Committee constituted to check cannabis misuse

Express Tribune

3 days ago

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In a bid to check the misuse of cannabis and market manipulation, the government has formed a high-level committee to examine the proposed National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy, 2025 carefully from the perspective of international best practices.
The cabinet, in a recent meeting, constituted the committee, led by the minister for defence. During discussion, while appreciating the timely formulation of the national cannabis policy, aimed at reaping economic benefits from the regulated cultivation of its plants and the manufacturing and sale of its derivatives for medicinal and industrial use, the cabinet observed that it was for the first time that such a policy was being introduced in Pakistan. Therefore, it was necessary to examine it very carefully to ensure that no loophole was left in the policy framework, which could be exploited and undermine the purpose and objectives of the policy. The committee will scrutinise the proposed policy framework to identify and remove loopholes, if any. It will assess the adequacy of safeguards to prevent the misuse of cannabis plants, its products or derivatives along the supply chain.
It will also estimate the optimal human resources requirement of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority, including financial implications. The committee will identify any overlaps or incompatibilities between federal and provincial policies or administrative or legal domains that require resolution, and examine any matter ancillary to the policy. The federal government will, from time to time, prepare and prescribe a national policy governing all aspects of the cannabis plant market from cultivation to sale and production as well as export and import of cannabis or its derivatives. It may seek input and assistance from the regulatory authority and provincial governments.
The cabinet was informed that the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority had initially submitted a draft National Cannabis Policy, 2025 to regulate its cultivation and promote new cultivation sites for medicinal and industrial purposes as well as development of the value chain from cultivation to product manufacturing. The policy had been approved by all stakeholders, including all provincial governments, in the eighth meeting of the apex committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and endorsed by the board of governors of the regulatory authority on December 26, 2024, following which the board advised its submission to the cabinet for approval, as stipulated under Section 13 of the Act.
It was brought to the cabinet's notice that through a letter dated February 7, 2025, the Cabinet Division requested the regulatory authority to resubmit the National Cannabis Policy, 2025 after review by the newly appointed director general of the authority. Later, the authority submitted a refined version of the draft policy titled "National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy, 2025," after review by the DG and endorsement by the board of governors.
The draft policy was submitted to the prime minister, who gave directives to seek input from provincial governments and get the policy vetted by the Law Division. In compliance with the directives, the regulatory authority, through a letter dated May 29, 2025, submitted the following:
The authority has ensured full compliance with Section 13 of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Act, 2024 and the National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy, 2025 has undergone extensive deliberations across three sessions of the board of governors held on August 7, 2024, December 26, 2024 and April 9, 2025. The final approval was unanimously granted during the third board of governors' meeting. These sessions were attended by all federal and provincial representatives, including the ex-officio members from the respective provincial governments.
The cabinet was also informed that the Ministry of Law had endorsed the draft policy. The regulatory authority's DG gave a detailed presentation, including the background, objectives, administrative structure, licensing regime and execution framework to operationalise the policy and the envisaged modes of financing.