Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has signalled a willingness to engage in conversations about legalising cannabis oil for medicinal purposes.
Thank you for reading this post; don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
“For us at the NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue,” declared Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Marwa’s openness came during a high-level stakeholders workshop on Wednesday in Abuja, where scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and law enforcement officials gathered to examine whether Nigeria should join the growing list of nations legalising cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes.
The workshop, organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) and themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria,” brought together scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators to examine scientific evidence on therapeutic uses of cannabis oil, international regulatory best practices, and Nigeria’s current legal landscape.
Marwa’s statement comes despite the agency’s aggressive enforcement record, having seized approximately ten million kilogrammes of cannabis over the past four and a half years. However, the NDLEA chief noted that law enforcement actions do not preclude scientific exploration of the plant’s potential benefits.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, represented by Dr. Samuel Adekola, Consultant on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investment, observed that global perceptions of cannabis are evolving, with countries increasingly balancing prohibition with controlled legalisation frameworks.
The governor stated that advocacy for cannabis legalisation should not be misconstrued as promoting unrestricted access. “Let me be clear that our passionate call in favour of cannabis legalisation in Nigeria is not equivalent to a free-for-all call,” Aiyedatiwa clarified, insisting on frameworks prioritising public health, youth protection, abuse prevention, and responsible medical supervision.
He advocated for comprehensive regulation, including transparent licensing systems, monitoring mechanisms, and law enforcement strategies to prevent diversion to illicit markets. The governor also highlighted potential economic opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors while addressing historical injustices from disproportionate criminalisation under previous laws.
“The time has come for Nigeria to be guided by science,” Aiyedatiwa declared, calling for evidence-based policy development rather than ideological positions.
President of NAS, Professor Abubakar Sambo, who was represented by the vice president, Professor Friday Okonofua, called for more proactive consideration of cannabis regulation, recognising Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s largest producers and users of the substance despite its illegal status. Sambo noted that emerging research suggests cannabis could contribute to social development while acknowledging potentially severe negative effects.
“Several studies have come out indicating that we should be more proactive and more reform-oriented in the way we consider cannabis because it could be useful for helping social development. In contrast, we also have to look at the negative side effects, which could be very daunting in this particular country,” Sambo stated.
Marwa stressed that any policy decisions must be grounded in facts rather than commercial interests or global trends. “We believe that Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests or global trends,” he stated, acknowledging that while cannabis oil may possess medicinal properties worth investigating, it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety.
Chairman of the NAS Consensus Study Committee on Cannabis Oil and Use in Nigeria, Professor Musbau Akanji, pointed out the importance of evidence-based approaches to guide the legalisation debate. He explained that NAS constituted the committee comprising experts across relevant fields to evaluate contributions from various quarters seeking cannabis oil legalisation.
“The experts are supposed to present evidence that will be collated to assist in carrying out the responsibility of NAS,” Akanji said, commending NDLEA for seeking expert input to evaluate both advantages and disadvantages of legalising cannabis oil use.
The workshop objectives included examining scientific evidence on cannabis oil’s therapeutic applications, reviewing international regulatory best practices for production and distribution, assessing Nigeria’s current legal and policy landscape, and generating context-specific recommendations for informed policymaking.
The NDLEA chairman cautioned that any eventual policy framework must prioritise protecting lives and public health without undermining ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse. “This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence and weigh options carefully,” Marwa explained.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/3I7mQVx
Or scan the QR code:
