Overview

The National Cannabis Policy provides the legal roadmap for control and regularization of cannabis industry in the country and aligns itself strictly with the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, 1961; Pakistan being signatory of the Convention. The enabling framework covers across the entire value-chain of cannabis cultivation, extraction, product manufacturing and developing a conducive marketplace within and outside the country only for industrial and pharmaceutical purpose. Use of Cannabis for entertainment purpose will continue to be illegal and shall be dealt with by existing laws of the Country.

A key feature of the Cannabis Policy is to encourage controlled and regulated cultivation of new sites for medicinal and industrial purposes; while bringing historically prevalent cultivation regions, notably 50,000 (approximately) acres of cannabis cultivation in newly merged districts, under legal umbrella. The initiative has significant social value in reducing the illicit drug trafficking and uplifting the socio-economic status of the cultivation region.

In addition, the global Industrial and Medicinal Cannabis industry is expected to grow from current US$ 25 billion to approximately US$ 134.4 billion by 2030, recording a Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.3%. As more research into industrial and medicinal cannabis is undertaken, public demand for cannabis derived products continues to rise. So far, more than 50 countries have legalized cultivation and more governments are promoting, commercializing industrial and medicinal cannabis through legislation. Pakistan needs to act swiftly to join this rapidly growing industry while ensuring to align itself with international laws through its own legal framework.