Ghana Narcotics Control Commission: First Cannabis Licenses Issued for Medicinal and Industrial Purposes

• Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission has issued licences to two companies for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation.
• The pilot programme aims to create employment opportunities, promote investment, and support scientific research under strict regulatory supervision.
• Licence holders must operate within approved acreage and ensure THC content does not exceed 0.3 per cent.
• Recreational use of cannabis remains illegal in Ghana.

The pilot programme aims to unlock the potential of cannabis while creating employment opportunities, promoting investment, and supporting scientific research under strict regulatory supervision.

Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission has taken a significant step towards establishing a regulated cannabis programme, issuing licences to two companies for medicinal and industrial purposes. The pilot programme aims to unlock the potential of cannabis while creating employment opportunities, promoting investment, and supporting scientific research under strict regulatory supervision. MJ Adom Limited and Juliotpa Limited have become the first beneficiaries of this initiative, having successfully completed the approval process. Their licences permit the cultivation of cannabis with a THC content of not more than 0.3 per cent for medicinal and industrial purposes only. The Director General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, announced the issuance of these licences during a presentation in Accra, highlighting the rigorous technical and regulatory assessment that preceded this milestone.

The licences issued to MJ Adom Limited and Juliotpa Limited are valid for three years and come with specific conditions. The companies must operate within the approved acreage, ensure that their crops do not exceed the legal THC content limit of 0.3 per cent, and notify NACOC in case of any abnormalities. Major General Mantey warned that exceeding these limits or engaging in unauthorised activities could lead to licence revocation following inspections by the Commission. The Director General also reiterated NACOC's commitment to intensifying the fight against illicit drug cultivation and trafficking, stating that anyone attempting to abuse the new regulatory framework would be sanctioned.

The issuance of these licences is a significant development in Ghana's cannabis industry, but it's essential to note that recreational use remains illegal. Lawyers advising clients on cannabis-related businesses should be aware that the licences do not legalise general cannabis cultivation. They must also understand that exceeding approved acreage or engaging in unauthorised activities can lead to licence revocation. As the regulated programme takes shape, businesses and stakeholders must ensure they operate within the bounds of the law and comply with the conditions set by NACOC.

Lawyers advising clients on cannabis-related business should note that the issuance of licenses does not legalise general cannabis cultivation, and recreational use remains illegal. They should also be aware that exceeding approved acreage or engaging in unauthorised activities can lead to licence revocation.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian Times