Ghana invited Russia to grow marijuana together

The African Republic of Ghana intends to engage in joint cultivation and production of medical marijuana with Russia, said Samuel Okudzeto Ablaqua, a member of the country’s parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

He recalled that last week Ghanaian authorities legalized marijuana “for pharmaceutical purposes”. “We see that this market has a very large potential and Russia can enter it,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting with the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Sergei Katyrin, RIA Novosti reports.

In response, Katyrin said that he was “not a great marijuana specialist,” but promised to pass this information on to Russian pharmacists.

Ablaqua added that other priority areas of cooperation include field development, hydrocarbon and gold mining. He suggested that Russia start production and “develop trade on the basis of equal partnership.”

In Russia, only technical varieties of hemp are grown, which they do not possess psychotropic effect. According to the Agro-Industrial Association of Cannabis Planters, such crops currently cover about 13,000 hectares.

Marijuana itself in Russia belongs to the first list of prohibited substances. Its legalization in other countries threatens the national security of the country, in accordance with the strategy of the country’s anti-drug policy until 2030, which was signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. He noted that cannabis should be produced in the country to help citizens survive the pain, stress and trauma due to the war with Russia.

Last year, a bill allowing the use of cannabis for medical purposes was submitted to the Ukrainian parliament. The document was supported by the government. At the same time, Health Minister Wiktor Laszko said that the authorities would introduce strict control over marijuana cultivation, production and sale of drugs with cannabinoids. The act should be considered by the end of summer 2023.