for Textiles?

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Hemp could revive Ghana's ailing textile industry, which has declined in recent years, presenting an opportunity for fiber hemp as a rotational crop, suggests the report.

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Agriculture in Ghana accounts for over 50% of the country's GDP, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and is responsible for over 40% of export revenues.

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Why Do the US Consider Marijuana Safer than Tobacco?

A shift in mindset and education has helped citizens of the United States gain a deeper understanding of cannabis in recent years. The link between lung cancer and tobacco consumption was identified as early as 1953.

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Only those who profited from the tobacco industry had a full understanding of its harms, but this was kept discreet. Over the decades, more and more individuals worldwide recognized the peril and lethality of this habit, once considered stylish.

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Currently, tobacco use is on the decline. A 2022 Gallup poll revealed that the percentage of American adults who still smoke has reached a historic low of 12%.