Doctors will soon be prescribing cannabis based treatment

Doctors will soon be prescribing cannabis based treatment

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa

In a move likely to boost the case of Harare lawyer, Tapiwanashe Mukandi who is seeking the decriminalization of cannabis for private use, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe has authorised the use of cannabidiol products as complementary medicines.
In fulfilment of President Mnangagwa`s commitment that the development of the country`s industrial hemp industry, the MCAZ has said it will begin processing licenses for those who want to manufacture, import and export cannabis products.
In a circular, MCAZ said; “The Authority advises stakeholders that it will consider applications for approval of Hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) products as complementary medicines under the following conditions; submission of an application for registration (dossier) in line the Guideline for submission of application for Complementary medicines. Submission of product samples.”
Further conditions include submission of certificates of analysis from an accredited laboratory specifying the quantities of the active moieties of cannabidiols and any traces of tetrahydrocannabinols as part of the information in the dossier.
Retailers are supposed to make sure they clearly specify indications, warning and contra-indications among other information as part of the product information in line with the complementary medicines guideline.
Applicants should also meet satisfactory inspection of manufacturing site by the MCAZ, inspectorate to ensure that the site complies with Good Manufacturing Practices, for the manufacture of Complementary Medicines as well as payment of complementary medicine product application fees as gazetted.
The circular however warned that those who sell cannabis outside the law, for recreation, should not abuse the development.
“Any Hemp-based CBD product applications that do not meet the criteria above may not be approved for distribution, and will be confiscated. Further, sellers may be prosecuted for selling unapproved complementary medicines,” MCAZ wrote.