NACOC partners CSIR to research medical and industrial uses of hemp

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have formed a partnership to research and develop the medical and industrial uses of low-THC cannabis, commonly referred to as hemp, in Ghana. This initiative aims to ensure that hemp cultivation adheres to Ghana's legal requirements while exploring its potential benefits for the country's economy and industries.

NACOC Director-General Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey highlighted the importance of enforcing rules governing cannabis cultivation and usage, emphasizing the potential economic and industrial advantages Ghana could gain from a well-supported and scientifically backed cannabis sector. During a meeting with CSIR, Mantey discussed strengthening testing and traceability throughout the hemp value chain, from planting materials to end products.

Dr. Francis Boateng Agyenim, the Director of CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, stated that the regulated hemp sector could open opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and medicine, with hemp fiber potentially being used for industrial applications such as alternative plastic packaging materials and sanitary products. The collaboration between NACOC and CSIR will include setting up model greenhouse farms to demonstrate suitable cultivation methods, assessing seedlings and soil, conducting laboratory research into hemp's properties, and providing technical support to farmers and stakeholders involved in the sector.

This partnership aims to guide Ghana's regulated cannabis industry scientifically and technically while preventing the diversion of legally cultivated cannabis into the illicit market.