Zimbabwe to legalize hemp

In early August, Zimbabwe announced its intention to legalize hemp in the near future. The country is seeking to repeal laws prohibiting the industrial cultivation of hemp, as it seeks to increase export earnings, which would help offset losses linked to the worldwide anti-smoking campaign initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Minister of Information, Monica Mutsvangwa, indicated that tobacco «is currently facing the possibility» of an international ban «due to its harmful effects on health». As Zimbabwe is currently the world's 7th largest tobacco producer, hemp could prove to be a growth driver for the country, along with the currently lucrative mining industry.

Zimbabwe has legalized medical cannabis last May, becoming the second African country to do so. Legalization officials had said they expected sales from medical cannabis exports to reach $7 billion by 2023. In May, medical cannabis company Ivory Medical obtained authorization to cultivate 10 hectares of medical cannabis in a prison, This project is a partnership between Ivory Coast and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. The project is a partnership between Ivory and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, financed in part by NSK Holdings & International Investors and Symtomax companies, who are providing technical and agricultural support.

The country has not yet estimated the potential revenue to be derived from industrial hemp exports, but say they are open to this new market. Zimbabwe's economic situation is troubled, as the country is currently facing a foreign currency conversion problem, which has led to shortages of fuel, medicines and basic products such as bread.