WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING?

The licensing of weed has not been suspended as earlier said by Deputy Finance Minister, Terence Mukupe. This was said by Health Minister,...

The licensing of weed has not been suspended as earlier said by Deputy Finance Minister, Terence Mukupe.

This was said by Health Minister, David Parirenyatwa who said prospective growers can continue submitting their applications.

“There has been some miscommunication from different sources which has caused misunderstanding with regards to Government’s position to create a framework through legislation, in which the growing processing and marketing of cannabis and its products for medicinal and research use, by duly licensed and monitored entities is legalised.

“SI62 of 2018 whose parent Act is the Dangerous Drugs Act (chapter 15:02) puts the legal framework for this,” said Dr Parirenyatwa. He said this statutory instrument has therefore neither been repealed nor its implementation been suspended.

“The relevant licensing entity for the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is fine tuning the necessary further guidelines to help in operationalising of this SI from a regulatory point of view,” said Parirenyatwa.

He said Government further recognises the fact that work on actual production of cannabis and its products required a multi-sectoral approach, which include several ministries and agencies.
Dr Parirenyatwa emphasised that Zimbabwe was legalising mbanje growing only for medicinal purposes.