Connect with us

Business

NDLEA expresses worry over marijuana-laced cakes as lawmaker makes a case for legalization

Published

on

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cakes made with cannabis on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Oyo NDLEA Commander Josephine Obi disclosed this on Tuesday in Ibadan.

“We also arrested a delivery man who was in possession of a birthday cake infused with 1.2kg of Cannabis Sativa. The continuous attempt by illicit drug traffickers to outwit anti-drug agency through evil creativity is increasing at an alarming rate in different states of the country.

“The emergence of clandestine production of drugged cookies or cakes among the youths is at an alarming rate as this was uncovered by some state commands of the NDLEA formations in the country,” said the commander.

She added, “The cookies or cakes were baked with Arizona weed, a highly psychoactive variant of the marijuana family, Rohypnol and alcohol among other ingredients such as yeast, butter, flour, sugar, milk, and chocolates.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu said the legal cultivation and export of Indian Hemp in Nigeria should be considered

Kalu said this on Monday during a press conference on the benefits and opportunities of Cannabis, in Akure, Ondo State.

According to him, the decision would be made in the country’s interests and economic growth.

He explained that countries such as South Africa and others are currently benefiting a high revenue from cannabis, which they export to other countries.

“It is worrisome that Nigeria has not made use of the financial advantage that her oil reserves can provide to generate collective investment and revenue sources.

“The coronavirus pandemic exposed our weaknesses when global oil prices fell below $0 a barrel on 20 April 2020.

“Agriculture has always been a major strength of Nigeria and cannabis provides interesting prospects.

“The crop, once harvested, has a high yield of edible proteins and fibres with over 50,000 product applications.

“Also, a verifiable market research showed that the Global Industrial Hemp Market is projected to reach USD 36 Billion by 2026.

“Nigerians must understand that we are not alone in this race to establish a lucrative medical and industrial hemp economy,” he said.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *