This move comes on the heels of a decline in tobacco sales which accounts for 60% of foreign exchange earnings in Malawi.
Because of the impact of anti-smoking campaigns led by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the world has started to smoke less, and Malawi is feeling the impact.
According to Quartz Africa, tobacco sales globally have decreased over the years, and the world’s three biggest tobacco companies have each decreased by about 20% in market value this year.
Different stakeholders in the Malawi hemp industry have been calling on the government to speed up legislation to diversify the country’s revenue options.
Boniface Kadzamila, a member of parliament, says: “We needed to have jumped on this window already, as it has been proven on the international market that the crop is lucrative, so to legalise this crop will be very vital for Malawi.
“Malawi also has some of the best climatic conditions to grow the crop, and now that the marijuana market is experiencing a near-global surge in growth, it feels like a no-brainer.
“This crop has Cannabidiol oil, which is in high demand and it is estimated that in the next three years the CBD oil we extract from the crop is poised to grow at over 700%.”
The bill will be tabled before the country’s national assembly very soon. If the legislation is approved, Malawi will join the ranks of African countries like Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South Africa, who have already legalised marijuana farming.
