Push to legalize cannabis sativa for commercial use in Kenya intensifies

The first thing that comes into mind when a Kenyan hears the word bhang is drug abuse or smuggling of narcotic drugs but the push to legalize it is increasingly getting traction in the country.

Bhang or cannabis Sativa is listed as an illegal drug in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act Section 3 (2) (a) of 1994 and revised in 2022 but efforts have been made to legalize it for industrial and commercial use.

Over the years, the drug has acquired a bad reputation due to its use as an intoxicant and the focus on its medicinal properties has been lost but proponents argue that its medicinal value is high and can be used to arrest many diseases and ailments.