The global cannabis market is booming, expected to reach a value of more than $80 billion by 2027. Many countries are working to cash in, especially now that Germany legalized the plant—setting the stage for the rest of the EU and beyond. Now, one unlikely South Asian country hopes to be part of the worldwide green rush.
Earlier this year, lawmakers in Pakistan approved a bill to create a new Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA). The government agency will be in charge of “regulating the cultivation, extraction, refining, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis derivatives for medical and industrial purposes.” Marijuana is otherwise illegal in the country.
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The measure was initially put forth in 2020 by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who hoped to boost Pakistan’s economy through the production and export of cannabis products, namely CBD oil. According to the CCRA framework, regulated marijuana products in Pakistan must contain less than 0.3 percent THC—the same limit put forth in the U.S. by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Farmers in northwestern Pakistan have cultivated cannabis for generations. Until now, law enforcement has mostly turned a blind eye. According to Al Jazeera, some in the region fear the new CCRA will lead to a crackdown on these unlicensed operations due to language in the measure regarding the prevention of “illegal and prevailing cultivation of cannabis.”
Others argue it may be too late for Pakistan to reap the rich benefits of cannabis production, pointing to commercial operations that already exist in Germany, China, and Latin America. By the time the market in Pakistan gets up and running, skeptics believe over-saturation may already have taken hold.
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Despite the concerns, many are hopeful the new rules will boost profits and advance the local industry—especially as leaders in Thailand seek to re-criminalize marijuana.
“If the government brings on the regulatory framework, it will only help the farmers more,” cannabis farmer Suleman Shah told Al Jazeera. “They can provide expertise to the farmers, help them research and grow better quality of products for the people, allowing to move beyond just the recreational use.”
It’s unclear how long it will take the CCRA to begin issuing licenses and how many will be available. Regardless, the move is a sign that more countries are realizing the possible benefits of the cannabis plant, both for consumers and the economy.
