We Are Open To Dialogue On Legalising Cannabis Oil In Nigeria-NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that they are open to dialogue on the legalisation of cannabis oil for its health benefits.
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of NDLEA said this at the stakeholders workshop on the Cannabis Oil debate:The Path forward for Nigeria in Abuja.
Organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), the workshop examined scientific evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabis oil, international best practices for regulation, production and distribution, among other parameters.
The workshop also reviewed Nigeria’s current legal and policy landscape with
regards to cannabis oil use, targeted generating evidence-based, context-specific
recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders for proper decision making.
Marwa said although the agency had made seizures of about ten million kilograms of cannabis in the past four and half years, they were not underrating the power of science to discover its benefits.
“For us at the NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple, we welcome dialogue and we believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half truths, commercial interests or global trends.
“Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse and implications for public safety.
“This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence and weigh options carefully,” he said.
He assured that the agency would not oppose scientific discovery, adding that any policy being enacted must protect lives, save public health and not weaken the fight against drug abuse.
Prof Abubakar Sambo, President of NAS, said that Nigeria needed to be more proactive in considering the use of proceeds from cannabis.
Represented by Prof Friday Okonofua, Vice President of NAS,Sambo recognised Nigeria as one of the greatest producers and users of cannabis but it remained illegal.
“Several research studies have come out indicating that we should be more proactive and more reform-oriented in the way we consider cannabis because it could be useful for helping social development.
“In contrast, we also have to look at the negative side effects, which could be very daunting in this particular country,” Sambo said.
Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa,said cannabis over years had been perceived as bad but global realities about the substance was changing.
Represented by Dr Samuel Adekola, Consultant to the government on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investment, Aiyedatiwa said countries were balancing its prohibitions with controlled legalisation through robust regulations and evidence-based policies.
“Let me be clear that our passionate call in favour of cannabis legalisation in Nigeria is not equivalent to a free-for-all call.
“On the contrary,we must evoke a framework that prioritises public health and safety, ensuring that any policy we adopt protects youth, guides against abuse and promotes responsible use under medical supervision.
“We must ensure effective regulation and administration, establishing transparent licensing system, monitoring mechanisms and law enforcement strategies to prevent diversion to illicit markets.
“We should also consider economic growth and social justice, creating legitimate opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, while also addressing historical injustice suffered by our communities and disproportionate criminalising under previous laws,” he said.
According to him, the time has come for Nigeria to be guided by science.
Prof Musbau Akanji, Chairman, NAS Consensus Study Committee on Cannabis Oil and Use in Nigeria, said it was important for an evidence-based approach to guide the debate on cannabis oil legalisation.
Akanji noted that there were contributions from different quarters seeking for the legalisation of cannabis oil, saying that it had economic and medicinal benefits but its approval would amount to full blown cultivation and misuse.
“The NAS consequently, constituted the consensus study committee on cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request.
“The experts are supposed to present evidences that will be collated to assist in carrying out the responsibility of NAS,” he said,
The NAS chairman commended the NDLEA for seeking expert input from the academy to evaluate both the advantages and disadvantages of legalising the use of cannabis oil.
