President says policy decision required to legalise cannabis in SL

1 February 2021 04:15 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said a policy decision has to be taken to legalise the cannabis in Sri Lanka in order to develop it as a medicinal crop in the future.

The President was responding to a proposal made by an academic at his recent meeting of the series of programmes launched as ‘Discussion with the Village’ (Gama samaga pilisandarak), held at Aluthwewa Grama Niladhari Division in Thanamalvila, Monaragala on Saturday.

President Rajapaksa directed state officials to look into the avenues of creating a policy decision in this regard and was instantly briefed by the latter about the present situation in legalising the plant.

An academic in natural sciences Dr. Wasantha Weliange posing a question at the ‘Discussion with the Village’ programme proposed the present legal constraints hindering the cultivation of cannabis or ganja plant for medicinal purposes should be lifted.

He said the law enforcement authorities treat cannabis cultivators as smugglers and arrest them before taking legal action and then ultimately destroying their crop.

Dr. Weliange pointed out that the Monaragala District is the ideal area recognised as having the most suitable weather and climate for the fine growth of ganja plant or anciently known it as the ‘Kansa’ that used in manynAyurvedic and ‘Hela’ medicines.(KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA)

Comments - 6

K.L Pathirana Monday, 01 February 2021 08:34 AM

Yes this is the most important now at this very moment in the case of sanctions are enforced by the UN we can smoke dope and have a ball. Thought Srisena had his brains in the rear.

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Jesus Monday, 01 February 2021 08:38 AM

GR needs to smoke some pot to get things straight in his life... He is a rotting tree from beneath

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Sokrates Monday, 01 February 2021 08:39 AM

Long overdue

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Sammy Monday, 01 February 2021 08:43 AM

Cannabis is known to have very high medicinal properties in South Asia, for millenia. Unfortunately it had been banned because of its abuse in more recent times. Controlled use of this should be permitted, for medical use.

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Kanthaka Monday, 01 February 2021 01:48 PM

We already have a severe drug problem here; why add fuel to the fire?

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Martin Milton Monday, 01 February 2021 05:32 PM

I personally feel that Sri Lanka is certainly NOT ready for such sophisticated measures as of now. There needs to be far more public education before this is done. MM

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