Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is reported to be opposed to the proposal by several government agencies that included cabinet to have a nod to planting, processing and export of Marijuana products.
However, as she drags her feet, it has emerged that on December 7, 2017, Uganda exported unrefined cannabis buds/ flowers to South Africa’s National Analytical Forensic Services in Pretoria. The order to Industrial Hemp (U) Ltd, a private company, was valued at $10,000 (Shs37.1m).
According to Eagleonline, a top army general bypassed Dr. Aceng and planted his Marijuana in one of the districts in North West and it is from this garden that Uganda has been carrying out tests before full scale production kicks off.
Uganda is set to export medical marijuana products to Europe and other countries in the west.
According to WebMD, a global website that provides health information, states that the greatest amount of evidence for the therapeutic effects of cannabis relate to its ability to reduce chronic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and spasticity (tight or stiff muscles)
Also read about the laws on Marijuana:the-narcotic-drugs-and-psychotropic-substances-control-Act(4)
The news about the exportation of medical marijuana products came as a five-member cabinet committee met this morning to discuss the dangers and benefits of medical marijuana.
The committee chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, includes Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng, Trade (Amelia Kyambadde), Finance (Matia Kasaija), Agriculture (Vincent Ssempijja), and Internal Affairs (Gen Jeje Odongo).
About 20 companies have so far sent letters to Dr Aceng requesting to grow marijuana for medical purposes.
The Cabinet sub-committee was tasked to look at the health and financial benefits from medical marijuana, one of the money-spinning, but highly sensitive ventures. The committee is expected to table its findings to Cabinet on May 15.
However, sources say that apart from Dr. Aceng, the rest of the members have approved Marijuana business. It is said that Dr. Aceng is reportedly under pressure from major drug dealers who supply drugs to Uganda that with the Marijuana business, their products won’t be marketable. Other sources allege that Dr Aceng is judgmental to the Marijuana because of her being ‘born again’. It is said that in one of her submissions, she asked what kind of explanation was she going to give to the religious leaders if their heard that she participated in a meeting that legalized Marijuana business.
President Museveni constituted the five member team and also instructed Dr. Rugunda to work with Dr Aceng and look into the medical components of cannabis.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2015 was duly passed by Cabinet before it went to Parliament and therefore, allows the growth and legal transaction of Marijuana for medical use. However, under same teams and conditions, the same Heath Minister is required to give written consent to verified drug growers and that is why Dr. Aceng believes she can pull a rag on the projects.
Uganda stands to ripe big from the tax as a result of exportation of Marijuana business and employment opportunities for the local population.
