NACOC Partners with CSIR to Deepen Collaboration on the Regulated Cannabis Industry
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to position Ghana to benefit from the emerging industrial and medicinal potential of low-THC cannabis.
The initiative focuses on cannabis containing not more than 0.3 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), commonly known as hemp, with emphasis on research, cultivation, processing, traceability and the development of industrial and medicinal products.
Speaking during a meeting with officials of the CSIR, the Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, said the Commission was determined to ensure that Ghana maximised the economic, industrial and medicinal benefits of the regulated cannabis sector while protecting public safety.
He said NACOC would strictly enforce the regulatory framework governing the cultivation and use of cannabis within the approved THC threshold.
According to the Director-General, regulation of the sector required more than issuing licences to farmers, stressing the need for effective monitoring of the entire value chain, from seed selection and cultivation to processing and final use.
He also emphasised the importance of scientific research, reliable laboratory testing and traceability in ensuring that the regulated cannabis industry developed safely and sustainably.
The Director of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, Dr Francis Boateng Agyeinim, said Ghana could leverage its agricultural and scientific capabilities to develop a viable hemp industry.
He said the sector had potential to create opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, medicine and other emerging industries, adding that CSIR was ready to provide the technical expertise required to support its development.
Dr Agyeinim identified traceability of licensed farms as a critical component of the regulatory process and said the CSIR could assist NACOC in developing systems to monitor cultivation and production.
He said research conducted by the CSIR had shown potential for the cultivation of high-fibre hemp in Ghana, which could serve as a raw material for products such as alternative plastic packaging and sanitary materials.
Under the proposed collaboration, NACOC and CSIR will establish model greenhouse farms to demonstrate best practices in low-THC cannabis cultivation and undertake research into suitable seedlings and growing conditions.
The institutions will also conduct soil testing to identify suitable locations for cultivation and undertake laboratory research into the properties and potential medicinal and industrial applications of hemp.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
