. KAMPYONGO

By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has clarified that cultivation of cannabis in Zambia is still illegal unless one has lawful authority to grow it for medicinal purposes.
DEC public relations officer Theresa Katongo made the clarity after several queries from the public on the legality following the statement by Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo to parliament on medicinal cannabis recently.
“We wish to clarify that cannabis cultivation is still illegal in Zambia unless one has lawful authority to cultivate for medicinal purposes as indicated in the Ministers statement,” she said.
Ms Katongo explained that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances provided that any person who without lawful authority cultivated any plant which could be used or consumed as a narcotic or psychotropic substance would be guilty of an offence.
She added that such a person would be liable upon conviction to a fine not less than five hundred penalty units or to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or to both.
“No person shall be guilty of the offence under this section if the plant is cultivated for purposes of medicine or is not on a substantial scale,” she said.
Ms Katongo said that it should, therefore, be noted that the commission would continue with its mandate of arresting persons found cultivating cannabis without lawful authority.
She called on members of the public to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act Cap 95 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Cap 96 of the Laws of Zambia.