The growing global demand for medical cannabis and its economic advantages have caused several African countries to pause the restrictions placed on the plant's cultivation. Its abuse and links to other health issues have led to injunctions against the consumption of the plant in most African countries.
Medical personnel globally, have raised concerns over the addiction potential of the plant and other adverse effects that it causes. Alongside coca and opium poppy, cannabis has been the subject of strict international regulations for nearly a century.
Cannabis has been grown in Africa for centuries as the continent's land offer a favorable condition for the plant's cultivation.
According to a UN survey, the highest levels of cannabis production in the world are reported on the African continent and more than 10,000 tons of cannabis are produced on the continent each year, which advocates believe could be worth billions of dollars in a rapidly expanding global cannabis market.
Barclays Bank puts the global market for medical cannabis at $150 billion (135 billion euros) and it has been projected to hit $272 billion in 2028. A report by Statista also reveals that revenue from Africa's Cannabis market is forecasted to hit US$740.90m in 2024 and will witness an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 2.12%, leading to a huge market share of US$822.80m by 2029.
This shows the enormous market for cannabis and African nations have decided to tap into the flow as more countries move towards legalizing its cultivation and sale for medicinal and economic purposes.
African countries with their unique challenges have therefore decided to tone down their restrictive laws on cannabis, to embrace legalization and cultivation or marijuana.
According to the report - "Medical Use of Cannabis in Africa: The Pharmacists' Perspective" published by the National Library of Medicine, nine African countries have passed different laws to regulate cannabis cultivation, process, storage, recreational usage, sales, export and distribution and these include:
| 1 | Malawi | Legalized officially for industrial, medical use and export. Recreational use is prohibited. |
| 2 | Zambia | Legalized officially for export and medicinal purposes. Recreational use is prohibited. |
| 3 | South Africa | Medical and recreational use of cannabis are legal (officially). |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | Legalized officially for medical use and not recreational use. |
| 5 | Lesotho | Legalized officially for medical use and export. Recreational use is prohibited. |
| 6 | Ghana | Prohibited for recreational use but legal for medical and industrial purposes. |
| 7 | Morocco | Prohibited for recreational use but legal for medical and industrial purposes |
| 8 | Rwanda | Legalized medical cannabis for export and medical use |
| 9 | Uganda | Legalized solely for exports. |
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