Dare Babalola
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a warning to Nigerians about the circulation of hazardous illicit substances being falsely marketed and sold as medicinal cannabis.
This information is according to a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The NDLEA issued the public alert following credible intelligence, which led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspected drug kingpin on Saturday, November 1, at his residence on 2 Akala Street, off Umoru Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos.
The agency stated that the suspect’s residence served as a hub for packaging and distributing the counterfeit medicinal cannabis in designer pouches and cups.
“A total of 16.4 kilograms of dangerous and synthetic strains of cannabis were recovered from his store.
“This include Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud and Ghana Loud packaged in designer pouches and cups labelled as medicinal cannabis.
”The Agency therefore wishes to warn Nigerians especially youths that these so-called medicinal products are, in reality, adulterated and highly potent strains of dangerous psychoactive substances.
“They are not the regulated, safe pharmaceutical preparations they are purported to be,” NDLEA warned.
NDLEA further revealed that investigations confirmed the seized products, marketed as therapeutic cannabis, contain hazardous levels of illicit and harmful cannabis strains.
This, the agency added included “Loud”, known for its extreme potency and severe psychological effects; Arizona, a highly concentrated and destructive variant of cannabis.
Others are Colorado, a potent, often synthetic, strain with devastating consequences on the user’s mental and physical health.
”Rather than the purported medicinal cannabis in the designer pouches and cups, the strains are highly addictive and pose a significant, immediate threat to public health and safety.
“This is because they are associated with severe mental health issues, including psychosis, acute anxiety, paranoia, and other long-term cognitive impairments, especially among young people,”the agency said.
Commenting on the development, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, stated that the perpetrators are exploiting the global discussion on medicinal cannabis to peddle their illicit and destructive products in communities.
Marwa emphasised that cannabis remains a prohibited substance in Nigeria, making any locally sold product claiming to be ‘medicinal cannabis’ not only fake and dangerous, but also illegal.
The NDLEA boss urged the public to be vigilant and not be deceived by misleading labels, fancy packaging, or false health claims.
“Please do not consume it, report any person or group involved in the illicit trade of these dangerous substances to the nearest NDLEA office,” he said.
