NDLEA Speaks On Bill to Decriminalise Cannabis Use in Nigeria

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJune 29, 2023

2 minutes read

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has expressed its opposition to a bill seeking to decriminalise the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis in Nigeria. The agency said that the use of cannabis still remains illegal and harmful in the country, and that it would resist any attempt to legalise it.

The bill, which was proposed by some members of the House of Representatives, aims to amend the NDLEA Act and grant the agency more powers to regulate the use of cannabis for medical and research purposes. The bill also seeks to establish a system for the registration and licensing of cannabis growers, users and traders.

However, the secretary of the NDLEA, Mr Shadrach Haruna, said that the agency was not in support of the bill and that it would present its position at a public hearing when invited. He said that the agency was concerned about the negative effects of cannabis on the health and security of Nigerians, especially the youth.

He said: “There is no law, when they said they want to pass a bill is a bill, of course, it has to be debated. We have not been called to any public hearing, and when we are called, we will certainly give our opinion about it because it is not something that we can afford at this time.

“That we will allow certain things – for cannabis for recreational use in the country? Even the developed countries that have very effective system have not allowed recreational use of it for now.

“Some countries may have allowed it for medical use like Canada which is using it for medicinal purposes and others.”

He added: “Recreational use of cannabis is not something any country wants to take in a hurry, and certainly not Nigeria. Our agency will go against such a thing and the law cannot be passed without input from the public.”

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He also explained that there were different types and species of cannabis with varying levels of potency and psychoactive effects. He said that some countries that had decriminalised cannabis had done so for low-THC varieties, which were less harmful than the high-THC ones grown in Nigeria.

He said: “The type of cannabis grown worldwide, they have different species of them and the species they have which they said they have decriminalised in some of those countries are those without Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the active ingredient that makes one be something else.

“We have cannabis that is far more potent, almost 45 to 100 per cent hydroponic cannabis. But we are looking at it as oh! some countries are making money. How do we try to prioritise the commercial aspects of harmful drugs that we have and indeed, WHO (World Health Organisation) has said the harmful impact of cannabis far outweighs its beneficial interest.”

He also stated that Nigeria had laws against the cultivation, possession and trafficking of cannabis and that these laws were still in force. He said that anyone found violating these laws would be arrested and prosecuted by the NDLEA.

He said: “Currently, we have laws against it and you can see the prevalent use of it particularly cannabis and methamphetamine not to say you bring such a law and say you allow it for whatever purpose whether for medicinal or recreational use.”

The NDLEA secretary urged Nigerians to be wary of the dangers of cannabis use and abuse and to support the agency in its efforts to curb drug trafficking and consumption in the country.