Parliament has passed the Cannabis Regulations (Amendment) Bill of 2024 has been successfully.
This bill aims to amend the Cannabis Regulation Act (No. 6 of 2020) with the primary objective of facilitating proper regulation of the locally produced strain of Cannabis Sativa.
It also aims to address operational challenges such as the lack of regulation for locally produced cannabis varieties and the short duration of licenses issued under the Act for cannabis production.
However, during the committee stage of the bill, some members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chose to walk out in disagreement over the need for further consultations before passing the bill.
In an interview with MIJ Online, Peter Dimba, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe South Constituency who introduced the bill, expressed his support for its passage, highlighting its potential to generate approximately $700 million in foreign exchange annually for the country.
Regarding the matter, Richard Chimwendo Banda, the Leader of the House, emphasized the importance of the regulatory authority ensuring that only licensed individuals are involved in the production of local cannabis varieties to prevent misuse of cannabis within the country.