Ghana has taken a major step in developing its medical cannabis industry, with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) issuing cultivation licences to two companies for medicinal and industrial cannabis production.
The licences were granted following Parliament’s approval of a regulatory and fee framework that allows the controlled cultivation, processing and use of cannabis containing no more than 0.3 percent THC for medical and industrial purposes.
Presenting the licences, Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, warned the successful companies that the authorisation comes with strict conditions and that any breach would attract severe sanctions.
He stressed that the companies must operate strictly within the acreage approved by the Commission and comply fully with the terms of their licences.
“Those who applied and have been given the licences, there’s also a caveat. You can’t go beyond the acres granted. You cannot do other things you have not been permitted by the Commission to do,” he said.
Major General Mantey said companies that adhere to the regulations stand to reap significant economic benefits while contributing to national development.
“If you do it well, the benefits will be enormous to the company and the Ghanaian populace. If you abuse the system, we will come very hard at you,” he warned.
The licensing marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to establish a tightly regulated cannabis industry focused on medical and industrial use, while maintaining strict oversight to prevent abuse and illegal cultivation.
