LUSAKA, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- An opposition political party in Zambia has dragged a minister to court for refusal to grant licenses for cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes, a statement said on Wednesday.
The Green Party, an advocate for legalization of marijuana, has dragged health minister Chitalu Chilufya to court seeking a judicial review in a matter which it is challenging the decision by the minister to refuse to grant the opposition party a license to import, export, cultivate, produce, possess, sale and the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
"This serves to inform that we applied for judicial review in Kabwe High Court challenging the decision of the honorable minister of health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya's refusal to grant the president of the Green Party a license to import, export, cultivate, produce, possess, sale distribute, and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes," Peter Sinkamba, the party's president said in the statement.
The party, he said, wanted the court to declare that the minister's decision to refuse to grant the license unlawful, unreasonable and ultra vires and that the use of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes was indispensable, hence people with qualifying medical need should not be unduly denied access.
There has been a growing debate in Zambia for authorities to allow the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
In May this year, the minister of health said his ministry will not issue any license for the cultivation and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes because the end to end encryption for marijuana from cultivation to processing for its medicinal value does not exist.
But in March, Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo had said the country had laws that allowed the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purpose and that those intending to venture into the business should apply for licenses from the health ministry.
