BY ADRIAN MWANZA
GOVERNMENT will next year roll out the cultivation of Cannabis which will be limited and restricted to exports and for medical purposes only.
Ministry of Agriculture Director Dr Francisco Miti said that in readiness for implementation of the Iindustrial Hemp Act, the draft regulations on seed had been developed and were going through the normal law-making process.
“According to the Industrial Hemp Act. ZAMRA will provide for licensing of growers, processors, distributors, buyers, exporters of and researchers on industrial hemp,” he said.
Dr Miti said at the moment no one had produced a ZAMRA licence on the same so that it is used to secure seed for crop production of industrial hemp.
“I think production of industrial hemp is very unlikely to start in 2021 and next farming season is a definite yes,” he said.
On May 20, 2021, the government enacted two laws, the Cannabis Act, 2021 and the Industrial Hemp Act, 2021.
Their enactment followed a 2019 cabinet decision to permit the production and export of cannabis for medical and export purposes.
The reform was reportedly driven by the need to boost foreign exchange sources as the industry was worth billions of Dollars.
Government however ensured that companies wishing to trade in Marijuana would be charged US$250, 000 annual licence fees.
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