The Internal Affairs Minister, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has called upon the members of parliament working on the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Bill to eliminate miraa, commonly known as amayirungi, from the list of prohibited substances in Uganda.
Otafiire argued that miraa is not as hazardous as it is often portrayed.
“I don’t think it is more dangerous than coffee and alcohol. So, ladies and gentlemen, I think we better remove it from the prohibited substances because if it was dangerous, how come it has not killed people in Somalia?” he said.
In addition, Otafiire urged parliament to pass a new law that would allow for the regulated growing of cannabis. He emphasized the medicinal benefits of cannabis in treating certain conditions, including epilepsy and even Covid-19.
These proposals arise following the Constitutional Court’s nullification of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act earlier this year due to a lack of quorum. The government aims to address the legal framework surrounding these substances and explore potential regulations for their use and growth.