Medicinal Marijuana: NDLEA Disowns Akeredolu
Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd.) has distanced Nigeria Anti-Drug agency from statement made by Osun State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu with respect to introduction of medical marijuana in Nigeria during their visit to Thailand.
It would be recalled that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was in Thailand last week in company with the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Muhammad Abdallah, for a programme tagged, ‘Medicinal Cannabis Extract Development’, had said the state government was planning to take advantage of the commercial and medicinal value of the plant to create jobs for the youth.
He had called on the Federal Government to support the growing of cannabis in large quantities in Ondo, saying Indian hemp business would help boost the state Internally Generated Revenue.
The NDLEA Boss in a statement made available to NewRangers Online however distanced the Agency from Akeredolu’s position, stressing that that the news making the rounds on the media that he went to Thailand with Akeredolu to learn how to grow Cannabis sativa for medicinal purpose or economic gain is total misinformation.
Mustapha who said at no point did he make any remark in favour of the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of Cannabis while in Thailand, categorically denounced the misleading information, adding that at no point did he make any remark in favour of the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of Cannabis while in Thailand.
According to him, “First and foremost, the purpose of the visit to Thailand is to understudy how the country (Thailand) has successfully migrated some of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit Poppy plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses. Thailand’s model, referred to as Sustainable Alternative Development (SAD) is the direction the entire world is heading and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. The United Nations regards Thailand as the incubator of SAD of sorts.
“Thailand is known widely as a success story in alternative livelihood development for building alternative income in farming coffee, tea, fruits and crafts which have helped in eradicating opium production. “The Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand which implements the Doi Tung Development Project has curbed the growth of poppy through this process. This subsequently has banished opium in Thailand. Nigeria seeks to achieve a similar feat in the eradication of cannabis.
“Sometime last year, NDLEA and Oyo State Government visited the Foundation in Thailand and the lesson learnt is already transforming the cannabis cultivation landscape in Oyo State where the Government forests used for illegal cannabis cultivation have been acquired for a chain of agricultural activities, which gainfully engages the hitherto cannabis farmers.”
He disclosed that NDLEA under his leadership has been consistent in Nigerians opposition to legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, adding that for example that, Operation Thunderstorm undertaken by Ondo State Command of NDLEA destroyed 3,900.73 hectares of cannabis sativa planted in forest reserves.
“Similarly, I make bold to state, Nigeria’s staunch opposition to legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes was restated at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, (CND), roundtable just recently concluded in Vienna, March this year. Not only that, Nigeria canvassed for the position that status quo ante be maintained while decisions are made by the UN to alter the Single Convention of 1961 under which cannabis falls. These decisions are yet to be made.
“Lastly, both Nigeria and Thailand still abide by that same Single Convention of 1961 involving cannabis. While I do not hold brief for Thailand, it is instructive to state that what research is conducted by them in order to confirm medical benefits of cannabis is done by seeds imported under their government control from Spain.
“And for the records, only 100 (One Hundred) seedlings have been planted, still awaiting their growth, not to talk of research being conducted on them. It is inaccurate therefore to say Thailand has approved the medical use of cannabis. This fact can be verified from Thai Embassy in Nigeria.
“Once again, Nigeria’s position against the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis till remains in conformity with our laws – Cap N30 LFN 2004. NDLEA’s mandate is to implement the laws, no more no less,” stated.
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Posted by News Rangers
on May 20 2019. Filed under National.
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