Harare: Zimbabwe still criminalises possession and smoking of cannabis despite legalising the growing of the drug last week, a minister said.
Health minister David Parirenyatwa said government only legalised the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and scientific research only.
“Possession of cannabis other than for medicinal or scientific purposes is therefore still illegal in Zimbabwe,” Parirenyatwa said in a statement.
He added “licencing is imperative for medicinal or industrial cannabis use.”
Possession and smoking cannabis attracts a jail sentence in the southern African nation.
In countries such as Australia, Puerto Rico, Poland, Czech Republic, Canada, Croatia and Macedonia the production of cannabis is legal for medicinal purposes in some form.
But in others such as Japan, the Cannabis Control Law can dish out a five year prison sentence for smoking a single joint, along with hard labour.
Those caught trafficking or selling marijuana, even in small quantities, can be sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
