GHULAM ABBAS
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Monday approved the first-ever Cannabis Authority Bill, a piece of legislation that had been delayed for over four years due to disputes between ministries over jurisdiction.
The committee, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, saw an interesting development when Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senators sought to approve the bill without extensive deliberation, following party instructions, according to Senator Affan Ullah Khan.
At the start, Chairman Kamil Ali Agha emphasized the sensitivity of the subject and stressed the need for thorough examination of each clause before proceeding. However, Senators Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Musadik Masood Malik, and Nasir Mehmood argued that the bill had already been extensively discussed in previous committees and should be passed without further review.
At one point, it appeared that the ruling party senators were under direct orders to ensure the bill’s swift approval. The Acting Secretary of Defence also urged the committee to pass the bill during the Monday session. However, Senator Kamil Ali Agha insisted that the committee members should decide the matter independently.
Senator Shibli Faraz of the PTI, a former Minister for Science and Technology, stated that he had supervised the initial drafting of the bill and was aware of its intricacies. He warned that he would submit a dissenting note if the bill was passed without due consideration. Eventually, the committee agreed to deliberate on each clause, identifying several shortcomings in the draft.
Throughout the meeting, PML-N committee members continued consulting with each other on how to secure the bill’s approval in this first sitting. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan informed the chairman that, following party directives, the PML-N senators would vote in favor of the bill.
Both Senator Shibli Faraz and the committee chairman questioned why the Ministry of Defence was supervising the Cannabis Development Authority. Officials explained that since cannabis is primarily cultivated in the former FATA region, the involvement of the Defence Ministry and other agencies was necessary to ensure control over the sensitive matter in accordance with UN protocols.
Later, the Senate Committee unanimously passed “The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024.” The bill, passed with amendments, now includes two members of the Senate—one of whom must be a woman—on the Board of Governors of the authority, along with other revisions to the bill’s clauses.
Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, stated that the bill aims to regulate the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis to protect public health and tap into the economic potential of the cannabis industry. He noted that cannabis can be used for industrial and medicinal purposes, with an estimated economic potential of $4 to $6 billion. Senator Musadik Masood Malik added that cannabis use should be restricted to medicinal purposes, with safeguards to prevent abuse.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Jan Muhammad, Husna Bano, Musadik Masood Malik, Nasir Mehmood, Syed Shibli Faraz, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Sajid Baloch, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Ashfaq Kiyani, Chairman of PCSIR Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, and other senior officials from relevant departments.
What the new authority aims?
The ordinance, named the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2024, aligns with Pakistan’s commitment as a signatory to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961. Article 23 of the convention recommends the establishment of a government agency to regulate cannabis cultivation and production, while Article 28 addresses matters related to opium poppy cultivation.
According to the documents an authority known as the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority will be established under the administrative control of the cabinet division. This authority will be overseen by a 13-member Board of Governors, chaired by the Secretary of the Defence Division, with representatives from various government departments, the private sector, and intelligence agencies.
The board will be responsible for making policy decisions and advising the federal government on all matters related to cannabis policy, including licensing activities governed by the ordinance.
The federal government retains the power to convene board meetings as needed and appoint a Director General for the authority, along with employees, advisors, and consultants as necessary. Additionally, the government will develop and prescribe a national cannabis policy covering all aspects of the cannabis derivatives market.
The bill allows for the issuance of licences for a five-year period and establishes a committee to oversee the development of prescription and non-prescription drugs from cannabis derivatives for various purposes.
Background:
Previous attempts to legalise the production of medicinal hemp in Pakistan date back to September 2020 when Fawad Chaudhry, the former Minister for Science & Technology, proposed the initiative. Despite initial approval from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, the transfer of the hemp issue to the Ministry of Narcotics Control in December 2022 posed challenges.
The Ministry of Science and Technology’s efforts were met with resistance from the Ministry of Narcotics Control, which argued that hemp’s relation to marijuana warranted its jurisdiction. Consequently, the hemp issue was transferred, affecting the Ministry of Science and Technology’s plans for industrial hemp cultivation.
In response, the Ministry of Science and Technology shared the draft “National Industrial Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis Policy” with relevant authorities. The then MoST planned on establishing cannabis farms in Jhelum, Peshawar and Chakwal, due to favourable climate. However, conflicting interests emerged during discussions at the Ministry of Narcotics, delaying the policy’s approval.
Despite recognizing the potential economic benefits and job creation opportunities associated with hemp cultivation, concerns raised by the Ministry of Food Security regarding research and cultivation approval procedures further complicated the situation.
The approval of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2024 signifies progress in regulating the cannabis industry in Pakistan. However, challenges remain as conflicting interests and regulatory hurdles persist, highlighting the complexities of legalising and regulating cannabis cultivation.
