News that Ghana’s parliament has passed a controversial law allowing the industrial cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes has been generally welcomed.
The recreational use of marijuana remains illegal.
The Supreme Court had earlier overturned the Narcotic Control Commission Amendment Bill, saying that it was not properly debated by MPs.
That ruling upset the Attorney General’s office and the speaker of parliament – but the law was passed after a debate by MPs on Wednesday.
People the BBC spoke to on the streets of the capital, Accra, said it was a positive move, as long as growers were properly overseen.
“We need to control its usage – we should have a system of policing it,” one man said.
This view was echoed by others concerned about young people who smoke cannabis – and the belief it fuels those engaged in criminal activities. (BBC)