Cannabis in Namibia is illegal for recreational and medicinal uses, but cannabis, just like mandrax (methaqualone), are the most popular illicit drugs in the country.[1] Cannabis also has an history of use as a traditional medicine[2][3][4][5] by local indigenous communities. Per the 2011 UNODC report, the incidence of annual cannabis usage in Namibia was 3.9% as of 2000.[6]
Terminology
The term dagga or dakha ("grass") is common for cannabis, with a cannabis cigarette termed a zol or joint.[7]
Laws and policies
Proposed legislation
Around 2007, the Combating the Abuse of Drugs Act was proposed in Namibia, proposed to offer a 20 year jail sentence even for first-time drug offense, regardless of drug type or quantity. Protests were raised against the proposal, particularly by Namibia's creative class and Rastafarian community.[8][9]
Legal cannabis exports
In 2015 it was announced that Australian mining firm Erin Resources had acquired rights to grow medical cannabis in Namibia.[10]
Task-force on cannabis reforms
In late 2020, a governmental task force was established to consult on the eventual regulation and controlled use of cannabis in Namibia,[11][12] including a public consultation process open from 12 to 22 November 2020.[13] The Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia (CHAN)[14] was constituted, with support from the Dagga Couple of neighbouring South Africa,[15] to represent voices[11] of the communities of people who use or grow cannabis and hemp in the country.[16]
References
- ^ Stephen C. Adkisson; Osei G. Kofi; Tony Figueira (1995). Children in Namibia: Reaching Towards the Rights of Every Child. Social Sciences Division, University of Namibia.
- ^ Balogun, FO; Ashafa, AOT (2019). "A Review of Plants Used in South African Traditional Medicine for the Management and Treatment of Hypertension". Planta Medica. 85 (4): 312–334. doi:10.1055/a-0801-8771. PMID 30477041.
- ^ Kaya, Hassan O (2017). "Biodiversity, Traditional Medicine and Public Health Care in Eastern and Southern Africa". Botswana Journal of African Studies. 31 (1, Suppl. 1).
- ^ Wambebe, Charles, ed. (2018). African Indigenous Medical Knowledge and Human Health. ISBN 9781032095806.
- ^ Stafford, Gary I.; Pedersen, Mikael E.; Van Staden, Johannes; Jäger, Anna K. (2008-10-28). "Review on plants with CNS-effects used in traditional South African medicine against mental diseases". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 119 (3): 513–537. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.08.010. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 18775771.
- ^ World Drug Report 2011. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Cannabis stats are from Chapter 6.1.1.3. Consumption: Annual prevalence of Cannabis, p. 217. "Sources: Annual Reports Questionnaires, Academic Researches, Concise International Chemical Assessment Documents (CICAD), Government Reports, European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports (INCSR)."
- ^ "Marijuana problem in northern Namibia". Southernafrican.news. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
- ^ "Africa: Proposed Draconian Drug Law in Namibia Runs Into Intense Opposition". StoptheDrugWar.org. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
- ^ "Public gets on high horse over new drug law". The Namibian. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
- ^ Cole Latimer (2015-07-22). "Miners gets new permits to grow marijuana | Mining Australia". Australianmining.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
- ^ a b "Namibia sets tup task force to consider cannabis legalisation". Medical Brief. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Namibian, The. "Dagga legalisation talks back on the table". The Namibian. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ "Namibia Cannabis Legalization | Cannabiz Africa | Marijuana Reform". Cannabiz Africa. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ "Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia". CHAN. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ Namibian, The. "SA pro-cannabis activists to visit Namibia". The Namibian. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ "Cannabis in Namibia: an Interview with Angela Prusa – Canna Tech Global". Retrieved 2021-05-19.