On Wednesday, a plan to legalize the commercial cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis, popularly known as marijuana, sparked arguments between some members of the House of Representatives.
Benjamin Kalu and Olumide Osoba, two members of the House, had introduced a new bill to alter the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, extending the authority of the anti-narcotics agency to provide licenses for the production, distribution, and consumption of marijuana.
A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Confer Additional Responsibility of the Power to Grant and Revoke Licenses for the Cultivation of Cannabis (or Any of Its Three Species, Namely Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indicia, and Cannabis Ruderalis) Plant for Medicinal Purposes; and for Related Matters, was the name given to the proposed legislation.
The bill is a consolidated version of separate bills HBs. 1190 and 1918 from Kalu and Osoba.
A different House member, Miriam Onuoha, objected that the bill’s content was the same as her own, which she had long before supported, when it came up for second reading on Wednesday during the plenary.
The House Rules and Business Committee Chairman, Abubakar Fulata, was contacted by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, in order to discuss the legislation’ differences and similarities before the House meets on Thursday.
In Nigeria, cannabis usage, sales, and cultivation are now prohibited.
On January 7, 2021, it was reported that the House was considering legalizing the production and trade of cannabis, commonly known as hemp or marijuana, for use in research, as well as for medical and aesthetic uses, as well as to generate income for Nigeria.
A Bill for an Act to Regulation the Production, Possession, Availability and Trade of Cannabis for Medicinal and Research Use, and Related Purposes is the title of the Cannabis Control Bill, 2020, which is sponsored by Miriam Onuoha.
If the measure is passed into law, hospitals and physicians would be able to prescribe patients doses of cannabis for therapy, while dispensaries and retail outlets will be able to sell it.
The relevant agencies will be given the authority to “regulate the growth and use of cannabis; register cannabis growers and users; issue licenses to cannabis growers, processors, producers, manufacturers, and users; and develop awareness programs on the growth and use of cannabis,” according to Onuoha.
The organizations also provide federal and state governments with advice on issues involving cannabis growers, producers, manufacturers, and consumers. They also educate the public on the proper and improper ways to use cannabis, conduct research, and develop cannabis-related policies.
