NDLEA Secretary has given reasons why Cannabis cannot be legalised in Nigeria unlike other foreign countries.
Shadrach Haruna, the Secretary of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has given light on the differences in cannabis rules between Nigeria and countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, supporting Nigeria’s stance on marijuana prohibition.
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Haruna addressed the widespread “misconception” about drug decriminalization, emphasizing that, while other countries have driminalized marijuana.
There are significant differences in the types of cannabis grown globally, as well as the stringent policies, enforcement measures, and quality standards implemented by those countries, he stated.
Countries like Canada and USA have decriminalized marijuana or cannabis, and are using it. But, of course, you have different species of marijuana, and in those countries, they have very good policies, very good enforcement and measurement standards that they have to follow, he added.
According to Haruna, the species that have been decriminalized in nations such as Canada are ones that lack Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component responsible for altering one’s state of mind.
In contrast, Nigeria cultivates cannabis strains with substantially higher potency, with THC levels ranging from nearly 45% to 100%, making them incomparable to decriminalized versions.
The species they have, which they claim have been decriminalized in some of those countries, are those without Tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the active ingredient that transforms one into something else, he stated.
Haruna, on the other hand, emphasized the harsh enforcement procedures in countries that have decriminalized marijuana, refuting the claim that many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have officially decriminalized such narcotics.
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He added that cannabinol, a component utilized in specialized medical treatments, was previously approved for importation into the United Kingdom.
However, because to the increased cannabinol level identified in the oil, subsequent limitations have been implemented.
