The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology approved the landmark Cannabis Authority Pakistan Bill, marking a significant milestone for the country’s cannabis industry after a four-year delay due to jurisdictional disputes between ministries.
During the committee meeting, Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha emphasized the importance of carefully reviewing each clause of the bill. Senators Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Musadik Masood Malik, and Nasir Mehmood argued for immediate passage without further revisions. PTI Senator Shibli Faraz, who previously supervised the bill’s initial drafting, expressed concerns about rushing the approval and indicated he would submit a dissenting note if the bill was passed without adequate consideration.
The bill aims to regulate the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis to protect public health and harness the economic potential of the cannabis industry, estimated at $4-6 billion. Throughout the meeting, PML-N members strategized on securing the bill’s approval, with Senator Afnan Ullah confirming that the party would support the legislation.
Questions arose regarding the Ministry of Defence’s oversight of the Cannabis Development Authority, prompting discussions about the need for their involvement given that cannabis is primarily cultivated in the former FATA region. This measure aligns with UN protocols to ensure responsible management of cannabis cultivation.
The committee ultimately passed “The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill 2024” with amendments. Notably, the bill will include provisions for two senators on the board of governors—one of whom must be a woman. The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Chairman, Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, highlighted the bill’s role in regulating the cannabis industry while promoting its industrial and medicinal applications.
The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority will operate under the cabinet division, with a 13-member board chaired by the defence secretary, comprising representatives from various government departments, the private sector, and intelligence agencies. This board will be tasked with making policy decisions and advising the federal government on all matters related to cannabis policy, including licensing activities.
The notion of legalizing medicinal hemp production in Pakistan first emerged in September 2020 under then-Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry. However, objections from the Ministry of Narcotics Control regarding jurisdiction and concerns from the Ministry of Food Security about potential negative impacts on food cultivation delayed progress.
Cannabis refers to a group of three plants (Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis) that have psychoactive properties. When harvested and dried, the flowers of these plants are commonly known as marijuana or weed. In recent years, Pakistan has shown interest in developing a regulatory framework around cannabis due to its potential economic and medical benefits. The Cannabis Authority Pakistan was proposed in response to this. The authority aims to regulate the cultivation, processing, and distribution of cannabis, focusing on medicinal and industrial purposes. This move is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify its agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.
Pakistan’s Cannabis Authority is likely focused on ensuring the safe and regulated use of cannabis, especially for medicinal and industrial purposes, while preventing its misuse for recreational purposes, given the legal and social complexities around drug use in the country.
