Stop prosecuting Weed smokers – Ex Narcotic Commission secretary
Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, the past Executive Secretary of the Narcotic Control Commission has disclosed that weed smoking is not an issue of criminality.
He stated that the new passed by the president allows people to have a certain amount of weed for daily use.
Mr. Sarpong disclosed that under the new Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020, Act 1019, drug use and abuse is seen as a public health issue rather than an issue of criminality.
“A drug abuser is just like someone suffering from malaria and in need of medical help and thus should be treated as such,” he stated at a workshop organized by the Perfecter of Sentiment (POS) in Kumasi which was monitored by 1Family Radio.
He noted that it is not right for the government to arraign a citizen because he was found in the possession of drugs and then spend a fortune taking care of that person in jail.
Mr. Sarpong however indicated that he is advocating for the abuse of drugs because it can be very addictive but the state must understand the dichotomy between personal life and public safety.
He urged the police to be sensitive when it comes to the implementation of the new law which was passed on March 20, 2023, and assented by the president on May 11,2020.
The ex-Narcotic Commissioner advised lawmakers to approve the legalization of weed because this can earn the country some foreign exchange.
Source: 1Familyradio