ABSTRACT
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the cannabacea family, which consists of three primary species: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis. It is commonly known as Hemp or Marijuana, although, Hemp is a term used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain 0.3% or less THC content (by dry weight) with the capabilities to produce crucial resources such as food, rope, clothing, paper, housing material and more while Marijuana is a term used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain more than 0.3% THC (by dry weight) and can induce psychotropic or euphoric effects on the user.
In Nigeria, simply because of the euphoric effects of its variants, the stance towards cannabis has been one of intolerance and several statutes have been enacted and are currently in force to criminalize the use, possession, sale and cultivation of cannabis. They include the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1935, Indian Hemp Act (IHA) 1966, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) 1989 and the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control Act (NAFDAC) 1993
In the light of recent developments in the world such as the economic effects of the globally instituted lockdowns due to Coronavirus and also the embrace of cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind energy which significantly affects the reliance on crude oil; the export of which the Nigerian economy heavily relies on. This paper seeks to examine the need for the decriminalization of cannabis so as to utilize it as a cash crop and consequently, the drafting of a legal framework which will regulate its production, exportation and use, as this will not only be favorable to the Nigerian economy but also curtail the recklessness associated with illegal drug usage.
