A bill to legalize cultivation of Marijuana (Indian hemp) in Nigeria has passed its second reading in the Nigerian House of Representatives.
Legal practitioner, Dr. Tonye Jaja Clinton disclosed this during a media parley organized by Grow Cann Africa in Abuja on the benefits and opportunities of cannabis plants and CBD oil.
Clinton who revealed that the bill is sponsored by Princess Miriam Onuoha, the lawmaker representing Okigwe North of Imo State, added that Nigeria has a lot to gain economically if the bill is passed into law.
At the moment, Marijuana (Indian hemp) Act further clarifies the situation – stating that possession of the substance is an offence, which can be punished with “imprisonment for a term of not less than four years”.
And anyone who imports or sells cannabis is considered “guilty of an offence”. If caught, they can be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of “not less than 21 years”. Likewise, any offender caught exporting the substance out of Nigeria is also subject to a 21-year prison term.