Pakistan has found a new way to solve the economic crisis. The country is set to legalize the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Last February, the Government of Pakistan had passed an ordinance in this regard. The Ordinance also constituted the Cannabis Control Regulatory Authority (CCRA).
The authority was formed to regulate the cultivation, extraction, purification, manufacture and sale of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. The cultivation is spread under the cover of this. The new move is aimed at the global drug market. The global cannabis market is currently worth $64.73 billion.
After the law came into force, the new government also created a special authority for the cultivation, extraction, purification, manufacture and sale of components for medical and industrial purposes. According to the law, anyone who has obtained a government license can cultivate cannabis.
Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Chairman Syed Hussain Abidi said that the country is trying to increase its income by exporting cannabis globally. Afghanistan used to be one of the countries that delivered the most drugs to the global market. But after the Taliban took over, drug cultivation was banned. Taking this into account, the new decision of the government of Pakistan.
The Authority will consist of 13 members. It was first proposed to form such an authority in 2020 when Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. Nikkei Asia reported that Pakistan is expected to take advantage of the conditions to enter the global cannabis market. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) chairman Syed Hussain Abidi told Al Jazeera that it would generate revenue through exports, foreign investment and domestic sales.
