Wee production in Ghana: Professor Akwasi Osei former Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority (MHA).has cautioned the government to move cautiously when it comes to the legal production of cannabis in large numbers.
Prof. Osei stated thorough public education and sensitization should have taken place before the announcement in order to reduce the problems the decision is expected to create.
According to him, if caution is not taken, individuals would grow the harmful variety of cannabis alongside the one required for medical purposes since they are unaware of the differences between the two.
He claimed despite the fact that there are many various varieties of cannabis, there are generally three: cannabis indica, cannabis sativa, and cannabis ruderalis. But, we are now limited to just two of these varieties, cannabis sativa and cannabis indica.
According to him, cannabis sativa is more harmful than the cannabis indica and luckily it was the cannabis indica the parliament legalized because it contained just 0.3% of THC (THC is what causes one to feel high when smoking is done for fun).
He made the call after the Interior Minister regained the authority to provide permits for the industrial and medical production of small amounts of cannabis, sometimes known as “wee,” in Ghana.
This occurred following the Narcotics Regulation Commission Amendment Bill, 2023’s approval by the parliament on Wednesday, July 12. The Narcotics Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) is modified by the new laws.
The amended one, which replaces section 43, now gives the Minister of the Interior the authority to provide a license for the production of cannabis, also known as “wee” in Ghana.
However, this must only contain 0.3% or less of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by dry weight if being used for industrial purposes to obtain fiber or seed or for therapeutic purposes. it also forbids anyone who has received a license under the law from growing cannabis for recreational purposes.
