Parliament yesterday passed a motion by Lilongwe South legislator Peter Dimba (Malawi Congress Party) to table a Bill to amend the Cannabis Regulation Act of 2020 to facilitate regulated cultivation of the local marijuana.

Moving the motion, he said the amendment seeks to address the challenges local farmers face when they want to venture into industrial hemp cultivation. He added that the new law will have controls to regulate cultivation of marijuana, locally known as chamba.

Said Dimba: “We noted that the current Act is too restrictive to local farmers who want to take part in the cultivation of industrial hemp, especially on the investment part.”

Dimba: Current Act is too restrictive

The Bill seeks to amend the Cannabis Regulation Act No.6 of 2020 to allow for the proper regulation of the local variety of chamba.

The motion brought visible excitement on the faces of members of Parliament, who took turns arguing that marijuana is a high value crop.

However, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda guided the House that despite the numerous benefits outlined, there is a lot to consider before passing the Bill.

Thyolo Central MP Ben Phiri (Democratic Progressive Party) expressed worry that Malawi has an opportunity to generate income from chamba, but instead it spends money arresting and prosecuting those found with the crop.

He also wondered why when other countries are making money from chamba, Malawi through the Malawi Police Service is known for burning huge volumes of confiscated Indian hemp.

Nkhata Bay West MP Chrispin Mphande (UTM Party) said chamba has always been grown and it has proved hard to stop as such the best way is to legalise it.

Dimba said the Bill will be amended alongside the Dangerous Drugs Act (Cap 25:02) to allow for the proper regulation of local cannabis sativa

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