We’re open to dialogue on legalising cannabis oil – NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it is unfastened to dialog connected the legalisation of cannabis lipid for its wellness benefits.

Retired Brig-.Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA, said this successful Abuja connected Wednesday astatine a stakeholders’ store connected “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria.”

Organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), the store examined technological grounds connected the therapeutic uses of cannabis oil.

It besides considered planetary champion practices for the regulation, accumulation and organisation of cannabis oil, among different parameters.

The store besides reviewed Nigeria’s existent ineligible and argumentation scenery with respect to cannabis lipid use.

It was besides intended to make evidence-based, context-specific recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to pass their decision-making.

Marwa said that though the bureau had made seizures of astir 10 cardinal kilograms of cannabis successful the past 4 and a fractional years, it was  not underestimating the powerfulness of subject to research its positives.

“For america astatine the NDLEA, our presumption connected cannabis lipid is simple: we invited dialogue.

“We  believe that Nigeria indispensable marque informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercialized interests oregon planetary trends.

“Cannabis lipid whitethorn person medicinal properties worthy investigating, but it besides carries wellness risks, imaginable for misuse and implications for nationalist safety.

“This is wherefore it is important that scientists, aesculapian experts, policymakers and regulators are successful the aforesaid country to bring facts to the table, scrutinise grounds and measurement options carefully,” helium said.

He, however, cautioned that immoderate argumentation being enacted should support lives, prevention nationalist wellness and not weaken the combat against cause abuse.

Prof. Abubakar Sambo, President of NAS, said that Nigeria needed to beryllium much proactive successful considering the usage of proceeds from cannabis.

Represented by Prof Friday Okonofua, Vice President of NAS, Sambo recognised Nigeria arsenic 1 of the top producers and users of cannabis adjacent erstwhile it  remained illegal.

“Several studies person travel retired indicating that we should beryllium much proactive and much reform-oriented successful the mode we see cannabis due to the fact that it could beryllium utile for helping societal development.

“In contrast, we besides person to look astatine the antagonistic broadside effects, which could beryllium precise daunting successful this peculiar country,” Sambo said.

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa,of Ondo, said cannabis, implicit the years, had been perceived arsenic bad, but planetary realities astir the substance were changing.

Represented by Dr Samuel Adekola, Consultant to the authorities connected Pharmaceutical and Medical Investment, Aiyedatiwa said countries were balancing their prohibitions with controlled legalisation.

“Let maine beryllium wide that our passionate telephone successful favour of cannabis legalisation successful Nigeria is not equivalent to a free-for-all call.

“On the contrary,we indispensable evoke a model that prioritises nationalist wellness and safety, ensuring that immoderate argumentation we follow protects youth, guides against maltreatment and promotes liable usage nether aesculapian supervision.

“We indispensable guarantee effectual regularisation and administration, establishing a transparent licensing system, monitoring mechanisms and instrumentality enforcement strategies to forestall diversion to illicit markets.

“We should besides see economical maturation and societal justice, creating morganatic accidental for farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

“This is portion besides addressing humanities injustice suffered by our communities and disproportionate criminalisation nether erstwhile laws,” helium said.

According to him, the clip has travel for Nigeria to beryllium guided by science.

Prof. Musbau Akanji, Chairman, NAS Consensus Study Committee connected Cannabis Oil and Use successful Nigeria, said it was important for an evidence-based attack to usher the statement connected cannabis lipid legalisation.

Akanji said determination were contributions from assorted quarters seeking the le...