CANNABIS ASSOCIATION HITS BACK AT NATCOM

MBABANE - EHCA has  hit back at National Commissioner of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, accusing him of spreading ‘misleading and misinformation’ regarding the link between cannabis use and rising cases of GBV.

The association’s strong response signals a clear escalation in the debate surrounding cannabis regulation in Eswatini.

The Eswatini Hemp and Cannabis Association’s (EHCA) criticism follows NATCOM’s appeal to Members of Parliament, made during the handover of the Vikizijula Police Post, to cease opposing existing drug legislation. He asserted that cannabis use contributes to gender-based violence (GBV), citing anecdotal examples of alleged poor hygiene among users and their supposed inclination towards rape.

In a statement released by Secretary General Trevor Shongwe, the EHCA challenged the commissioner’s claims, while acknowledging the current prohibition of cannabis under the Opium and Habit Forming Drugs Act of 1922 and the Pharmacy Act of 1929. However, the association firmly reiterated its position that these Acts are ‘draconian and outdated’, remnants of colonial oppression used to criminalise indigenous practices.

“It is indeed a well-documented historical and scientific fact that predating the 19th century and post-colonialism, cannabis use by emaSwati emdzabu was legal in Eswatini, for purposes such as traditional use, general medicinal use, religious use, industrial use and adult responsible use,” Shongwe stated, highlighting the historical context of cannabis use in the region.

The EHCA emphasised its ongoing lobbying efforts for the repeal of these archaic laws, aligning with the 2020 United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) recommendation to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The association advocates for a standalone Eswatini Cannabis Control Act to regulate medicinal, industrial and recreational use.

“With the necessary due respect afforded to authorities, although government officials over the years seem to have exhibited stigma against the cannabis plant and have thus failed to come up with an all-inclusive cannabis Act,” Shongwe said, expressing frustration at the lack of progress on this front.

Regarding the commissioner’s claims linking cannabis to GBV, the EHCA delivered a scathing response. “It is indeed misleading and misinformation for people in government to continue to spread unscientific facts and to make such blanket statements,” Shongwe asserted. He underscored that cannabis is used by ‘responsible and honourable citizens’ across various sectors, including academics, medical professionals and law enforcement.

While acknowledging the potential risks associated with cannabis use, similar to alcohol and tobacco and stressing the importance of responsible consumption, particularly among young people and individuals with mental health conditions, the association argued that government’s failure to address underlying issues like youth unemployment and poverty exacerbates societal problems.

“This kind of blanket statements by government officials is a testament and proof enough that the fight against these societal ills and moral decay exhibited by emaSwati over the years such as drugs and substance abuse, GBV, rape and murder is far from being resolved, so long as the government is not in tune with the reality on the ground,” Shongwe concluded.

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