'Let's not be shy' - Otchere-Darko urges Marijuana economy debate

Founder of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has said Ghana must not be shy in having a national debate about whether or not to cash in on the marijuana economy, which is booming as several countries have decriminalised its use for medicinal purposes.

Using a recent report by Forbes about the Church of England’s investment foray into the marijuana business with its $10.5 billion Fund as a fillip, Mr Otchere-Darko asked: “Are we going to have a debate (constructive and mature kind) about Ghana cashing in on the new legitimate cannabis trade for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, etc?”

The Marijuana Business Daily, for instance, has projected that the U.S cannabis industry could pump nearly $80 billion on an annual basis into the nation’s economy by 2022.

Also, the daily said estimates published in the newly-released Marijuana Business Factbook show the total economic impact of legal marijuana sales increased from $20 billion – $23 billion in 2017 to $63 billion – $77 billion by 2022 – a 223% increase.

By comparison, the $77 billion figure is similar to the 2017 gross domestic product of New Hampshire, which stands at $81 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Marijuana Business Daily reported.

In the view of Mr. Asare Otchere-Darko, Ghana must have “a clean debate on the merits and demerits of Ghana being part of this economy”.

Already a group of Rastafarians has been clamouring for the decriminalization of Marijuana to bolster the economy.

The group is billed for a demonstration to push that agenda.