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Tag: Marijuana

  • Kwabena Kwabena shares his experience smoking marijuana

    Kwabena Kwabena shares his experience smoking marijuana

    Highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena has revealed that he once used marijuana during his career.

    However, he decided to quit to safeguard his health, which remains his top priority.

    He admitted that the substance boosts the user’s abilities and enhances performance.

    Despite this, he believes that after quitting, he can still do everything he did while using it—only better.

    The musician encouraged his colleagues who use the substance to stop, emphasizing its harmful effects on health.

    “I can say on authority that it is not good. So if you’ve been using it, do a self-assessment and get yourself out of it,” he said.

  • Wiz Khalifa charged with illegal drug possession in Romania after festival performance

    Wiz Khalifa charged with illegal drug possession in Romania after festival performance

    US rapper Wiz Khalifa was detained by Romanian police on Sunday following his performance at the Beach, Please! Festival on the Black Sea Coast.

    The 36-year-old artist faces charges of illegal drug possession after authorities found him in possession of over 18 grams of cannabis.

    During his set, Khalifa was also seen consuming marijuana on stage, which is considered a serious offense in Romania where cannabis is classified as a “risk drug.”

    Videos circulating on social media show Khalifa smoking and being escorted by police from the venue.

    In response to the incident, Khalifa expressed regret, stating on his social media, “Last night’s show was amazing. I didn’t mean any disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on stage. They were very respectful and let me go. I’ll be back soon. But without a big ass joint next time.” While Khalifa was charged, he was not held in police custody and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

    Khalifa, known for his openness about marijuana use, has previously mentioned smoking up to 30 blunts a day in interviews.

    See post below:

  • It’s foolishness to think smoking marijuana will improve your voice- Nana Fynn

    It’s foolishness to think smoking marijuana will improve your voice- Nana Fynn

    Renowned Ghanaian musician Nana Fynn, also known as 2Lock, recently addressed misconceptions about vocal improvement in an interview on Accra FM on July 7, 2024.

    He emphasized that the belief that smoking marijuana can enhance one’s singing ability is unfounded and dismissed it as “foolishness.”

    Fynn explained that vocal performance is influenced by a physiological connection between the ear and throat. While some individuals may naturally possess good voices, proper training is essential for developing singing skills.

    He emphasized that confidence plays a crucial role in singing, suggesting that those who turn to substances like marijuana might be seeking confidence rather than genuine vocal enhancement.

    Addressing other vocal myths, Fynn noted that bananas can help clear mucus from the throat, which can benefit singers. However, he cautioned against using the voice immediately after consuming cold water, as it can negatively affect vocal quality.

    Nana Fynn, known for his debut album ‘Ankwansema’ in 2000 and subsequent successes in the music industry, also engages in gospel music, operates a studio and barbering salon, and enjoys hobbies such as football, snooker, and reading historical and religious texts.

  • FLASHBACK: ‘Wee’ could surpass cocoa and oil as Ghana’s top foreign exchange earner – Ras Mubarak

    FLASHBACK: ‘Wee’ could surpass cocoa and oil as Ghana’s top foreign exchange earner – Ras Mubarak

    Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, expressed on April 9, 2021, his belief that the cultivation and commercialization of marijuana could elevate Ghana to become the leading foreign exchange earner.

    “In Ghana, we have large tracts of land which support the growth of marijuana and promise higher yields. It will also create jobs for our farmers who after harvesting their food crops have to wait till another planting season, leaving their lands fallow. But if we can plant marijuana during that fallow period, it’ll be a huge source of revenue to the country”, he said.

    Ras Mubarak, the former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumbungu Constituency, advocates for Ghana to recognize the significant economic potential of marijuana instead of persisting in categorizing it as an illicit substance. He contends that legalizing and regulating the substance for commercial purposes could potentially elevate it to surpass cocoa and oil, emerging as the country’s primary foreign exchange earner.

    Drawing parallels with Canada and the United States of America, where the commercialization of marijuana generates billions of dollars annually, he urges Ghana to consider a similar approach.

    “We need to dissuade the minds of people. We’ve depended so much on cocoa and soon we will have to stop relying on oil too and we will not be gaining any revenue from that. So we need to look at generating revenue from our other resources”, he stated.

    He believes Ghana has arable farmland to produce and compete if not surpass the multi-billion dollar marijuana industry of Canada and the US. “In Ghana, we have large tracts of land which support the growth of marijuana and promise higher yields. It will also create jobs for our farmers who after harvesting their food crops have to wait till another planting season, leaving their lands fallow. But if we can plant marijuana during that fallow period, it’ll be a huge source of revenue to the country”, he mentioned.

    Ras Mubarak appeared on the Happy Morning Show, hosted by Raymond Nyamador and broadcasted on e.TV Ghana and Happy98.9FM.

    Amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the country’s economic struggles, the politician expressed his belief that Ghana would benefit from legalizing the use and sale of marijuana exclusively for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    Although he asserts he has never intentionally consumed marijuana, Mubarak acknowledged using products such as eye drops and hair creams derived from the substance.

    “The closest I have ever come to taking marijuana was when someone gave me ice cream which I did not know was made from weed”.

    In recent times, there has been a growing push to legalize marijuana in Ghana, spearheaded by celebrities, Members of Parliament, and other advocates.

    However, in March 2020, the Ghanaian Parliament passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, which permits the use and cultivation of marijuana for medical and industrial purposes. It’s important to note that this legislation only allows for the cultivation of hemp, a specific variety of marijuana.

    Under the new law, there are strict regulations regarding the allowable concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. The permitted THC concentration in the plants is limited to not more than 0.3%.

    Recreational Marijuana use remains illegal in Ghana.

