Akeredolu charges pharmacists to research more on Indian hemp

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has charged Nigerian pharmacists in the country to conduct in-depth research into the various uses of cannabis Sativa known as Indian hemp, for medicinal purposes.

The governor said this at the 40th Anniversary and the 2021 Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria National Scientific Conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The details were contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Richard Olatunde, on Wednesday. The governor was said to be the Special Guest of Honor at the event.

According to the statement, the governor stated since pharmacists had been working on herbs, more in-depth research into cannabis for medicinal purposes was needed as it is one of the pathways to the controlled its cultivation.

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He noted, “In Ogbese (community in Ondo State), we can have a farm where NDLEA will be in charge. Nobody can take it out to smoke. From there, it gets to you for medicinal purposes.

“Pharmacists have been working on herbs, you can research on this too. It is one of the pathways to the controlled cultivation. We should not be left behind. We have started to champion the issue of red oil that has to do with palm. We will champion the green oil too in Ondo State.”

“We are looking to the pathway of cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes. It can be achieved. I have visited Thailand with the then chairman of the NDLEA. We were at all the important institutions. We went through all the processes of cultivating it for medicinal purposes. We saw it by ourselves.”

Pharmacist Nonso Maduka, who is one of the speakers at the event, said there was a need for Nigeria to allow a pilot situation, considering the fact that cannabis still has industrial and export value.