There is now a marked change in direction globally towards various forms of legalization, ranging from pilot periods of legalized use of cannabis for medical purposes to outright legalization of personal recreational use. The United States (not all states) and Canada currently lead the global market by some distance, but with its population and economic strength, Europe is projected to dwarf these markets by a significant distance as soon as 2028 with a value of €123 billion (2023 EU Drug Markets Analysis). Against the backdrop of a thriving and increasingly complex industry in North America and other countries across the Atlantic, Botswana government led by UDC has also begun to explore the history of the cannabis industry for the benefit of the country`s economy and is already in the process of assessing the regulation of a legal cannabis industry in Botswana with the aim to come with laws that evolve away from blanket prohibition. What is the Cannabis industry? The use of hemp for industrial applications is well documented, going back 3,000 years to the Vikings who used hemp as a material for their tapestries. Cannabis sativa has been used for textiles, paper, the sails, nets, ropes and other industrial applications.
The first copies of the Gutenberg bibles were printed on paper made from hemp fibers. The plant has been traditionally used for therapeutic properties and for treating various ailments. What's more, Christopher Columbus' fleet of ships typically relied on sails, nets and ropes made of hemp, partly since it does not rot or go moldy when damp (dw.com in focus). Most if not all of the national currencies are printed on paper made of hemp because of its durability. Some value it so highly, that April 20 has been deemed "World Cannabis Day." Cannabis is motokwane: Cannabis is a collective noun covering both hemp (‘majaja’ in Setswana vernacular) and marijuana (‘motokwane’ in Setswana vernacular). These plants are both the same species (cannabis sativa) but the threshold of 0.3% THC (the psychoactive substance) distinguishes hemp (majaja) from marijuana (motokwane). Because cannabis can have a relaxing effect on some users, and it's often used for its calming and sleep-inducing properties, oral history in Southern Africa has it that the naming of the plant was originally “Motho-kwana” from amongst Basotho, which through passage of time the name evolved to be pronounced as “Motokwane” in Botswana. This was as a result of the psychological and physical effects of cannabis which can make some people tired or relaxed. Thus, cannabis is ascribed the name “motokwane” because it is considered a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogen. Hence, for UDC leadership to be shy of unapologetically acknowledging cannabis sativa as motokwane in fear of public opinion, or the societal backlash due to the stigma attached to the name – “motokwane”, is the display of colonial conquerors` brainwashing thinking!
