According to our sources, Uganda last week exported about 400 kilograms of medical marijuana to Germany which is actually reported to be the fourth delivery since the government `secretly‘ permitted a few companies to carry the business in the among hundreds that yearn for this lucrative opportunity.
Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It’s basically the same product as recreational marijuana, but it’s taken for medical purposes and it’s reported that a kilo is sold at UGX18 millions in Germany.
Previously, the health ministry issued guidelines to individuals and companies seeking to grow or export marijuana for medical purposes.
Among the guidelines, investors must be cleared by the tax authorities, present evidence of value addition to cannabis and have a minimum capital of $5m (Shs18.3b) and a bank guarantee of $1m (Shs4b).
However, this website has learnt that among the many companies that have shown interest in this business, the government only approved, Hemp Uganda Ltd, as the only company licenced to grow and process medical cannabis.
According to some media reports, Mr Benjamin Cadet, one of the directors at Industrial Hemp Uganda Ltd said they exported the products last Saturday, October 16 and want to start selling some of their finest medical marijuana products in Ugandan markets with the main goal of making the country a global tourism hub for medical cannabis.
“We have developed 10 products of medical cannabis that we have submitted to National Drug Authority for approval so that Ugandan patients can benefit other than exporting to other countries,” Cadet was quoted saying;
“We want to thank President Museveni for the support and providing a conducive environment that enables individual innovations in medical cannabis. The medical cannabis industry is good for the country’s economy and will make Uganda be one of the best medical cannabis producers in the world,” he said.
Sources have it that the company had in March 2020 exported 600 kilograms of medical marijuana to Israel and in January 2021, it also exported a total of 1.7 tonnes to the same country.
Secret In Medical Marijuana
■ Let’s today look at “Cannabinoids. These are active chemicals in medical marijuana that are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain. Limited research suggests cannabinoids might:
• Reduce anxiety
• Reduce inflammation and relieve pain • Control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
• Kill cancer cells and slow tumour growth • Relax tight muscles
• Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS among other importances.