Early 2019, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the executive governor of Ondo State suggested that the state might explore cannabis cultivation for medicinal purposes in its quest to create employment and engender growth.
Expectedly, the suggestion generated public uproar due to the notoriety and addictive tendencies of the substance. Currently, the planting, harvesting, and consumption of cannabis (popularly known as Indian Hemp) according to the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA), 1935 and Indian Hemp Act (IHA), 1966 is not allowed in Nigeria.
The ban exists despite the growing commercial importance of cannabis globally. Advocacy for the government to allow the growing of the plant for medicinal and commercial purposes is growing by the day.
Despite the existence of the ban on cannabis, however, Nigeria continues to be one of the major consumers of the product globally according to media reports. A report in the Telegraph found that the country ranked third in the world in terms of the numbers of people who consume it.
Most cultivation of the plant is reported to take place in the states of Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, Osun, Ogun and Oyo where the tropical climate helps the plant to thrive.
The plant’s economic potential cannot be overlooked. According to a recent release from Bloomberg, by applying the plant for recreational and medical purposes, the market would be worth US$90.4bn by 2026.
Apart from its medicinal properties, the plant can also be used for making fabric, rope and paper which can be a major source of foreign exchange for the country and also create employment opportunities.
Speaking recently at a press conference in Akure, the Chairman, House of Representatives (HOR) Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Benjamin Okezie noted that the government is intensifying efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture and that Indian Hemp is an important component of that plan.
He said, ‘Industrial hemp is a variety of the cannabis Sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use. Once harvested, the crop has a high yield of edible proteins and fibres with more than 50,000 product applications.’ He noted that he has presented the Dangerous Drugs Act amendment bill, 2020 to the House of Representatives for consideration.
We acknowledge the concerns of many Nigerians around legalising the plant considering the potential for abuse and the inability of the law enforcement agencies to effectively regulate its use given the widespread corruption in many institutions.
Also, the country has a growing population of unemployed youths who typically tend towards substance abuse. That said, we cannot overlook the economic potential the drug holds for the Nigerian agricultural sector.
The cultivation and commercialization of the plant can potentially generate much needed foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities and contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.
