The Ministry of Health and Social Services has ruled out legalising the commercial cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use in Namibia, citing the availability of effective existing treatments.
The Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Kalumbi Shangula said the country does not see the need to legalise cannabis for pain management as the current stock of medications delivered via intramuscular or intravenous is effective.
“We don’t see the need to legalise marijuana as a way to manage pain at the present moment. We have adequate medication which can be administered intramuscularly or intravenously to act immediately,” he told The Brief.
This comes after a directive from the Cabinet in 2022 tasked the Ministry with investigating whether there was a demand for cannabis for medicinal use and the health risks associated with its use. This came amid proposals for the commercial cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use.
On the other hand, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday signed into law the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, which legalises the private use of cannabis.
The legislation was signed into law, but dealing with cannabis remains prohibited.
Over the past five years, nine other African countries have passed laws to legalise production for medical and scientific purposes. These include Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, Eswatini, Rwanda and Morocco.
Hemp cultivation and production, according to South Africa government estimates, has the potential to create 25,000 jobs.
The global market for medical cannabis is currently estimated at N$2.76 quadrillion (US$150 billion) and could reach N$5 quadrillion (US$272 billion) in 2028, according to Barclays Bank.
Cannabis is believed to have numerous medicinal benefits and can be used in the treatment and pain management of cancer, glaucoma, HIV-AIDS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cerebral palsy, headaches, multiple sclerosis, anorexia, and schizophrenia, among others.
