Zambia legalizes production of medical cannabis for export

Dora Siliya, a spokesperson for the Zambian government, announced Monday that Zambia has legalized the production and export of medical marijuana.

«I would like to confirm that the firm … has given its agreement in principle … for the cultivation, processing, and export of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes,» said Dora Siliya.

The decision was made during a special Cabinet meeting on December 4, attended by representatives from the ministries of Justice, Defense, the Interior, Finance, Commerce, Agriculture, and Health, among others.

Dora Siliya stated that the government had tasked the Ministry of Health with coordinating the issuance of the necessary licenses, while a technical committee composed of ministers from various departments would develop guidelines.

Zambia's motivation stems from a large budget deficit and a heavy debt burden. The rise in external debt to $10.5 billion at the end of 2018, up from $8.74 billion a year earlier, has raised fears that the country is heading toward a crisis.

Zambia revised its growth forecast for 2019 downward in September, as bad weather affected agricultural production and electricity generation, while the International Monetary Fund stated that growth is expected to remain moderate over the medium term.

Peter Sinkamba, president of Zambia’s opposition Green Party, who has been advocating for cannabis exports since 2013, said this decision could bring in up to $36 billion a year for Zambia.

«Depending on how it's done, it could simply change the face of the Zambian economy,» he declared Sinkamba. «It could be a blessing or a curse, just like diamonds and gold, depending on the political stance.»

Zambia had announced in 2017 legalize the personal cultivation of medical cannabis provided that a license is obtained from the Ministry of Health. In May 2017, however, the Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, had declared that he had no intention whatsoever of issuing cultivation licenses. Theoretically, therefore, the use of medical cannabis is still a criminal offense in Zambia.