This week Zambia’s government’s chief spokeswoman announced on Monday that the country has legalized the production and export of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.
South Africa’s Zambia is now the latest country to change its position on the drug to give its finances a boost.
The approval for the export of cannabis was granted at a special cabinet meeting on Dec. 4, said spokeswoman Dora Siliya.
According to Zambian opposition Green Party President Peter Sinkamba, this move may earn Zambia up to $36 billion annually.
“Depending on how properly this is done, this could just change the face of Zambia’s economy,” Sinkamba told Reuters. “This could be a blessing or a curse, like diamonds and gold, depending on the policy direction.”
According to Siliya, Zambia’s government had directed the ministry of health to coordinate the issuance of the necessary licenses while a technical committee made up of ministers from a range of departments would come up with guidelines.
