Former chairman of the National Agency for the Campaign against Drug Abuse (Nacada) John Mututho has opposed plans to legalise the growth and use of marijuana (bhang) in Kenya.
Mr Mututho said decriminalising the drug, as proposed by Kibra MP Ken Okoth who has written to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi seeking for facilitation in preparing the Marijuana Control Bill, will hurt the youth.
“These are dangerous substances. I get surprised when an honourable member of Parliament comes and starts to [try to] gain popularity by [advocating] for an illegality to make it legal, just as they did with portable spirits standards,” said Mr Mututho Sunday in Nyeri town.
He asked MPs to shoot down the proposal once it is tabled in Parliament, insisting that the lawmaker is seeking popularity through the proposed Bill.
He questioned why Mr Okoth would seek for the legalisation of a drug that is addictive and affects the functionality of the human brain.
Mr Mututho is currently working as an advisor to the Kiambu County government on the implementation of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2018.
Mututho asks MPs to reject proposal to legalise #Marijuana https://t.co/gpacvQlMpV
— Drugs Reports (@Drugs_Reports) September 24, 2018
The Kibra MP is seeking regulation for the growth and safe use of marijuana as well as progressive taxation measures for the industry, in order to boost economic independence and job creation.
But Mr Mututho said the move is an abuse of law “as it seeks to justify evil things”.
“There is no way we can have cannabis as part of our menu. Let’s have logic. Why do we have to legalise something that affects the functionality of the brain?” posed Mr Mututho.
Noting that a South African constitutional court approved the private use and cultivation of the stimulant recently, Mr Mututho said Kenya should not borrow such laws.
Other than having the consumption of bhang legalised, Mr Okoth’s Bill also seeks for the registration of growers, producers, manufacturers and users.
He also wants protection of children or minors from its illicit use.
Mututho opposes calls to legalise bhang https://t.co/2DaQT9Iqml
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) September 24, 2018