We want marijuana economy – Fighters

The government of Ghana should legalise marijuana to harness its economic benefits, the Economic Fighters League (Fighters) has said.

TheFighters have, therefore, thrown their weight behind the marijuana decriminalisation march scheduled for the 26 June 2019 which is organised by the Rastafarian Council of Ghana.

“It is our considered view that marijuana has tremendous economic potential that farmers can harness to improve their livelihood. The state also stands to gain economically from it,” the statement issued by Fighter-General, Hardi Yakubu, stated.

The group is advocating the repeal of the law criminalising marijuana cultivation and trading.

For the group, the upcoming peaceful march is important in drawing the world’s attention to the economic, medicinal and industrial potential of the commodity.

“All well-meaning Ghanaians are called upon to participate in the marijuana debate dispassionately and to seek more information on how it could contribute to their own economic freedom as well as that of the country as a whole. We call on all to show up and join the march on 26 June,” the statement added.

The recent discussions about decriminalising cannabis emanated from a Facebook Post by Danquah Institute founder, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.

The private legal practitioner said Ghana must not be shy in having a national debate about whether or not to cash in on the marijuana economy, which is booming as country after country decriminalises the use of the herb for medicinal purposes.

Using a recent report by Forbes about the Church of England’s investment foray into the marijuana business with its $10.5 billion Fund as a fillip, Mr Otchere-Darko asked: “Are we going to have a debate (constructive and mature kind) about Ghana cashing in on the new legitimate cannabis trade for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, etc?”

The Marijuana Business Daily, for instance, has projected that the U.S cannabis industry could pump nearly $80 billion on an annual basis into the nation’s economy by 2022.

Also, the daily said estimates published in the newly-released Marijuana Business Factbook show the total economic impact of legal marijuana sales increased from $20 billion – $23 billion in 2017 to $63 billion – $77 billion by 2022 – a 223% increase.

By comparison, the $77 billion figure is similar to the 2017 gross domestic product of New Hampshire, which stands at $81 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Marijuana Business Daily reported.

In the view of Mr Asare Otchere-Darko, Ghana must have “a clean debate on the merits and demerits of Ghana being part of this economy”.