Botswana not considering use of cannabis oil

Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday September 11, 2018 17:01

 

The oil that is often referred as cannabis oil and approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been reported to be useful in curing certain diseases including childhood epilepsy. 

However the ministry’s permanent secretary (PS), Ruth Maphorisa says the oil has not been presented before the ministry for review. 

She explained that despite being aware of it and its health benefits, the ministry has not yet considered the oil as the ministry has not reviewed it. 

“The medicine list that the country uses has to be presented and reviewed from time to time and unfortunately the oil has not been put forward for review and as such the ministry can not use it,” she said. 

Maphorisa was answering a question Public Accounts Committee member, Samson Moyo Guma who had wanted to know if the ministry was aware of the oil and its health benefits.

He had questioned whether the country was moving towards the likes of countries such as Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and now South Africa who have legalised the ploughing of Marijuana and use of cannabis oil for health purposes.

According to research, cannabis oil is extracts from Marijuana plant and can be primarily used to cure severe forms of epilepsy.

Also in most countries where its legal doctors can prescribe cannabis and cannabis preparations for symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, long-term pain and the tics associated with Tourette’s syndrome.