Ace broadcaster and host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" Morning Show, Kwami Sefa Kayi has joined the crusade for the legalization of marijuana in Ghana.
The use of marijuana or cannabis, popularly known as wee or the devil's tobacco is against the laws of the country and any person caught in contact with it is dealt with in the court of law.
Despite countries like Uruguay, the United Kingdom and the United States of America legalizing marijuana for its great value to the socio-economic fabric of these countries, Ghana still sees it as an illegal product which when caught, one could face a jail term of 10 years or more.
However, there is a growing advocacy for a national discourse on the usefulness and possible legalization of the plant.
Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt, radio Presenters like Abeiku Santana and Blakk Rasta among others have all called on the Government of Ghana to take a second look at marijuana.
To Kwesi Pratt, Ghana will import wee in 20 years' time if it is not legalized saying "we've seen that it’s useful in the drug market. It is good for hair creams. It is good for body creams and so forth. Why are we not legalizing it? But we’re still using the Police to arrest wee farmers when the real criminals go scot free".
Also commenting on the issue, the 2016 GJA Journalist of the Year, Sefa Kayi stressed that he is an "ardent advocate for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and research purposes," because it serves a good purpose.
He believed the government could put measures in place to control and supervise the use of marijuana, but for it to be outlawed entirely as it stands now, may cost the country hugely in the near future.
According to him, marijuana is useful for medicinal and research purposes, and when put into good use will be a great avenue for socio-economic development.
“I am an advocate for it. So that’s my bias; I am for it...We have what they call social and recreational, that is one leg. I am not for that. There’s a research and medicinal. I am for that. Unfortunately, in our growing up and everything; it’s been social and recreational we’ve looking at. So, we’re programmed to see it as a bad thing but the research and medicinal is a completely different era”, he stated categorically.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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IS THAT ALL YOU COULD ADVOCATE FOR? HENCE OUR SUFFERING ECONOMICALLY. EVEN IN THE ADVANCE COUNTRIES THEY ARE CAUTIOUS IN LEGALISING MARIJUANA EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ALL THE MEDICAL EXPERTISE TO COMBAT ANY ADVERSE EFFECT.WHAT ABOUT US? EVEN A SINGLE AMBULANCE WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY AND ALSO MAINTAIN OUR HOSPITALS. LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL IN ACCRA.WHAT AN IDIOTICCC FOOLISHHHH COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.***barred word***.
Our problem is that our culture is totally wrapped in virtual extremist Christian fundamental values which is totally against alcohol and smoking let alone cannabis. In reality, the truth is that Ghanaians are consuming alcohol and cannabis in copious amounts. We have to be objective and forward looking, truthfully, at the proven benefits of cannabis for things like epilepsy, arthritis, cancer treatment and a whole host of numerous health benefits as well as industrial applications. Ghana has some of the best cannabis strains in the world and this could create employment, tourism and much more opportunities to attract foreign currency.
The best-supported medicinal use of marijuana is as a treatment for chronic pain. There's also strong evidence medical cannabis can help with muscle spasms. It doesn't seem to harm lung capacity, and may even improve it. It may help control epileptic seizures. t also decreases the symptoms of a severe seizure disorder known as Dravet's Syndrome, etc. It should be legalized in Ghana.