Is Marijuana Legal in Malawi?

Medical cannabis is legal in Malawi, but recreational use is not. The southern African country has a reputation for being one of the finest and largest producers of cannabis, or chamba as it is known, in the African continent. Malawi is particularly famed for Malawi Gold, a landrace strain that has achieved cult status among cannabis aficionados for its potent effects.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Malawi

In February 2020, Malawi’s parliament passed the Cannabis Regulation Bill, which legalized the cultivation and production of industrial hemp and medical cannabis. The Bill distinguishes between recreational cannabis (which remains illegal), industrial hemp, and medical marijuana, and establishes a body, The Cannabis Regulatory Authority, which is responsible for overseeing the legal cannabis industry in Malawi.

Malawi’s Cannabis Regulatory Authority and the Malawi government have also recently released general guidelines for the emerging cannabis industry in Malawi. People and companies in Malawi who are thinking about cultivating industrial hemp or medicinal cannabis must meet a diverse number of criteria, such as having access to a minimum of five hectares of land in order to be able to apply for a license.

Those growing medical marijuana must comply with more stringent rules regarding security and fencing than those growing industrial hemp.

Malawi’s Cannabis Regulation Bill also outlines the country’s proposed medical marijuana program. According to Part VII, which outlines the rules governing the possession and usage of cannabis in Malawi, licensed and registered clinics and hospitals will be able to prescribe medical marijuana products to qualifying patients with an identification card. The bill doesn’t mention, however, which medical conditions qualify for access to medicinal marijuana.

Individuals under 18 may only access an identification card if they have the written consent of a parent or guardian who agrees to be in charge of dosing the medicinal cannabis.

What to Know About Cannabis in Malawi

Although Malawi only legalized medical marijuana relatively recently, the country has some history associated with the plant. Malawi has been celebrated for a long time as the home of the beloved Malawi Gold cannabis strain. Efforts to legalize cannabis began back in 2014 before they finally came to pass in 2020.

Legendary Landrace Cultivar Malawi Gold Comes From Malawi

Malawi is celebrated worldwide as the birthplace of the legendary landrace strain, Malawi Gold. According to anecdotal reports, Malawi Gold is said to be a deeply aromatic, flavorful, and potent strain that delivers semi-psychedelic effects.

Although recreational cannabis use is illegal in Malawi, hordes of tourists flock to the African country in search of Malawi Gold. The Nkhotakota District is particularly popular among travelers for its high-quality chamba. The revered strain has also left an imprint on pop culture: Word has it that Bob Marley sang the praises of Malawi Gold when he toured Zimbabwe in 1980.

Medicinal Marijuana Legalization Has Been Six Years in the Making

The Cannabis Regulation Bill first appeared before Malawi’s parliament back in 2014. Former lawmaker Boniface Kadzamira brought the bill before the National Assembly despite strong opposition from his fellow parliamentarians. In June 2016, as a result of lobbying efforts, the National Assembly adopted a motion to explore cannabis as an alternative crop to tobacco and to carry out hemp cultivation trials at diverse locations throughout the country.

Growing numbers of Malawi academics, policymakers, and other experts then helped to propel the initiative, emphasizing the significant economic benefits that could also arise from legalization. However, it’s also worth noting that Malawi already derives a portion of its income from cannabis production as one of the largest growers in southern Africa.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Malawi?

Thanks to the passage of the Cannabis Regulation Bill, it is now legal to cultivate cannabis in Malawi. Guidelines have already been issued for people thinking about applying for a medicinal cannabis cultivation permit. Participation in Malawi’s cultivation program is restricted to registered groups, such as farmer co-operatives, rather than individual farmers. Any group must meet all the specified criteria to be considered for a license and also pay license fees of USD $2000. While a number of licenses have already been issued, many growers are still finding their feet or overcoming hurdles.

With respect to growing cannabis, Malawi is largely well-suited to marijuana cultivation due to its relatively temperate tropical climate. Mzimba District’s Likwawa Hills and the Nkhotakota District are both popular growing regions. The cannabis plant has long been cultivated in Malawi, even though it only became legal to do so in 2020. Many rural Malawi farming communities have turned to cannabis cultivation as an alternative to tobacco growing. Farmers have typically grown cannabis in small fields in concealed areas to avoid prosecution. These legacy farmers are now set to use their knowledge to help the legal cannabis industry flourish.

In 2021, to celebrate the first legal cannabis crop, Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture invited Mike Tyson to become the country’s cannabis ambassador to help attract potential buyers.

The Bottom Line

Malawi legalized industrial hemp and cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2020 with the passage of the Cannabis Regulation Bill. However, recreational cannabis use remains illegal in the southern African country. Groups and cooperatives with licenses may also cultivate industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis crops in Malawi.