Recent statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, that there should be a national debate on whether the use of marijuana should be officially legalized in Ghana, has earned commendation from the Rastafari Council, Ghana.
“It is the view of the Rastafari Council, Ghana that if government
were to decriminalize cannabis use, the savings to be made from the
raids on farms and other places could be used for other more pressing
activities of the law enforcement agencies.
“In addition to this, government stands to gain from the taxes both farmers and sellers would pay. Research into the other uses of the cannabis plant will also lead to other socio-economic benefits. The Council has therefore endorsed the call for the debate and is prepared to participate in any such debate that may be set up for the purposes. It is also prepared to engage the media on the same matter of decriminalization,” the council noted in a press statement.
According to Mr. Sarpong, there is a “virtual legalization” of marijuana among all sectors of Ghana’s society that the state of affairs is making nonsense of the fight against the drug; therefore the need to take an official position either for or against its use.
He further accused the country of refusing to face reality and accepting the fact that some law enforcement agents are taking advantage of the situation to fatten their private pockets.
This concern came in as a result of many country saying marijuana should be legalized.This calls for a debate between the NACOB Boss and the Rastafari Council.
BBC, for instance, reported that the US state of Colorado collected $2m (£1.2m) in taxes from newly legalised recreational marijuana businesses in January this year.
The report said in total, 59 marijuana firms filed tax returns on an estimated $14m in sales and that overall, the State collected a total of $3.5m in marijuana taxes if medical marijuana firms are included.
“In addition to this, government stands to gain from the taxes both farmers and sellers would pay. Research into the other uses of the cannabis plant will also lead to other socio-economic benefits. The Council has therefore endorsed the call for the debate and is prepared to participate in any such debate that may be set up for the purposes. It is also prepared to engage the media on the same matter of decriminalization,” the council noted in a press statement.
According to Mr. Sarpong, there is a “virtual legalization” of marijuana among all sectors of Ghana’s society that the state of affairs is making nonsense of the fight against the drug; therefore the need to take an official position either for or against its use.
He further accused the country of refusing to face reality and accepting the fact that some law enforcement agents are taking advantage of the situation to fatten their private pockets.
This concern came in as a result of many country saying marijuana should be legalized.This calls for a debate between the NACOB Boss and the Rastafari Council.
BBC, for instance, reported that the US state of Colorado collected $2m (£1.2m) in taxes from newly legalised recreational marijuana businesses in January this year.
The report said in total, 59 marijuana firms filed tax returns on an estimated $14m in sales and that overall, the State collected a total of $3.5m in marijuana taxes if medical marijuana firms are included.
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