  • Marijuana could cause heart attack, stroke – Report

    Marijuana could cause heart attack, stroke – Report

    Recent findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveal a potential link between cannabis use, regardless of consumption method (smoking, eating, or vaping), and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

    Dr. Abra Jeffers, the lead author of the study and a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, underscored the surge in cannabis use and the insufficient awareness surrounding its cardiovascular risks.

    She noted, “Despite common use, little is known about the risks of cannabis use and, in particular, the cardiovascular disease risks.”

    The research analyzed survey data from over 400,000 U.S. adults spanning the years 2016 to 2020, exploring the correlation between cannabis use and self-reported cardiovascular outcomes.

    The results indicated a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes among individuals using marijuana, with daily users showing the greatest odds.

    Dr. Robert L. Page II, a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, stressed the significance of healthcare practitioners discussing cannabis use with patients.

    “As cannabis use continues to grow in legality and access across the U.S., practitioners and clinicians need to remember to assess cannabis use at each patient encounter,” he commented.

  • Germany plans to legalise marijuana despite its challenges

    Germany plans to legalise marijuana despite its challenges

    The German government will decide whether to make it legal for people to use cannabis for fun.

    If the members of Parliament agree, people over 18 in Germany can have a lot of cannabis, but it will be hard to buy because there will be strict rules.

    From 1 April, it will be legal to smoke cannabis in many public places.

    You can have up to 25g (almost an ounce) of something in public and 50g in your home.

    In some parts of Germany, like Berlin, the police ignore people who smoke in public even though it’s against the law and they could get in trouble for it. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach says more and more young people are using drugs, even though it’s against the law. He wants to change the law to stop this.

    He wants to stop illegal selling, keep people safe from bad drugs, and stop criminals from making money.

    However, there will not be lots of legal cannabis cafes opening up everywhere right away.

    A big argument about making cannabis legal has been happening in Germany for a long time. Doctors worry about young people and some conservative people think that making the laws less strict will make more people use drugs.

    Like many times in Germany, the new law that the MPs are going to vote on is hard to understand.

    Using marijuana near schools and sports grounds will still be against the law in some places. Importantly, the government will closely control the market to make it difficult to buy the drug.

    The idea to let shops and pharmacies sell cannabis has been dropped because the EU is worried it could cause more drugs to be sent to other countries.

    Instead, groups of people that are not trying to make money, called “cannabis social clubs”, will be allowed to grow and give out a small amount of the drug.

    Each club can only have up to 500 members. People can’t smoke or use marijuana at the club. Only people who live in Germany can join the club.

    You can grow up to three marijuana plants at home.

    This means that in Germany, people can have a lot of drugs, but it’s hard to buy them. For example, having 25g of drugs is like having a lot of strong joints.

    People who smoke a lot would be happy, but people who only smoke sometimes would have a hard time buying it legally and visitors wouldn’t be allowed to buy it. Critics say this will just make the illegal market for goods grow.

    In the next few years, the government will study how the new law affects things, and might start selling cannabis legally.

    However, because the debate has been difficult, we cannot be certain about anything.

    On the other hand, the conservative opposition says that if they win the election next year, they will get rid of the law completely. Germany probably won’t become the new Amsterdam in Europe for a while.

  • Ghana Navy, NACOC confiscate 81 sacks of suspected marijuana; 6 arrested

    Ghana Navy, NACOC confiscate 81 sacks of suspected marijuana; 6 arrested

    The Ghana Navy, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Ghana Police, has arrested six individuals over alleged narcotics.

    The joint operation, conducted by the Ada Foah Detachment of the Ghana Navy Riverine Command, resulted in the seizure of 81 sacks of suspected marijuana.

    The substances were found in a run-down warehouse located at the Ghana Highways Authority premises in Ada. The arrested suspects and confiscated drugs were transported to the NACOC Headquarters in Accra for further investigation.

    The authorities stressed their commitment to combating the illegal narcotics trade and encouraged the public to provide useful information for future operations.

  • 45 sacks of suspected marijuana intercepted by Ghana Navy

    45 sacks of suspected marijuana intercepted by Ghana Navy

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has reported that the Ada Foah Detachment of the Riverine Command of the Ghana Navy successfully intercepted a canoe transporting parcels of substances believed to be marijuana in the Agorkpo general area.

    The operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, December 16, 2023, between 3:00 am and 8:00 am, based on intelligence gathered during night foot patrols on Friday, December 15, 2023.

    In an official statement released on Monday, December 18, GAF disclosed that the Detachment strategically laid an ambush at two locations from 3:00 am, anticipating the movement of the canoes.

    Around 4:00 am, the first Ambush Team spotted three canoes engaged in illegal activities, speeding past their location. However, the suspects deviated from the expected direction, leading the first team of three men to pursue and intercept the third canoe.

    Upon interception, the three suspects on the third canoe jumped into the river and managed to escape after a scuffle with the naval personnel, abandoning the canoe and its contents.

    The remaining two canoes fled towards the estuary and evaded capture by the main Ambush Team during a subsequent chase.

    The Detachment seized 45 sacks of suspected marijuana, which are yet to be officially weighed and valued. The confiscated items have been transported to the Naval Base at Tema for further investigation.

  • US agency suggests easing marijuana regulations

    US agency suggests easing marijuana regulations

    The US Department of Health and Human Services wants the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to make it easier for people to use marijuana by changing the national laws.

    The drug is against the law for the whole country, even though 40 out of 50 states in the US have made their own laws allowing people to use it in certain ways.

    Cannabis is currently categorized in the same group of drugs as heroin and LSD.

    If the DEA changes how it categorizes drugs, it could be the biggest change in US drug policy in many years.

