Across the world, Marijuana use is widespread among young people. Authorities tagged Marijuana, popularly referred to as weed, Mary Jane or ganja as toxic and urge the public to stay away, but others believe weed is a natural herb with health benefits. In 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize marijuana. However, all sales must go through the federal government, which is supposed to set up a network of dispensaries and determine prices.
According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) in 2009, the highest levels of cannabis production in the world take place on the African continent. Also, a stunning discovery suggests that in the past, the only way the African natives could have learned about marijuana would have been through their contact with outsiders, and the most likely point of contact was the Arabs.
In some African countries like Malawi, cannabis is an economic engine. The “Malawi Gold” locally known as “Chamba” rated among the best and finest” marijuana strains in the world has led to a profound increase in marijuana tourism and economic profit in Malawi. A research study estimates the rate of annual cannabis usage in Africa by people aged 15-64 to be 7.5 percent, almost double the global average of 3.9 percent, and pressure to legalize marijuana is increasing in many African countries.
Lesotho and Zimbabwe have legalized cannabis for medical use and last year in September, South Africa legalized the private use of cannabis. The decision allows adults to consume cannabis in private and grow marijuana for private consumption. Recently, in Ghana, there have been calls on the government to legalize marijuana by some advocates claiming it would help improve the current economic situation in Ghana. Lately, many countries have begun to tap into the marijuana industry for profits following the global rise in its use, and there’s pressure on several African governments to venture into commercial production of the lucrative substance.(Flash Africa)
