Former Boss of Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Akrasi Sarpong, has vehemently endorsed and defended the legalization of Marijuana (Wee).

Marijuana, also known as ‘cannabis’, ‘wee’ or Indian hemp’, is widely used in Ghana, despite being banned.

According to Mr Sarpong, a “virtual legalisation” of marijuana was already in place as the drug could be found in cosmetics and hair products used by women in the country.

“There are about 80% of people who smoke weed so why do people think those who smoke marijuana go mad.

“We can get a lot more products from marijuana than cocoa, marijuana doesn’t kill, we can use it for commercial purposes which Ghana can make a lot of money from,” he exclusively told Kwame Tutu on Anopa Nkomo on Accra based Kingdom FM 107.7

To him, what many knew then has been modified significantly at the moment making it good for legalization in the aspect of profit making.

He described the fear of international condemnation as akin to “the ostrich hiding his head in the sand” because marijuana is everywhere you go.

However, the Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Authority, Dr Kwasi Osei has said the public should desist from using marijuana to avoid mental disorders and other negative consequences.

‘Weed smoking leads to mental disorders and other negative implications so let’s avoid its usage.’

Rastafarians Council of Ghana Public Relations Officer, Kofi Asante reiterated Marijuana or cannabis, is the “most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, and other countries and legalising it in Ghana will be a good idea.

Uganda has secured a contract to export medical marijuana products to Canada and Germany worth more than $140 million in June.

The former NACOB boss said proper regulation of marijuana will help stem abuse of the drug among the youth and help generate additional revenue for the state.

He said the use of marijuana cut across all aspects of the Ghanaian society and had assumed such an alarming rate that it was being grown in many villages in the 10 regions.

In some cases, he said, farmers were planting cannabis instead of foodstuffs.