The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) has warned that any legislator at the National Assembly who vote to legalise cannabis would not dare return to their constituencies.
Marwa issued this warning on Friday while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The NDLEA boss enjoined lawmakers not to support the move to legalise cannabis, cautioning that those who vote for it might not be able to return to their constituencies.
He said that cannabis has destroyed a lot of lives across the country and should not be legalised for pecuniary gains because Nigeria is the highest consumer of substances which the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that it affects the brain.
“Now, the WHO itself has declared that cannabis affects the brain, alters brain function. It destabilises and affects behaviour. It also affects body organs, and at some point, it can lead to death.
“So, while we appreciate those who want to legalise it for financial gains, we have to be careful to reconcile it with life. So, it’s money versus life. And up to this point, science has not developed up to the point where it can remove the THC in cannabis to zero.
“Therefore, cannabis is harmful to our health; it is a danger to society. We must never allow its legalisation. What’s more, Nigeria has 10.6 million cannabis users; this is the highest in the world. Isn’t it sad?
“We should be the highest in science, technology, mathematics, physics and not highest in cannabis. That is something we need.
Nigeria Can Never Support Legalisation Of Cannabis
Marwa vowed that Nigeria would not submit to the push for legalisation of cannabis which has destroyed many youths and families.
“We can never support legalisation and I don’t see how the National Assembly would pass the bill because I know 90 per cent or more of the honourable and distinguished members of the National Assembly know the implications of this legalisation.
“They dare not go back to their constituencies if anyone signs legalisation because we are seeing the implication on the ground. The youth, the families are being destroyed because of cannabis and drugs. It wouldn’t be legalised by the grace of God.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Buba Marwa had revealed that the agency is seeking government’s approval to conduct drug tests on all Nigerian students, security agencies’ fresh recruits and all newly appointed government employees.