    Cannabis is currently considered a very dangerous drug by the government. They say it has no medical benefits and is very likely to be abused.

    The change to schedule 3 would make it similar to drugs that are considered less likely to be addictive or misused. Ketamine, codeine, and anabolic steroids belong to that category.

    Last year, President Joe Biden requested his attorney general and health secretary to examine whether cannabis should be classified as a less harmful drug.

    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) submitted a proposal to the DEA on Tuesday.

    HHS has done a scientific and medical evaluation for DEA to consider.

    The DEA is in charge of deciding which drugs are classified as legal or illegal. They can also change the classification of a drug if necessary. The DEA will now start its review.

    The HHS said that they finished a process in less than 11 months. They worked together and took charge to make sure that a thorough scientific evaluation was done quickly and shared with others.

    The suggestion does not completely take cannabis off the list of controlled substances in the Controlled Substances Act. Some people want the government to remove the drug from the Controlled Substances Act and treat it like alcohol or tobacco.

    If we reschedule it, more research can be done and banks can freely provide services to the cannabis industry. Right now, many marijuana businesses in the US have to only use cash because the law doesn’t allow banks to handle money made from certain drug sales.

    Surveys show that most Americans are in favor of making the drug legal in some way.

    Cannabis is allowed for adults to use for fun in 23 states, which includes all the states on the west coast and Washington DC. Medical use is allowed in 38 states.

  • Drug abuse on the rise in Ejura; MP worried

    Drug abuse on the rise in Ejura; MP worried

    Member of Parliament representing the Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency, Mohammed Bawa Braima, has raised alarm over the issue of drug misuse among the youth in that region.

    The legislator expressed his distress over the increasing prevalence of marijuana consumption and the usage of other illicit drugs in Ejura.

    He shared his worries following a visit to various centers where the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is being conducted within his electoral district.

    “As parents, we have a responsibility to cater for our children. We do not have to abandon them. We have to be there for them all the time. We cannot send them to school and abandon them. We have a responsibility to provide them with the care they need to be responsible adults.

    The rate of abuse of marijuana and hard drugs is alarming. It will not benefit our children. These things are caused by negative influences, and as parents, we have to protect our children.”

    “Some of the young people are abusing drugs,” he continued, “and I am concerned.” That is why I am pleading with parents to be patient and care for their children. When I have the opportunity to speak about these topics, I emphasise the need for us to speak out against drug use. It will devastate and ruin our society, and as parents, we must advise our children to avoid narcotics.”

  • Five-year-old who killed his sibling was high on cocaine – Prosecutors

    Five-year-old who killed his sibling was high on cocaine – Prosecutors

    The five-year-old allegedly shot his younger brother to death in the US while high on cocaine and with marijuana in his blood, according to the prosecution.

    Approximately 60 miles north of Indianapolis in the city of Lafayette, Indiana, Isiah Johnson, 16, was shot in the head on March 28. In the family’s flat, his brother reportedly found a gun.

    According to them, Isiah tested positive for cocaine and had marijuana in his blood.

    Police also discovered marijuana, paraphernalia and 93 fentanyl tablets inside the flat after the incident, they added.

    Parents Deonta Jermaine Johnson, 27, and Shatia Tiara Welch, 24, of Lafayette have been charged with neglect and drug use.

    Following their detention in LaPorte the day before, the charges were made public on Tuesday, according to news sources.

    According to officials, Johnson was dozing off inside the flat when the shooting occurred, and Welch wasn’t there.

    Welch admitted to owning the weapon to the police, but she typically kept it stored in a box beneath her bed.

    Johnson is also accused with obstructing justice because, according to the prosecution, he removed marijuana from the flat before the police showed up to respond to the shooting.

    DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana

  • Ace sports journalist commends legalization of marijuana

    Ace sports journalist commends legalization of marijuana

    Seasoned sports broadcaster, Dan Kwaku Yeboah, has welcomed Parliament’s decision to allow marijuana to be cultivated for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    The Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023, which permits the growing of cannabis for industrial purposes, was successfully revised by the Ghanaian Parliament.

    This change was made in response to the Supreme Court’s judgement in July 2022, which declared Section 43 of the bill unconstitutional because there was insufficient parliamentary discussion before it was signed into law.

    Reacting to the move by Parliament on Peace FM, Dan Kweku Yeboah said “I just read in the papers that Ghana legalizes cultivation of weed… at least its a step forward.”

    He joked that some weed peddlers feared the exportation of marijuana will lead to shortage.

    The legalization of marijuana is intended for industrial purposes to obtain fiber or seed for medicinal use.

  • Angry youth attack police station at Yilo Krobo

    Angry youth attack police station at Yilo Krobo

    On Tuesday, some angry residents in Boti and Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region attacked the police for detaining a lady who allegedly sold marijuana in big quantities in the area.

    The plain cloth police officers came under spontaneous attack by residents of Boti where the suspect was arrested forcing them to fire warning shots.

    One person was hit by the bullet.

    The irate residents of Boti who were pursuing the police officers aboard a taxi called other residents along the Boti to Huhunya and Nkurakan road to mount a barricade claiming the police officers were armed robbers.

    The youth of Nkurakan blocked the road at the Nkurakan Police station area, burnt the taxi used by the police officers, and attempted to lynch them but were saved by the local police.

    Reinforcement from the Eastern Regional Police headquarters arrived at the scene amid firing of warning shots.

    The windscreen of the police vehicle was smashed. The standoff between the police and the irate youth lasted for several hours before the atmosphere deescalated.

    The police whisked their men under attack to the Koforidua Divisional Headquarters.

