Is marijuana legalisation set to sweep Africa?

The legalisation of drugs is a common debate topic around the world, particularly with softer substances such as marijuana. While potentially addictive, the cannabis plant’s healing properties mean that many people advocate its use as pain-relief rather than to solely seek pleasure.

The focus of much of this debate in the last year has been Africa. Countries such as Rwanda and Morocco have formally allowed the use of medical marijuana, while in South Africa the use, possession and cultivation of the plant is set to be decriminalised. Nigeria is another nation considering legalisation, however there is also fierce opposition to a law change there.
It begs the question: could legalisation be about to sweep the continent? If so, what are the problems and benefits that it could bring?

The argument against

Much of the argument against legalising the drug is not so much about the act of smoking it, rather the ability to differentiate between safe and dangerous samples.

Olakunle Idowu, a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, spoke to news site The Conversation recently about how countries should only legalise drugs if they are confident that dangerous quantities are not available.

To be more specific, the danger he refers to comes from the THC element of the plant. While it reacts with receptors that flood the brain with endorphins, causing that famous ‘high’, those same receptors trigger addictive behavior, similar to the neurological process behind problem gambling and compulsive shoplifting.

Identifying plants with a high amount of THC, rather than CBD, which is associated with medical benefits, is key to keeping users safe. However, Professor Idowu feels that Nigeria doesn’t have the facilities to test the plants to know for sure.

A related problem is the health risks that come with smoking the herb. Even smoking ‘safe’ samples regularly increases the risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia. This risk is higher the younger a person starts smoking, and it could also inflame underlying asthma or respiratory problems, and even contribute to lung cancer.

To add to this, it’s obviously dangerous to perform many activities while under the influence of marijuana, including driving a car or operating heavy machinery.

The argument for

Nigeria is also the home to several powerful pro-marijuana arguments, one of which came from the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu in an address to the Nigerian government in June. Akeredolu stressed the need for the country to shake off its ‘archaic’ way of thinking and embrace the benefits of cannabis cultivation.

The governor made the case for both the medical and economic benefits of marijuana, saying they outweigh the negatives. He talked about how its controlled cultivation was a potential ‘multi-billion-naira industry’ that could stimulate the troubled Nigerian economy. Akeredolu’s recent trip to Thailand was a case in point: there, he said, the country is cultivating the plant in a safe and environmentally-friendly way for commercial use. Morocco, too, sees legalisation as a way to boost its agriculture industry and tackle drug traffickers.

Akeredolu’s argument is backed up by the proven medical benefits of cannabis. Various studies show that it helps to reduce chronic pain, nausea and even the symptoms of serious conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In May, Nigeria’s House of Representatives announced its intention to discuss the legalisation of Indian Hemp for these reasons, a move seen by many as the first major step towards full legal validation for the drug.

The dual economic and medical boost that legalisation could bring is an attractive prospect to many African countries who are struggling through the worst pandemic in a century. In five years’ time, we could see further legal changes across the continent.

How marijuana legalisation is spreading across Africa

The legalisation debate isn’t just confined to the likes of Nigeria and Morocco. Even countries with incredibly strict laws are seeking to taking advantage of a growing global legal marijuana market.

The Ugandan government, for example, is said to have spent over a quarter-0f-a-million dollars on high-quality cannabis seeds for cultivation in a bid to make a profit on its exports, while Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Zambia have all allowed the commercial use and export of the plant.
If such ventures are successful, then it’s likely that neighbouring countries will follow suit, eager not to miss out on this earning opportunity.

According to a 2019 Africa Hemp and Cannabis report, Africa makes up only 11% of the world’s market, meaning there is plenty of potential for it to extend its influence.

While law changes to allow commercial use would still fall short of full public legalization, the hope for campaigners is that African authorities are slowly changing their stance towards marijuana, leading to a new cannabis-friendly Africa.