Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak launched Ghana’s national cannabis licensing regime on February 26. He declared the programme open for implementation during a press briefing in Accra. The launch followed the passage of earlier laws that created the legal foundation for controlled cultivation.
Commission Invites Licence Applications
The Narcotics Control Commission opened applications for licences on March 11. As reported by ALO360, the commission invited businesses, researchers and individuals to apply through its official online portal. Officials moved quickly to implement the framework.
Officials restricted all activities to cannabis varieties with no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis. This rule allowed only industrial uses such as fibre and seeds. Additionally it supported medicinal and pharmaceutical development.
Eleven Licence Categories Cover Full Chain
The framework provided eleven licence categories. These categories covered cultivation, processing, storage, transport, import, export and sales. Applicants selected specific licences based on their planned operations.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak explained the focus on low-THC varieties. “This low-psychoactive hemp is the same type legally cultivated in countries like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany for fibre, seeds, textiles, food products, and therapeutic applications,” he stated.
Commission Issues Strict Guidelines
The Narcotics Control Commission issued a clear statement on the limits. “In strict accordance with the law, licenses are exclusively for cannabis with a THC content of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis,” the commission said. It added that the programme targeted both industrial fibre production and health-related products.
Companies needed at least 50 percent Ghanaian ownership to qualify. Meanwhile Ghanaian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 and above became eligible to apply. The rules ensured that benefits stayed within the country.
Recreational Use Remains Illegal
However, recreational cannabis use stayed completely banned. High-THC varieties continued to attract criminal penalties. Officials stressed this clear distinction to maintain public safety.
Interested parties started to submit applications immediately. The Narcotics Control Commission directed all requests through its digital portal. Officials planned to review submissions carefully under the new regulations.
