Nigerian Women Speak On Reps’ Move To Legalise Indian Hemp

Nigerian women under the auspices of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) on Monday kicked against the planned legalisation of Cannabis Sativa in the country, stressing that that Indian hemp should not be legalised for any reason.

National President of the NCWS, Mrs Laraba Shoda, who made this position known in a statement in Abuja on Monday, advised individuals who want to use the weed for medical purposes should do so through established legal channels.

Naija News recalls that the House of Representatives had earlier expressed its readiness to legalise the use of Cannabis Sativa in the country owing to the economic benefits derivable from the plant.

“As Nigerian women, we say no to the legalisation of Cannabis Sativa. We already have lots of challenges in the country that are associated with drugs abuse; legalising Cannabis Sativa will further worsen our situation, despite its tremendous benefits. I am sure we are not ready as a nation to handle the legalisation of the weed at this time,” she said.

Shoda said that lots of Nigerian youths including women were involved in drug abuse, adding that legalising the weed would give them the license to do so with impunity.

She maintained that Cannabis Sativa should not yet be legalized given that there is little or no research data on the various areas the plant is cultivated since most people grow them in secrecy in our environment.

“We should rather start with giving relevant stakeholders the mandate to coordinate research across schools of pharmacy in the country to develop validated analytical methods to do quantitative phytochemistry.

“Our conversation as a nation should be centred on what science is required and what scientific capability the country has that might safely drive the legality of the use of Cannabis Sativa in our country,” the NCWS President said.