The Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023 has merely obtained parliamentary approval and has not yet been enacted into law, according to the NACOC's deputy regional commander, Rees Hakeem Oduro.

In a recent interview, Mr. Oduro emphasized that although the bill, which permits the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medical purposes, has received approval from Parliament, Ghanaians must wait until the passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI) before regulations governing cannabis production are put into effect.

He said: “The LI hasn’t been passed yet because it’s only been through the agreement of Parliament. It will have to go to the President for final approval before the guidelines surrounding the cannabis production will be passed.”

He entreated citizens not to panic or become overly excited about the news of Parliament passing the bill, as the recreational use of cannabis and unlawful possession of the plant remain illegal under Ghanaian law.

“Without the license from the right authorities, you will be arrested for planting,” he cautioned.

Ghana has passed a new law that allows the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes, under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior.

The Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023, was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, after a Supreme Court ruling in August 2022 struck out section 43 of the previous law as unconstitutional.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, voiced his dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court's ruling and referred the Narcotics Control Commission Act bill to the Parliamentary Committee of Defense and Interior for consideration..

The new bill, which consists of a single clause, empowers the Minister for Interior to grant licenses for the cultivation of cannabis with a THC content not exceeding 0.3% on a dry weight basis.

THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis that causes intoxication.

The bill does not legalise the recreational use of cannabis, which remains illegal and punishable by law.