The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has debunked claims that Parliament has legalised the smoking of cannabis following the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill 2023.
According to him, contrary to public misconceptions, the amended bill does not legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Instead, it grants the Ministry of Interior the authority to issue licenses for the controlled cultivation of cannabis, intended for beneficial industrial and medicinal applications.
In a formal communication to MPs on Thursday, July 27, 2023, Speaker Bagbin said it is not in the interest of parliament to promote the use or smoking of cannabis and urged the police to remain vigilant in enforcing the law against the unlawful use of cannabis and crack down on offenders.
“Passage of the Bill does not connote or legalise the recreational use or smoking of cannabis therefore the House remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing the law against the unlawful use of cannabis.
“We will continue to act in a manner that is in line with the Constitution and serves the public interest and advances our nation’s development and I want to employ all Members of Parliament and Ghanaians to share this information so as to dispel the misinformation and foster an informed dialogue on the matter.”
Speaker Bagbin noted that unauthorized activities related to narcotic plants are strictly prohibited and punishable by law.
“I reiterate that the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, production, or use of narcotic plants, synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs without lawful authority remains an offence and is punishable by our laws and I, therefore, call on the law enforcement authorities to continue to investigate, prosecute and commit offenders to the sanctions of the law.”
Parliament earlier this month passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill 2023 into law to grant the Interior Ministry authority to issue licences for the cultivation of cannabis which has not more than 0.3% utility content on dry weight spaces for industrial or medicinal purposes.
This comes after the Supreme Court impeded the initial passage of the law by striking out section 43 of the law as unconstitutional.
But the Speaker and the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery slammed the apex court for that order, amended the law and inserted the same provision back into it.
