The Industrial Hemp Bill 2022 was passed in the National Assembly last night in the absence of the opposition APNU+AFC, and with several speakers extolling the virtue and profitability of this variety of the cannabis sativa family.
Championed by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who had introduced the bill on May, 5, 2022, the legislation now decriminalises hemp, paving the way for crop production in Regions 10 and Six. Mustapha noted that hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use and over the years there have been increased calls for its decriminalization as it makes a strong resurgence worldwide.