Cannabis Not For Recreational Purposes – NCC Caution

The Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) has cautioned the public over the possession of cannabis for recreational purposes.

The commission has received applications from many groups, companies and individuals for licenses to cultivate cannabis for industrial or medicinal purposes.

Speaking to Ohene Addo on Plan B FM’s ‘Nkosuo Nsem’, the head of Communications and Media Relations of the Commision, Mr. Francis Opoku Amoah reminded the general public that the use of cannabis is illegal and a criminal offence in the country in spite of Ghana having joined a few other countries to allow for the cultivation of the substance for medicinal or industrial purposes.

“Although, Ghana has signed on to the pact in May last year to allow for the cultivation of cannabis with 0.3 per cent content of the principal psychoactive ingredient, Tetrahydrocannabis (THC). We are yet to operationalize the licence regime because a legislative instrument had not been passed, as such, the cultivation, production, distribution, sale and consumption of cannabis remain prohibited by law,” he said

“The Narcotics Control Commission is in the process of submitting to Parliament a Legislative Instrument (LI) that will spell out in detail how one can qualify for a licence to cultivate cannabis with less than 0.3 per cent of THC and applicable fees to pay for the issuance of such licence.

“The commission is working hard to make sure that it presents a solid Legislative Instrument that will reflect how the hemp industry will be regulated in the country,” he indicated.

Ghana’s Narcotics Control Act

The Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which was passed by Parliament on March 20, 2020 and assented to by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on May 11, 2020, has enshrined special provisions relating to cannabis.

Section 43 of Act 1019 states: “The Minister, on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a licence for the cultivation of cannabis which has not more than 0.3% THC content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed or for medicinal purposes.”