In a recent appearance before the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, Uganda's Minister for Internal Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire, reaffirmed his support for the legalization of medical marijuana and khat (miraa). The committee is currently examining the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, 2023, which includes miraa and marijuana, among other substances, in the list of prohibited drugs.
Minister Otafiire clarified that his support is limited to the medical use of these substances and does not extend to recreational use.
"I am advocating for the legalization of cannabis for medical use; the other cannabis used by my friends, the Rastas, I also do not support." He emphasized
Regarding miraa, he expressed concerns that Uganda is missing out on significant international market revenue by prohibiting its sale, unlike neighboring Kenya, which reportedly earns millions of dollars through the export of these chewy leaves.
Minister Otafiire cited Kenya's success, stating,
"My colleagues in Kenya tell me they earn US$120 million from exporting miraa to Somalia; this amount constitutes a quarter of what we earn from coffee exports."
Moreover, the minister pointed out that Uganda's ban on miraa goes against international practices, stating, "Miraa is not a banned substance according to the international community; it is a tradable substance."
During the committee session, concerns were raised about differentiating between legal and illegal marijuana, with fears that this could create confusion and complicate the work of law enforcement agencies. Committee Chairman Hon. Wilson Kajwengye expressed his concerns, stating, "Ugandans will not be able to distinguish the dangerous from the harmless; how can we tell people out there that this is good and this is bad? It’s all cannabis, and it impairs the mind."
Officials from Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital appeared before the committee on Thursday and opposed the proposal to legalize marijuana and miraa, citing potential mental health risks and their contribution to mental illnesses among consumers.
Kepher Kuchana, the Director of Government Analytical Laboratories, presented the committee with the pros and cons of marijuana, suggesting that it would be better to legalize it strictly for medicinal purposes under the supervision of licensed farmers. He highlighted various benefits of cannabis, including relaxation, stress relief, insecticidal properties, and its potential as an anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-epileptic, and dermocosmetic agent.
However, he also acknowledged the temporary impairments on memory, attention, cognitive function, coordination, balance, and reaction time associated with higher doses. He also noted potential mental health risks, such as anxiety disorders and psychosis, particularly for individuals predisposed to these conditions.
The committee will now draft its report and is expected to present its findings to Parliament next week. The handling of the bill by the committee follows the annulment of a similar Act by the Constitutional Court, which criticized Parliament for passing the previous bill without the required quorum.
