Zambia’s cabinet has approved the publication and introduction of a bill in parliament to legalise the cultivation of cannabis.

On Tuesday, a government spokesperson, Dora Siliya, said the parliament made the decision during a virtual cabinet meeting held on Monday, March 1.

She said in a statement that the bill was meant to provide for the regulation of the cultivation, production, storage, and distribution of cannabis for medicinal, scientific, and research purposes.

The government spokesperson said the cabinet expected that the country would benefit both medically and economically by enacting the law on cannabis.

The cabinet, she added, also approved the Industrial Hemp bill meant to provide for the licensing of cultivation, production, processing, storage, exportation, importation, regulation, and industrial hemp distribution.

According to her, the cabinet is aware that hemp has been used the world over for paper production and the provision of all sorts of good building materials.

She added that once enacted, the bill would help boost the economy given the broad industrial base.

Xinhua/NAN）