  • Ghana Immigration Service intercept 981 sacks of suspected marijuana

    At Liero, a town close to the Burkina Faso border, a joint patrol team of Ghana Police Service and Immigration service seized 981 bags of compressed substance believed to be marijuana.

    The service was able to intercept the alleged drugs after receiving intel. The service allegedly conducted a raid on a man’s (name withheld) Liero house.

    The team found that the majority of the rooms were loaded with bags containing what was thought to be marijuana.

    The team retrieved the suspected substances totalling 981 parcels and sent them to the Hamile border post for further investigation and action.

    “The respective state security agencies would be invited to analyse the exhibits to ascertain the veracity of our deep suspicion about what the substance actually is,” part of the statement read.

    “In the meantime, frantic efforts are being made to apprehend persons connected to the ceased substance to aid in the investigation and appropriate action,” it added.

    It continued that, “Whereas we appreciate the impeccable rapport with the locals, we wish to respectfully inform the few unrepentant ones not to stand in our way. They must either change or we change them, the middle ground is not an option.”

  • US midterms: Cannabis legalization is on the ballot in five states

    Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North and South Dakota voters will decide whether to approve recreational marijuana measures.

    On election day, voters in five US states will decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis, a move that could signal a significant shift toward legalization in even the most conservative parts of the country.

    The initiatives are on the ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and they follow President Joe Biden’s efforts to decriminalize marijuana.

    Last month, Biden announced that he would pardon thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession of cannabis under federal law.

    Recreational marijuana is legal in 19 states, and polls have shown opposition to legalisation softening. All of the states with recreational marijuana on the ballot, except for Maryland, voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

    The five states also currently have legal medical cannabis programmes.

    That includes Arkansas, which in 2016 became the first Bible Belt state to approve medical cannabis. The state’s dispensaries opened in 2019, and more than 91,000 patients have cards to legally buy marijuana for medical conditions.

    Criticism from opponents

    The legalisation campaigns have raised about $23m in the five states, with the vast majority in Arkansas and Missouri. More than 85 percent of contributions in those two states have come from donors associated with companies holding medical cannabis licences, according to an Associated Press analysis of the most recent campaign finance reports.

    In Arkansas, supporters have been running upbeat ads touting the thousands of jobs they say will be created by the measure. Opponents have run more ominous spots, warning voters to “protect Arkansas from big marijuana”.

    The initiative has drawn the criticism of traditional legalisation opponents as well as some medical cannabis advocates, who said the Arkansas proposal places too many limits and would only benefit a handful of dispensaries.

    Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, has also opposed the measure.

    Missouri’s proposal would legalise recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older and expunge records of past arrests and convictions for nonviolent marijuana offences, except for selling to minors or driving under the influence.

    Maryland’s proposal would also make changes in criminal law and create automatic expungements of past marijuana possession convictions.

    North Dakota’s measure would allow people 21 and older to legally use cannabis at home as well as possess and cultivate restricted amounts of cannabis. It also would establish policies to regulate retail stores, cultivators, and other types of marijuana businesses.

    South Dakotans, including a sizable number of Republicans, voted to legalise marijuana possession in 2020, but that law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in part because the proposal was coupled with medical marijuana and hemp.

    This year, recreational cannabis is standing by itself as it goes before voters.

    In Colorado, where recreational cannabis has been legal for nearly a decade, voters on Tuesday are taking up a proposal that would allow the use of certain psychedelic substances. If approved, it would make Colorado the second state to take such a step.

  • Biden issues federal pardons for ‘simple possession’ of marijuana

    All those who were found guilty of national marijuana possession convictions have received pardons from President Joe Biden.

    About 6,500 people with federal convictions for basic marijuana possession are expected to benefit, according to officials.

    No one is currently in federal prison solely for possession of marijuana. Most convictions occur at the state level.

    But the federal pardons will make it easier for people to get employment, housing, and education, Mr Biden said.

    As a presidential candidate, Mr Biden promised to decriminalise cannabis use, as well as expunging convictions.

    “Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” Mr Biden said on Thursday.

    He added that non-white people were statistically far more likely to be jailed for cannabis.

    As a White House candidate, Mr Biden was criticised for writing a 1994 crime bill that stiffened penalties for drug crimes and led to more incarceration of minorities.

    The Democratic president said he would call upon all state governors to issue their own marijuana pardons.

    He is also directing the Department of Justice and the Department of Health to review how cannabis is classified under federal law.

    “We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin – and more serious than fentanyl,” said Mr Biden. “It makes no sense.”

    Recreational marijuana is already legal in 19 states and Washington DC. Medical use is legal in 37 states and three US territories.

    However, the drug remains illegal at the federal level, even in states where it can be legally bought and used, meaning people there could still be convicted for possession in certain circumstances.

    The pardons come a month before November’s congressional mid-term elections, which will determine the power balance in Washington for the last two years of Mr Biden’s term.

    Life for Pot, a website advocating for the release of non-violent marijuana offenders, noted that there are no known federal prisoners that will be affected by Mr Biden’s measure, tweeting: “This is window dressing.”

    Cannabis company shares jumped on the stock market by around 20% with news of Mr Biden’s pardons.

    Mr Biden is not the first US president to pardon cannabis offenders.

    On his final day in office, Donald Trump pardoned 12 marijuana offenders, including some who had been jailed for life under the three-strikes rule created by Mr Biden’s 1994 crime bill.

     

     

  • Nigeria: 20 Ghanaian fishermen jailed for trafficking marijuana

    A Federal High Court in Lagos State in Nigeria on Thursday sentenced 20 Ghanaian fishermen to one-year imprisonment each for transporting 13.670 kilogrammes of marijuana, aka cannabis, from Ghana to Nigeria.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo convicted and sentenced them after finding them guilty of the charges of conspiracy and unlawful transportation of the drug reports the Punch.

    They were sentenced on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

    The convicted fishermen include Francis Teye, Kweke Komel, Gad Adjah, Theophilus Tetteh, Kwesi Aboagye, Ekon Fynn, Kwamena Baah, Kwabina Adjei, Micheal Okutu, Isaac Kofi, Kweku Moko, Kwezi Adzi and Kweku Mensah.

    Others are Micheal Kofi, Ekon Bentum, Kwesi Amissah, Joshua Huago, Otu Otipeseku, Isaac Yorsson and Nana Kodwo.

    The convicts were arrested with the drug conveyed from Ghana into the Nigerian territorial waters on January 14, 2022.

    They were arraigned on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful transportation of the substance.

    The prosecutor, Mr Fingere Owen, told the court that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 11(b) and 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Following their guilty pleas, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case.

    Owen also tendered some exhibits and urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the sections they were charged with.

    However, lawyers to the convicts, Mr Uche Okoronkwo, who led Calistus Onyewueke, both of Minerva Legal Practice, told the court that all the defendants were first time offenders without previous criminal records.

    Okoronkwo told the court that his clients were fishermen, who were engaged by a purported customer, who did not tell them the content of the bag.

    Justice Oweibo sentenced them to one-year imprisonment each, the Punch reported.

    The judge also ordered that the sentence should commence from the date of their arrest.

    He, however, ordered the convicts to pay the sum of N50,000 each in lieu of the sentence and ordered that the boat used in smuggling the banned substance be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Source: Graphiconline

  • Beverage vendor in court for producing Marijuana drink

    The Somanya District Magistrate Court in Eastern Region has remanded into police custody a 24-year-old beverage vendor accused of producing drinks allegedly laced with marijuana.

    The accused, Laad Anas, has been charged for possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

    The accused was arrested by the Kpong Police under Akuse District Police Command on Sunday, January 30, 2022, during a swoop in the area.

    Police retrieved 36 pieces of the liquid substance laced with marijuana.

    The accused admitted ownership of the substance.

    The prosecuting officer Inspector Emmanuel Aryitey however prayed the court to remand the accused to enable police to conduct forensic laboratory tests of the substance in Accra within the next 14 days.

    The court presided by His Worship Derrick Oklu remanded the accused to reappear on February 18, 2022.

    He however said, his court does not have jurisdiction over the case hence must be moved to the higher court.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Medicinal marijuana effective painkiller for chronic pain – Biochemist

    Dr George Cobla, Biochemist at the Food and Drugs Authorities (FDA), says medicinal marijuana is an effective substitute painkiller for chronic pain.

    He said the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in medicinal marijuana interacted with pain receptors in the brain to produce a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect, which aids in the relief of chronic pains.

    Dr Cobla, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, explained that the maximum dosage for medicinal marijuana is 0.3 per cent of THC, which would not get you high but provide relief for chronic pains.

    He said people with epilepsy, who took CBD solutions, had fewer seizures than usual, as well as cancer patients who experienced chemotherapy side effects like vomiting and nausea.

    Dr Cobla said although marijuana had a lot of health benefits, the abuse of it was health risks such as mental health issues, cannabis use disorder, testicular and lung cancer.

    He said, “If you happen to live in a country where cannabis use is legal, you and your medical officer should carefully consider the various reported benefits and risks and how they relate to your illness and health history before using the substance.”

    Dr Cobla urged the public to always consult with their doctor before, beginning any new medication.

    Mr Darlington Ighodalo, a businessman, expressed concern about the abuse of marijuana.

    “I am not against the use of marijuana but the addiction to it causes harm to the health and changes psychological behaviours of people who abuse it.”

    He said, “while many people enjoy smoking cannabis recreationally, it is clear that more and better research is needed to understand its health effects fully.”

    Source: GNA

  • 2 grabbed for attempting to smuggle wee into prison

    Two persons have been apprehended by the Ankaful Maximum Security Prisons for attempting to smuggle 15 parcels of Indian hemp to an inmate at the Prisons.

    Nana Yaw Pablo, 26, and Opiah Mensah, 17, all unemployed, and residing at Amisano in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality of the Central Region.

    Briefing the Ghanaian Times, the Central Regional Prisons Public Relations Officer, Superintendent (Supt) Vincent B. Ziniel, explained that an inmate at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prisons, appealed to a prison personnel on duty to assist him by working on a project for a fee.

    Upon further discussion, the personnel realise that the inmate had the intention of smuggling Indian hemp into the Prisons, and alerted his superiors about the development.

    Sup Ziniel said the prison officer expressed interest in the deal, and the prisoner gave the contact phone number of the officer to two suspects.

    He indicated that, Nana Yaw Pablo later called the prison personnel to arrange on how the Indian hemp would be passed on safely to the inmate without any trace.

    Sup Ziniel said the suspects arranged to meet the personnel at a guest house in order to receive the parcel for onward delivery to the inmate.

    The prison officer, according to Supt Ziniel, informed the management about the agreed location and a team was dispatched to assist in apprehending the suspects.

    He said that, the suspects were arrested after they handed over the 15 parcels of Indian hemp.

    Supt Ziniel stated that, the suspects attempted to flee when they realised that their cover had been blown.

    The two suspects, he said, have been handed over to the Elmina District Police.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • I use wee to cure my ailment – convict tells court

    Dennis Akomea alias “Monday” a 37-year-old electrician charged for illegal possession of cannabis has been convicted by the Ashanti-Bekwai Circuit Court.

    The court thus sentenced him to a fine of GHC3,000.00.

    Akomea before being sentenced told the Court that he uses the cannabis to cure an ailment and pleaded for mercy and mitigation.

    In default, Akomea will serve 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.

    The convict who had been in custody for two years and had changed his plea of not guilty to guilty whilst his accomplice Kwaku Antwi alias “Best” is now at large.

    Prosecuting, Detective Police Chief Inspector Stephen Ofori told the Court presided over by Mr Marc Diboro Tirimah that Antwi, now 42, a trader and Akomea were residents of Bekwai-Nyameduase.

    He said on March 29, 2018, at about 1130 hours, a team of police personnel led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Edward Boateng embarked on patrol duties to immobiliser miscreants and deviants in the Bekwai Municipality and its environs.

    This was to ensure that residents celebrate the 2018 Easter festivities without any security breach, the prosecution told the Court.

    He said the two were arrested at an alleged drug peddling base at Nyameduase and when a search was conducted on them, 13 wrappers of Cannabis popularly known as “Wee” were found on each of them.

    Chief Inspector Ofori said they were then handed over to an investigative team together with the exhibits and during their cautioned statements, admitted the offence.

    The exhibits were forwarded to the Crime Forensic Laboratory for examination as well as report and it proved positive for Cannabis.

    The Court in passing sentence considered the fact that Akomeah pleaded guilty

    Source: GNA

  • Three in police custody for lacing drinks with Indian hemp

    Three persons, including a 14 year old minor, are in police custody in Tema for allegedly lacing customers’ drinks with Indian hemp.

    The suspects, Jessica Mensah,30 who is the bar operator at Monte Carlo drinking spot in Tema and Charity Yeboah, 30, a bar attendant, as well as a 14-year old minor (name withheld) an errand boy were arrested on Saturday, November 28, 2020 for selling bottles of drinks suspected to be laced with cannabis

    The Tema Regional Police Command Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector, Stella Dede Dzakpasu who confirmed the arrest to Graphic Online, said a total of 668 bottles of drinks of such nature were recovered by the Police.

    She said the police was conducting further investigations into the case and advised the public to be sure of substances they patronise in order not to fall victim to such practices.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Cannabis cultivation, use remain illegal in Ghana – NACOC

    The Narcotic Control Commission (NACOC) says it has not issued any person or institution with a licence to cultivate cannabis in Ghana.

    The Commission has thus reiterated that the illicit use and cultivation of cannabis remains an offence under Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) which was passed in March this year.

    According to a public notice issued by the Commission, “any person who engages in the cultivation as well as promotes any business relating to cannabis without lawful authority, proof of which lies on that person, commits an offence”.

    New law

    Act 1019 empowered the Minister for Interior with the powers to grant licences for the cultivation of cannabis of not more than 0.3 per cent THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives a user the high sensation) for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    However, the Commission noted that cannabis with not more than 0.3 per cent THC is a different specie from the known cannabis sativa widely grown and abused in Ghana.

    “It is worth mentioning that the cannabis with not more than 0.3% THC content on a dry weight basis for industrial purpose for obtaining fibre or seed or medicinal purposes, as stated in section 43 of the Act, is a cannabis specie different from the known cannabis sativa widely grown and abused in Ghana,” the notice said.

    “Thus, section 36 through to 42 of the Act prohibit unlawful possession of the drug/plant and any business relating to narcotic drug/plant without lawful permission proof of which lies the on that person. Subsequently, section 44 and 45 of the Act also provides for the prohibited administration and purchase of narcotic drug/plant respectively. It is to be well noted that, all these provisions relating to narcotic drugs/plants do not exclude cannabis”.

    The statement further noted that although the abuse of narcotic drugs was punishable by a fine or imprisonment, the court can direct a convicted person to seek treatment and rehabilitation.

    “As such, illicit drug use is and remains an offence in Ghana. Consequently, any individuals and/or group of individuals who fall(s) foul to the law shall be dealt with in accordance with the law”.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Man grabbed for attempting to smuggle wee into police cells

    A man, who allegedly attempted to smuggle some substance, suspected to be cannabis, and other contraband goods, into the Kaneshie Police cells, has been arrested.

    Nurudeen Arafat, 21, allegedly concealed the cannabis, quantities of amphetamines and diazepam tablets, and a packet of cigarettes with a lighter in an empty sachet water bag.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Effia Tenge, speaking to the Ghanaian Times in an interview in Accra yesterday, said the suspect was in custody assisting in investigations.

    At about 6 pm last Friday, she said Arafat went to the Kaneshie Police station to give the contraband goods to an inmate whose name was given only as Manaf on remand for robbery.

    DSP Tenge said the police found the cannabis and other contraband goods in the bag and arrested Arafat.

    The Police PRO said the suspected cannabis would be taken to the forensic laboratory for examination.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Police arrest 93 suspected criminals in dawn swoop, slabs of wee seized

    The Greater Accra Regional Police Command in a dawn swoop on Friday arrested 93 suspected criminals from separate operations within Tesano, Jamestown and Odorkor Divisions.

    According to the Police, the suspects who are between 18-60 years were arrested at notorious drug peddling joints and areas noted for criminal activities in the capital, including Tesano, Jamestown and Odorkor Divisions.

    The Police during raid picked up quantities of wrapped dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

    The Police have screened to ascertain whether they are involved in any criminal case the Police is investigating to enable them assist with investigations.

    The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Afful Boakye Yiadom, said the operation forms part of Police outlined strategies to frustrate and weed out criminal elements within the metropolis and create the enabling environment for the upcoming general elections and the exercise would be sustained throughout the period.

    Source: My News GH

  • Pastor who threatened to kill EC boss tests positive for Tramadol, weed

    Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei has tested positive for Tramadol and Tetrahydrocannabinol after a urine sample test conducted by the Police Hospital in Accra after his arrest on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, by National Security Operatives.

    The 56-year-old man tested positive for Tramadol and Tetrahydrocannabinol in a test conducted and results signed by Supt/Dr. Adwoa Nuro-Panin, MWACP (Psychiatry) and sighted by Peacefmonline.com.

    The self-styled preacher, Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei who was seen in a viral video threatening and castigating President Akufo-Addo and the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa has been arrested.

    He displayed that if the voters’ register is allowed to be changed, the Electoral Commissioner will die, adding that Ghana will not allow a small family to dictate to the nation.

    Arrest

    In a video seen by Peacefmonline.com, the Apostle was arrested on Tuesday morning at what appears to be his home (coded location) during a live interview with Accra based Hot FM.

    He was apprehended by the plain cloth security personnel immediately he started ranting again during the interview.

    The officers with an arrest warrant interrupted the interview and whisked him away in a black vehicle.

    Indian Hemp

    In another video seen in an office where he was taken to after the arrest, the Prophet in handcuff was seen holding a substance suspected to be Indian Hemp wrapped in a brown paper and being search thoroughly by the security personnel.

    Remand

    The accused person pleaded not guilty to threat of death, contrary to Section 75 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and possession of narcotic drugs.

    He has been remanded by the court to reappear on June 23, 2020.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Police in Bono region intercept loads of cannabis

    The police in the Bono Region have arrested a 27 year-old driver, Ayuba Ali and his 20 year-old mate, Ametus Sori for allegedly transporting 8,460 compressed bales of dried leaves suspected to be indian hemp valued at GH¢1, 269, 000.

    The substance were packed in 180 sacks each of which contained 47 compressed slabs of the suspected cannabis.

    The driver and the mate onboard a Rhino Cargo Truck with registration number GR 2474-16 were transporting the substance from Nsawkaw, the Tain District capital.

    The two were busted at a section of the road between Menji in the Tain District and Banda in the Banda District while they were on their way to Burkina Faso at about 1:00am.

    In order to outwit the police at the various check points, the suspects mixed the substance with other items such as boxes of weedicide, lumber, plywood and saw dust to suggest that they were transporting lumber and farm inputs.

    The suspects were said to have told the police they hailed from Kunnyukuon near Babile in the Upper West Region and were contracted for at a sum of GH¢7, 000 to transport the substance to Hamile and subsequently to Burkina Faso.

    However, luck eluded them when they were arrested by the officials of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police Service (GPS).

    Police briefing

    The Bono Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Kwaku Duah, told the media that personnel of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit had a tip-off that the impounded truck had loaded bales of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis at Nsawkaw and was heading towards Banda en route Hamile and to Burkina Faso.

    According to him, the unit led by the Detective Inspector Adams Yahaya swiftly traced the truck and intercepted it on the Menji-Banda road near the Bui Dam.

    Supt Duah said the police inspected the load and found out that it was carrying the substance, compressed in black and brown sellotape and kept in white plastic bags.

    He said upon interrogation, Ali admitted he was transporting the bales of the suspected cannabis, alleging that he was contracted by a certain man at Nsawkaw, whose name he did not know but could identified him when seen, to transport the substance.

    Investigation

    Supt Duah said the police has begun investigation for the arrest of those who contracted the suspects to transport the substance to Hamile, explaining that since the establishment of the unit in the region last year, this was the biggest substance they have intercepted.

    “Efforts are been made to arrest those who contracted them, meanwhile the driver and the mate are been process for court. We are charging them for unlawful possession of narcotics drugs”, he stated.

    Supt Duah said the police acted upon a tip-off and appealed to the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the arrest of those engaged in narcotic drugs.

    “It will interest you to know that almost all the cases we handle here have a link with drugs addiction, so dealing with drugs must be the concern to all”, he explained.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • 4 nabbed for large quantities of wee

    The police at Baatsona have arrested four persons including a lady they suspect were trading in dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp aka Wee.

    The suspects have been identified as Foli Emmanuel, Juliet Asempapa, George Dzamesi, and Prosper Tibo.

    The Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Effia Tenge, said the suspects were arrested by the police upon a tip-off.

    She said 138 slabs in 66 parcels of the suspected narcotic drugs hidden in an uncompleted building and a mini bus were retrieved during the operation.

    “The Baatsona police received intelligence report that some persons were dealing in narcotic drugs at Hydrofoam Estate.

    “Our investigations indicate that they were trading in the substance suspected to be Indian hemp, and so we are detaining them and send samples for forensic examination to aid our investigations,” she added.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Two remanded for possessing narcotic drugs

    The Assin-Fosu District Court has remanded into police custody two persons arrested at Nduaso in the Assin North District for possessing some dried leaves suspected to be (wee) cannabis.

    The suspects, Edward Asante alias Agya Amadu, 47 and Razack Ibrahim, 32, whose pleas were not taken will re-appear in court on Wednesday, May 27.

    Prosecuting, Inspector Gilbert Ayongo, told the Court presided over by Mr. Abdul Majeed Illiasu that the suspects were arrested by the Assin Fosu Divisional Police Patrol Team upon a tip-off.

    The police immediately moved to the community and arrested them after quantities of compressed dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, scissors and a knife were found in their room.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • Immigration patrol team seizes marijuana from smugglers at Aflao border

    The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has intercepted 31 pieces of suspected marijuana from smugglers crossing with the consignment into the Republic of Togo

    The Aflao Command border patrol team stopped the attempt by a syndicated motor-riding smuggler trying to move the commodity across Ghana’s border through an unapproved route -‘beat’ eleven in the Ketu South Municipality.

    A statement released by the Ghana Immigration Service said the patrol team encountered the smugglers at about 01:00am and was suspicious of the movement of two motor riders, who were trying to receive the location for easy operation.

    The release further indicated that four motor-riders then emerged from a nearby bush soon after the disappearance of the earlier two with the compressed parcels in an attempt to smuggle them from the Ghana side of the border into the Republic of Togo.

    The GIS team halted the illegal movement of the contraband goods, which the smugglers fiercely resisted resulting in death threats.

    The consignment was consequently seized but the smugglers managed to escape with their motorbikes, the release noted.

    The Aflao Command has custody of the consignment for further investigation and subsequently will be handed over to the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB).

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Rastafari Council applauds Parliament for legalising ‘ganja’ for medical use

    The Rastafari Council have applauded Ghana Parliament for legalising cannabis for health and industrial purposes in the country.

    On Friday 20th March 2020, the Parliament passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019, which transforms the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) into a Commission with enhanced powers to control and eliminate trafficking of prohibited narcotic drugs.

    Per the new law, NACOB also becomes a Commission with additional powers to oversee the industrial use of some narcotic substances.

    The new law empowers the Minister for Interior to grant licences for the cultivation of cannabis of not more than 0.3 percent THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives the users a high sensation, for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    Reacting to this development, the Rastafari Council who have been advocating the legalisation of cannabis over the years congratulated the government and urged it to take advantage of this opportunity to initiate policies to industrialise the production and processing of cannabis in the country as part of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

    “The legalisation of Cannabis in Ghana paves the way for sustainable job creation, income opportunities for households and marginalised populations, enhanced foreign capital remission through export, lawful access to medicinal advancements in cannabis, and the regeneration of lands which have been destroyed through surface mining and acts of environmental degradation,” the Council said in a statement.

    The Council admonished the public to abide faithfully by the regulatory requirements contained in the Act in order to realise its objects.

    The Council further said it looks forward to engage further with Parliament and the various arms of government on ways to harness the enormous economic, medicinal and environmental prospects of cannabis legalisation.

    Already, countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, and South Africa are among African countries that have decriminalised the use of cannabis for health purposes.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Student granted bail for possessing narcotic drug

    The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 30,000.00 to a 19-year-old student for allegedly possessing two wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

    Abdul-Rahman Yakubu, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotic drug but the Court held that the substance had not been tested and granted him bail to reappear in court on March 31, within which due forensic tests would have been completed.

    Police Inspector Michael Koole, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr. Abdul-Razak Musah, that the suspect was arrested on February 24 at Afrancho near Akomadan.

    He said the complainant, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a fetish priest owns a piece of land at Afrancho which had been turned into a smoking hub by narcotic users.

    The Prosecution said the complainant went to the said location and met the suspect and questioned him of his mission on his property but the accused could not give him any tangible reason.

    He said the complainant then caused his arrest with the help of other witnesses and when they conducted a search in a bag he was carrying, two wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found.

    Prosecution said the suspect was later handed over to the Afrancho Police together with the exhibits for further investigations.

    He said the suspect claimed ownership of the exhibits in his cautioned statement and they were sealed in the presence of an independent witness before being forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory in Accra for testing.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Marijuana gardens destroyed in park

    Security officials in Kasese District have destroyed more than 2.5 acres of marijuana plantations in Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrested six suspects.

    The officials found the plantations about 20 kilometers from Kanyangeya UWA ranger post in Kasese Town.

    Ms. Zelufa Masika, an investigator with UWA at Katunguru post, said they received intelligence information that a group of people had invaded the park and planted marijuana.

    “After our intelligence gathered the information, we had to mobilize a team of rangers who surrounded the park and arrested six suspects. The gardens were later handed over to Kasese Central Police Station for further management,” Ms Masika said.

    She said the planters had started harvesting and plants had matured up to about five months.

    Mr Aron Isingoma, the officer-in-charge of Kanyangeya UWA ranger post, said it took them four days to track the whereabouts of the plantations and the suspects. Mr Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori east regional police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests. “We currently have six suspects as investigations continue. We must establish the real owners of the gardens in the national park so that they can be dealt with accordingly,” Mr Twesige said.

    “We are going to charge them with being in possession of narcotics, operating without licenses and trafficking, among other charges of illegal entry into the national park,” Mr Twesige said.

    He added that they had recovered sacks of the marijuana and the plantations had been cut down and burnt.

    Police suspect that people who do illegal activities in the park could be armed poachers.

    One of the suspects said they sell a basin of the marijuana at Shs100,000 to some businesspeople who take it to Kampala.

    In 2013, another garden of marijuana was destroyed in the park.

    Law says

    According to Anti-Narcotic Act of 2015, anyone found in possession of narcotics is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on conviction, operating without licence is five years while trafficking it [buying and selling] attracts a sentence of life imprisonment.

    Source: monitor.co.ug

     

  • Student punished with essay after baking cannabis cakes

    In an unconventional ruling, a court in northern Zambia has ordered a university student to write a 50-page essay on the dangers of drugs after he was convicted of planning to sell cakes laced with marijuana.

    Chikwanda Chisembele, a first year civil engineering student at the Copperbelt University, was arrested on Monday after it was discovered that he had baked the cannabis cakes.

    Read:Police arrests 213 with condoms, marijuana in swoop

    As punishment, the Kitwe magistrates’ court ordered the 21-year-old to write the essay.

    He was also told to write letters of apology to his university, parents and to the Drug Enforcement Commission before 15 November.

    Read:Police search for marijuana farmers

    Chisembele was also given a two-year suspended jail term, meaning that he will not spend any time in jail unless he commits another offence.

    Source: bbc.com