The Malawian parliament has just passed a bill that allows the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes by its citizens. Cannabis has been known to be incorporated into different products and have amazing results for health and even construction.
Cannabis contains cannabidiol CBD which is a chemical that impacts the brain, making it function better without giving it a high along with delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol THC which has pain relieving properties. Both substances can be extracted and enhanced for use through short path distillation.
According to a Harvard Health medical school health blog post written by Peter Grinspoon, The most common use for medical marijuana, in the United States, is for pain control. While marijuana isn’t strong enough for severe pain (for example, post-surgical pain or a broken bone), it is quite effective for the chronic pain that plagues millions of Americans, especially as they age.
The cannabis bill was first brought to parliament by former Lawmaker Boniface Kadzamira in 2014 but he faced strong opposition from members. Malawi is now one of five southern African countries — along with Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho and South Africa — that have legalized industrial hemp. South Africa went a step further in 2018 by decriminalizing recreational use of cannabis.
This move for Malawi could be undertaken to increase the diversity in terms of the country’s agriculture. It has so many by-products of industrial hemp including fiber for construction. There are all products that can be derived from that plant and can make the Malawi people veer from tobacco production and growing which has been on a steady decline due to the anti-smoking campaigns accompanied by healthy living awareness increase. People just do not desire to smoke as much as they used to and they now care more about their health!
Researchers say industrial hemp has a very low amount of the substance in marijuana which makes people high hence the allegations posed by religious and health fanatics claiming it will raise a nation of a people who are a bunch of hooligans. The product is set to bring much economical difference to the economy.
Malawian President Peter Mutharika has until March 19 to sign the cannabis bill into law. The president has not indicated what he will do.
By Rading’ Nyamwaya