Martin Endjala
Evalistus Kaaronda, president of the South Africa West National Union (Swanu), says marijuana should only be used for medical purposes if it is legalised.
Kaaronda made this statement to the Windhoek Observer over the weekend, in response to a high court case on marijuana that Kadhila Amoomo, a legal practitioner law firm, filed.
Last week on its social page, the law firm announced that it had launched a case in the high court to legalise the private use of marijuana for health and recreational purposes.
The matter was opposed and postponed by the presiding judge, Eileen Rakow, to 30 July.
“It’s hard to have a meaningful conversation about striking a balance in the absence of scientific evidence confirming the benefits of recreational use. I have seen marijuana destroy the lives of so many gifted people across the years,” said Kaaronda.
He said that people can process marijuana into a variety of very healthy and useful products, which, if commercially marketed, can also help individuals make money.
According to Kaaronda, marijuana can be used for medicine, oil, and other products, and there is no need to use it for recreation.
“I think it is high time for us to consider this matter more objectively and with sober minds. The negative connotations associated with marijuana must be put aside, and scientific evidence confirming or debunking the medicinal benefits of marijuana must inform the national discourse,” he argued.
He believes that it should not be legal to use marijuana recreationally.
Health and social services minister Kalumbi Shangula said he is not aware of such a case.
“Since you said that the case is in court, I cannot comment on it. In any case, if it is argued on medical grounds, only those with a constitutional mandate for the health of the nation can file such a case,” he stated.
Marijuana is thought to have benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and preventing drug and alcohol addiction relapses, as well as treating anxiety disorders and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, preventing seizures, and fighting cancer.
Borro Ndungula, the secretary general of the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) and Rastafari United announced last week that their community intended to hand over a petition to the Kavango East governor on 25 October.
He said the petition aims to call for the legalisation of marijuana smoking in the country and to stop the incarceration of ganja users.
