On Friday, the National Assembly passed a bill aimed at regulating the cultivation of cannabis and the sale of its derivatives for medicinal and industrial purposes.
Earlier Monday, the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology endorsed the country’s first Cannabis Authority Bill after a four-year delay due to jurisdictional disputes between ministries. The committee unanimously approved “The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill 2024,” incorporating amendments that include the appointment of two senators, one of whom must be a woman, to the board of governors and other revisions.
The bill, initially proposed in September 2020 by then-Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, faced opposition from the Ministry of Narcotics Control over jurisdiction issues. The Ministry of Food Security also expressed concerns regarding the potential adverse effects on food cultivation from sanctioning the research and pilot cultivation of medicinal hemp.
The “Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Act, 2024” now extends nationwide and will take immediate effect upon receiving presidential assent. The legislation defines cannabis in detailed terms related to its cultivation and production stages and establishes the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority under the administrative oversight of the relevant division.
The newly formed authority ensures public health and safety by overseeing cannabis cultivation, extraction, refining, manufacturing, and sales, aligning with international obligations and best practices. Additionally, the authority aims to curb illicit trafficking by legalizing and regulating cannabis production in designated areas, enhancing farmer profits, and reducing social harm.
The act also focuses on fostering the local development of cannabis-based products for medicinal and industrial use, generating exports, and attracting foreign direct investment. It outlines a comprehensive regulatory framework to generate government revenue through taxation and promote a supply chain for industrial and medicinal cannabis.
Among its other mandates, the board of governors, which includes two members from the National Assembly nominated by the Assembly speaker, will advise the federal government on cannabis policy, oversee licensing, and set limits on cultivation areas. The board is also charged with enabling research and development in cannabis cultivation and the production of its derivatives.
