Nkhotakota MP opposes calls to legalise Chamba

Quiet astonishing given the historical records in as far as Marijuana, locally known as Chamba is concerned for a Nkhotakota person to trash calls against legalising what is termed as “holy plant” by the Rasta denomination.

Wonders shall indeed never end and on the mention of the subject, Nkhotakota Central Constituency MP Peter Mazizi says government should not legalise the weed and according to him, this call is purely “nonsensical” coming from sullen people.

“I don’t think that’s a good move for government to legalise Chamba because this plant is very strong and most of our boys have gone mad and certainly, I disagree with our friend who brought this issue forward in parliament,” he told Nyasa Times in an exclusive interview..

“He might have highlighted all the good uses of Chamba and how he believes it will boost the economy of the country, but what he has failed to put into account are the effects of Chamba which we all know are far more deadly to our boys and everyone that smokes,” explained Mazizi.

Calls to legalise Chamba originated from Malawi Congress  Party (MCP) lawmaker for Ntchisi North, Boniface Kadzamira who said Chamba is a “viable alternative that can help drive in forex  into Malawi.”

“An acre of Marijuana produces more paper than wood pulp or tree. Apart from paper, you can produce fibre, fabric, soap, lighting oil, medicines, food oil and proteins for both humans and animals,” said Kadzamira

Malawi Gold is the name given to cannabis originating in Malawi. In Chichewa, it is locally known as Chamba. It is internationally renowned as one of the finest sativas from Africa.

The Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen), the Drug Fight Malawi have called for proper research on the proposal while prominent University of Malawi professor of economist, Ben Kalua, argues that industrial hemp fibres are used to manufacture a wide-range of items like textiles, cosmetics, specialised concrete applications and medicines.

He said industrial hemp has enormous potential as an agricultural crop, saying people don’t understand the economic benefits of industrial hemp because of the confusion caused with the illicit drug – Chamba.