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The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act declared that anyone in Kenya who is in possession of any narcotic drug, including cannabis, is breaking the law and will be punished.
However, there is mounting pressure on the Kenyan government to legalize industrial hemp as a viable exportable crop and cannabis for medical purposes.
Kenya Medical Marijuana Laws
Cannabis has been present in Africa for a long time; it first reached Kenya through trade routes several ages ago.
There is a high importance of cannabis in Kenyan culture. They valued the plant for its therapeutic properties and usefulness. Some sovereignties, like the Luo people of western Kenya, even employed it in religious rituals.
The laws of the African nation were formed by international agreements governing anti-drug campaigns throughout the first part of the 20th century.
Kenya’s 1994 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act eventually put an end to the use of the cannabis plant, following the example of many other nations throughout the decades of post-colonial prohibition and globalization.
This law classified cannabis as a narcotic, outlawed its use, and stipulated a minimum 10-year prison sentence for simple possession.
Recently, Kenyan politicians and candidates for president have become more receptive to the idea of medical marijuana use and future decriminalization.
A marijuana bill was introduced to Kenya’s National Assembly in 2018, by Kibra MP Ken Okoth, and other well-known medical researchers in Kenya have petitioned the government for its legalization.
George Wajackoyah, an unconventional contender for president of Kenya in 2022, was outspoken in his support of the legalization of marijuana and argued that it could help Kenya become wealthy.
Many other organizations continue to take a strong stance against the development of the cannabis sector in Kenya, pointing to the country’s high drug misuse rates and the absence of any demonstrable medical advantages as justifications for the continued enforcement of the existing legislation.
About Medical Marijuana In Kenya
In Kenya, cannabis is not legal for either medical or recreational use. In the same way, you cannot import it.
Even if you have a medical marijuana card, it is advised that you leave your cannabis (including CBD) at home if you are planning a trip to Kenya.
Is CBD Legal in Kenya?
The current Kenyan makes no distinction between CBD and marijuana. As a result, CBD is governed by the same rules and penalties as marijuana.
Is it Legal to Grow Marijuana in Kenya?
Cannabis cultivation is forbidden. It is illegal to cultivate it, and you cannot let others do it on your land or property. If the police discover that you are cultivating cannabis, you could face a fine of 250,000 shillings or fine equivalent to three times the cannabis’s market worth, whichever is higher. As an alternative, you might receive both a prison sentence (of up to 20 years) and a fine.
Is it Legal to Sell Marijuana in Kenya?
Cannabis sales are prohibited in Kenya. You could receive a sentence of 20 years to life in prison if the court determines that the amount of cannabis you are in possession of is for supply.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that marijuana has a long history in Kenya, its usage and possession are still illegal.
Bills to decriminalize marijuana and establish a medicinal cannabis industry have been introduced, but there is still a long way to go before they become law.
