The Rastafari Council of Ghana is affirming its stand on the calls for decriminalization of cannabis in Ghana.

In contributing to the debate for the call for decriminalization of the use of marijuana, the Rastafari Council is calling for the support of the general public for the decriminalization due to the fact that the plant is a remedy for several ailments.

The economic potential of cultivating marijuana for both textile, medical and recreational purposes is immense.

The Rastafari Council therefore applauds Mr Akrasi Sarpong, (Executive Secretary of NACOB) and others including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Head of Ghana’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit David SelomHukportie, who are advocating for the decriminalization or legalization of the natural herb plant called marijuana or ‘wee’ as it is locally called.

We are therefore using this medium to indicate our firm stand on the continued call for decriminalization/legalization of marijuana and request that all those who are currently in custody without bail be granted bail immediately in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court on bail for narcotic offenses. The Rastafari Council of Ghana strongly supports the calls for decriminalization of the herb and repeats its call for the formation of a commission to regulate the trade in and use of marijuana immediately.

Decriminalizing will help the police to prioritize their operations and also assist the justice system to reduce the number of cases the courts have to deal with. Cannabis offences will no longer require the courts to deliberate over them.

This will save the courts valuable time in dealing with more serious cases and save the taxpayers money that would have been spent on prosecuting individuals for cannabis offences.

Decriminalizing will have a positive impact on the overcrowding problem being experienced at the prison facilities in Ghana as all persons imprisoned for cannabis offences SHOULD BE FREED by granting them amnesty once the decriminalization law is passed.