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 July 12, 2023, after a Supreme Court ruling that struck out a section of the previous law as unconstitutional.

The section in question gave the Minister the power to grant licenses for the cultivation of cannabis, popularly known as "wee" in Ghana, based on the recommendation of the Commission.

The court ruled that this provision violated the constitutional requirement for parliamentary debate before passing a law.

The new bill, which consists of a single clause, empowers the Minister 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.

The bill aims to regulate the cultivation of cannabis and harness its potential benefits for industrial and medicinal purposes.

Cannabis is a versatile plant that can be used to produce fibre and seed for various industrial applications, such as textiles, paper, plastics, building materials and biofuels. Cannabis also has medicinal properties that can be used to treat various conditions, such as chronic pain, epilepsy, glaucoma and cancer.

The passage of the bill is expected to open up new opportunities for the development of a well-regulated cannabis industry in Ghana, ensuring that its cultivation and usage adhere to strict guidelines and quality standards.