8.10.2025
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) chairman Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa rtd said the organisation is open to legalising cannabis oil for its health benefits.
Brig-Gen. Marwa made this known during a workshop organised by Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), to examine scientific evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabis oil.
It also considered international best practices for regulation, production and distribution of cannabis oil, among other parameters.
Marwa said although the agency had made seizures of about ten million kilograms of cannabis in the past four and half years, it was not underrating the power of science to explore its positives.
“For us at the NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple, we welcome dialogue.
“We believe that Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half truths, commercial interests or global trends.
“Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse and implications for public safety.
“This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence and weigh options carefully,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that any policy being enacted should protect lives, save public health and not weaken the fight against drug abuse.
Prof. Abubakar Sambo, President of NAS, said that Nigeria needed to be more proactive in considering the use of proceeds from cannabis.
Represented by Prof. Friday Okonofua, Vice President of NAS, Sambo recognised Nigeria as one of the greatest producers and users of cannabis even when it remained illegal.
“Several studies have come out indicating that we should be more proactive and more reform-oriented in the way we consider cannabis because it could be useful for helping social development.
“In contrast, we also have to look at the negative side effects, which could be very daunting in this particular country,” Sambo said. NAN
Cannabis oil