The use of Marijuana or Cannabis, known in Ghana as wee or the devil's tobacco has been outlawed in the country, but it appears there is growing advocacy for a national discourse on the usefulness of the herb, and its possible legalization.
Countries like Uruguay, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have legalized marijuana to be put into good use.
Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt is appealing to the Government of Ghana to give legal validity or sanction to marijuana use because of its potential useful purpose in enhancing Ghana's economy.
According to Mr. Pratt, research has proven that marijuana is significant to the health and cosmetic sector of an economy.
There has been increasing discussion in public circles on the tenets of legalization of marijuana in Ghana.
Unfortunately, most of the discussions in the public have all been based on moral justification and exaggeration of the effects of the marijuana plant with scientific evidence thrown out of the window.
But contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo on Tuesday, September 18, he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that "the plant is used for medicinal purposes among others" and thus wants the government to "consider legalizing marijuana since its economic potential for the country was huge".
He recounted that about 20 States in the US have already legalized it and encouraged its residents to grow the plant, hence generating huge revenues for the country.
He wondered why Ghana has not yet woken up to the reality that it stands to be the winner through the foreign exchange generated from the cultivation and exportation of wee.
Taking into account the recreational use of marijuana by some Ghanaians, Mr Pratt said he believed the government can control the smoking and abuse of the psychoactive drug.
He warned if the government doesn't seize the opportunity to go into "wee farming, Ghana will import it in the next 20 years" at the country’s cost.
“We’ve seen that it’s useful in the drug market. It is good for hair creams. It is good for body creams and so forth. Why are we not legalizing it? But we’re still using the Police to arrest wee farmers when the real criminals go scot free. As it stands now, Ghana risks importing wee in 20 years’ time,” he stated.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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If you want to smoke weed then go to the country that legalize it and smoke as much as you want. ***barred word***
"He wondered why Ghana has not yet woken up to the reality that it stands to be the winner through the foreign exchange generated from the cultivation and exportation of wee".OK, LET'S WAIT UNTIL ALL THE STATES IN AMERIKA HAVE LEGALIZED IT BEFORE WE CONSIDER YOUR PROPOSAL.
I am so sorry for those commenting badly about the Legalization of weed. Try and find the other uses of weed apart from smoking it. Alcohol is far dangerous than weed, yet . its okay and the private companies are making money from it. If we should have legalized weed and used it wisely, we wouldnt have been in this situation. Yet others only think about the bad side of it. Eg.. How many die from cars...thousands... yet we continue using it.. There is a law which says.. if you drink alcohol, dont drive... is there any for smoking.. no.. We need to grow up and think wisely.. A hammer in the hands of a carpenter will do a good job, but if you give the same hammer to an armed robber, he will commit crime.. so lets stop thinking shallow and think Deep... I REPRESENT THE LEGALIZATION OF WEED IN GHANA
Legalize it!!! America was the first to ban wee/marijuana, and all other countries followed. Now America and all the developed countries have legalized it again. Are we going to wait 100 years after the developed countries have legalized it before we legalize wee. Do we have to always fall behind? South Africa has why cant we? The developed countries have legalized it, why not us?
GYIMIIIFO)KWASI PRATT.
is it not the same pratt who were going round the hole world just to disgrace the then candidate Nana Addo of this same (weed)
THIS FOOOOLLL WILL NEVER AMUZE ME.YOU WANT NANA ADDO TO LEGALISE WEE AND YOU WILL COME BACK TO CONDEMM THE GOVERNMENT FOR LEGALIZING IT.
why didn't u tell JDM to legalize weed? adabraka Massa kwasi Pratt
See what tramadol is doing to the youth and you there talking about wee LEGALIZATION. please senior men even if you are smoking it must you display the ganjality in you. this is serious, when it becomes serious don't think your children and grand kids will be spared because they can be influenced . PLEASE THINK TWICE
Hypocrite Kwesi Pratt we were all here in this country when u were accusing Akuffo Addo to be a ***barred word***, that when he wakes up in the morning there will be smoke all over his head. Now u no the importance of wee. wonders will never end. fake journalist