KAMPALA – Uganda could soon become a beneficiary of the lucrative international legal medicinal marijuana markets after the European Union certified Kampala’s medical marijuana products.
Marijuana gardens are currently in Hima, Kasese District and between July 29 and August 4, a team of medical inspectors from the Netherlands visited the area to see firsthand the handling of cannabis.
They were impressed by what they and issued a one-year certificate of compliance to Industrial Globus Uganda Ltd, a trading company for a joint venture between Industrial Hemp Uganda and Together Pharma of Israel.
Mr Benjamin Cadet, a director at the company, has confirmed EU approval.
“Now that EU has approved our products- the medical marijuana exports and the entire manufacturing chain- from planting to harvest, we are going to export medical marijuana products made in Uganda to European markets,” Mr Cadet said.
The Kasese marijuana farm will now export products such as Cannabinol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The EU inspectors also approved propagation through cloning of vegetal material, cultivation, harvesting, drying, curling, packaging and storage of cannabis inflorescences for medical use.
“Control Union Certifications declares that the production of the products mentioned on this certificate has been found to be compliant in accordance with the standard” a certificate issued on August 6 by Udi Gabay on behalf of the managing director reads in part.
The move is bound to open up space for Uganda companies to apply to grow marijuana. At least 50 companies have applied through Ministry of Health to join Industrial Globus Uganda Ltd in growing weed for medical purposes. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2015 allows cultivation, production and exportation of medical marijuana.
Industry players project the global medical cannabis market to hit $63.5billion by 2024 as countries like Uganda gain access to EU’s legal medicinal marijuana markets.
