Ghana must not legalise marijuana for recreational use, says Asogonnde

A former drug addict, John Asogonnde, has urged the Government of Ghana not to legalise marijuana for recreational use.

Asogonnde believes legalising it now for such purposes will lead to abuse, because there is an absence of the necessary structures to ensure social care.

Asogonnde is the author of Unchained, a memoir chronicling his experiences of breaking away from drug addiction. He also operates the Eden Bar, described as Ghana’s first non-alcoholic bar.

The former drug addict has said an online sermon by the general overseer of the International Central Gospel Centre (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, became the turning point in ending his addiction.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (23 May), Asogonnde said he started smoking marijuana at university after engaging in other vices such as consuming pornography.

“I don’t see us in a position to put in the necessary structures in place whereby, when marijuana is legalised, we will be able to make some benefits from it.

“At this point, if you legalise it, it will be [doing] more harm than good because the abuse will be inevitable. It could easily lead to young people abusing the drug without really understanding the extent to which it goes,” he said.

“And so I’m not of the school of thought that it should be legalised now, but for medicinal use and industrial purpose, we could explore that,” Asogonnde said.

Listen to John Asogonnde in the audio clip attached below:

Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Azay FM 89.1 (Takoradi), Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand