There’s a compelling case for Africa to legalise, regulate and tax marijuana

Africa’s official position on marijuana is unanimous — banned. Unofficially, however, its use is generally widespread, a contradiction which presents antagonistic polarities see-sawing between condescending condemnations and prohibitions, and defiant cultural acceptance and use.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated Africa’s cannabis production at 10,500 tonnes in 2005, or 25 per cent of the world’s 42,000 tonnes. The American continent accounted for 46 per cent of global production.

According to the UN World Drug Report 2014, users aged 18 plus number between 119 and 224 million people, with Iceland leading in consumption, ahead of Zambia, the US, Italy, New Zealand, and Nigeria, in that order.

With the exception of Canada, US, Spain and Jamaica, use in the other Top 10 countries remains prohibited.

Today, 23 countries have decriminalised marijuana, among them, Argentina, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, and Portugal, with full legalisation in the Netherlands, North Korea, Uruguay and Nicaragua.

Not one is an African country.

In the United States, California became the first state to legalise marijuana in 1996.

Presently, 23 other states, including Florida, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, DC, have to varying levels, either decriminalised or fully legalised possession and use.

Only four states, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana, still prohibit marijuana, but

“The drug’s popularity among minorities and other groups practically ensured that it would be classified as a ‘narcotic’, attributed with addictive qualities it did not have, and set alongside far more dangerous drugs like heroin and morphine.”

Asking Africa to legalise marijuana, and open exploitation of the huge market potential is — in our world that defines more by choices than restrictions — not only a realistic and timely call, but one that also enables Africa to self-liberate from Anslinger’s ethnic shenanigans.