Ugandans are now free to grow marijuana, provided it is for medical purposes after President Museveni assented to the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Bill 2023.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday said the president had assented to the law.
The law
Parliament last years passed the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, 2023 which allows the licenced farming and use of marijuana strictly for medical use, and sets harsh penalties for a multitude of offences related to substances abuse.
The new law allows the cultivation of marijuana and khat strictly for medical and other authorised use, with extreme penalties included like forfeiture of properties and lengthy jail terms and hefty fines for violators.
Farmers involved in the cultivation of the prohibited substances will now have to obtain licences from the health ministry, and those who fail to do so will suffer jail, according to the content of clause 11.
Repeated offenders will now suffer jail.
To cure malicious searches and arrests by persons authorised by the Bill, clause 18 puts personal liability on authorised persons who conduct arrests or searches without reasonable cause.
Under clause 7, a pharmacist who prescribes any of the prohibited drugs and substances under the Act will suffer a Shs1 billion fine, 10 years in jail or both.
Under clause 8, medical professionals who, in contravention of their duties under this Act, prescribe and supply the prohibited substances will have their names removed from the registry of professionals.
According to the new law,  Khat also known as Mairungi will also be classified as a controlled substance, its cultivation and consumption conditional on licensing and medical prescriptions after attempts to exempt it  from the list of controlled substances were thwarted.
