Decriminalise cannabis; consider its commercial benefits - NACOB Boss Akrasi-Sarpong

Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), on Monday, called for an open debate, and an all-inclusive discussion with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),  to locally join in on-going global debate on the drug issue.

This, he said, would help confront the present challenges being faced globally, as far as the issues on narcotics use and trade were concerned.

He advocated for the decriminalization of Cannabis Sativa, with an argument drawn along lines, such as the consideration of the commercial benefits not only as a powerful medicinal plant, but for the production of various products, including soap and cosmetics, for export.

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According to him, the immense benefits of the hemp oil, the seed and other parts of the plant for medicinal and other beneficial purposes, could be a great source of foreign exchange for African economies, if they were considered as such, because already there were various approved imported beauty products, particularly hair products, being sold on the market which contained active ingredients from cannabis, and these were being imported into the continent form the Western countries.

• Akrasi Sarpong - NACOB Boss

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He said there was currently a growing recognition among the scientific community in the Western World of the immense benefit of cannabis,  with respect to its commercial use, and were adopting new ways through science, to address the drug menace,  instead of sticking to the old ways and a total ban of cannabis.