GOVT PONDERS LEGALISATION OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA - MINISTER

By NATION REPORTER ZAMBIA is still pondering on legalising the utilisation of marijuana for medicinal purposes, says Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday in Lusaka, Dr Chilufya disclosed that government had received unsolicited proposals for the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes but said it was still consulting on the matter.

“We have received unsolicited proposals for licences for cultivating marijuana for medicinal purposes but our position as government remains consistent, like I presented in Parliament. “Government will only consider issuance of such licences for medicinal use, if there will be evidence and assurance that there is an encrypted process from cultivation to the point where the product is being used for medicinal purposes without triggering any spike in the recreational use of Marijuana,” Dr Chilufya said.

The minister noted that there are countries that have legalized medicinal marijuana adding that Zambia is pondering the use of it based on the conditions that he stipulated in his recent Ministerial statement.

And Dr Chilufya on Friday last week announced that a multisectoral team had been constituted to undertake study into the matter.

“The multisectoral team shall inform the steps to take because our position remains the same that illegal utilisation of marijuana will not be condoned.

“The Drug Enforcement Commission and Zambia Police will continue to Police and melt out appropriate punishment to anyone who uses marijuana illegally,” the minister said.

He explained that it was important to note that the laws had not changed in Zambia with regards to illegal utilisation of marijuana, saying the instituted multisectoral team would only study what was happening in other jurisdictions. Dr Chilufya however said all the proposals government had received would pend until the multisectoral team reported back to him.