Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives at the plenary, on Thursday, were divided over a Bill seeking to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act 2004 to confer additional responsibility of the power to grant and revoke licences for the cultivation of Cannabis for medicinal purposes, This Day reports.
This Day said the proposed legislation, which was stepped down at the plenary Wednesday in order to consolidate it with similar bill, was sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Hon. Olumide Osoba.
On Thursday, the Bill was presented for second reading after it was consolidated with Hon. Miriam Onuoha’s bill, tilted: ‘Bill for an Act to Decriminalise the Growth and Use of Cannabis, to Establish a System for the Registration and licensing of Cannabis Growers.’
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The co-sponsor, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, leading the debate on its general principles, informed his colleagues on the plethora of medicinal benefits attributed to Cannabis such as pain control, weight loss, cancer treatment etc.
He said the Bill seeks to establish and regulate the safe use of Cannabis as a source of medicinal treatment in medical centres, adding that Nigerians shouldn’t live in denial on the benefits while they go outside and import it, in medical form, from Germany, Australia etc.
On the financial implication, Kalu, who is also the House spokesman, said that NDLEA is an existing agency of government and if the bill is passed into law, it will not bring additional cost to the government.
Speaking against the bill, Hon. Nicholas Ossai noted that Nigeria is a signatory to the international treaty of nations on the ban on Cannabis.
He queried the authenticity of the statement that Cannabis can cure cancer, or that it can be efficiently regulated when allowed to be legally administered.
Countering Ossai’s view, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reminded Ossai that where exists conflicts of laws and treaties, laws always take preeminence, especially when the treaties are not fully domesticated.
Gbajabiamila stated that the bill did not repeal any existing law, adding that it will allow experts to contribute at the public hearing if Cannabis can treat the mentioned illnesses.