Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has again advocated for the importance and benefits of cannabis sativa commonly known Indian hemp.

Akeredolu made the call during a courtesy visit to his office in Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Nigeria Prisons, Benson Oluwayiopese, who led participants of the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, Academy, Ijebu-Igbo to the state.

According to the governor, who addressed the participants, who were on a five-day study tour in the state with the theme “Commercial Cannabis Growing in Ondo State: A Panacea for Economic Emancipation of over-dependent on Federal allocation,” stated that health and economic benefits are abound in the cultivation of the hard drug.

Akeredolu, who harped on the good use of cannabis, informed NPS officials that when the oil of cannabis is extracted, it could be used to cure many chronic illnesses.

He, however, urged the team to research on the medicinal use of cannabis and also educate the populace on its benefit to mankind and as well as its capability to improve the economy of the country.

“Nigeria stands to gain billions of dollars like others countries from the proposed legal and controlled cultivation of cannabis.”

The leader of the team and Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Nigeria Prisons, Benson Oluwayiopese, said the state was chosen for the study tour because of its novel and innovative intention towards legal and controlled cannabis cultivation for medicinal and economic benefits.

Oluwayiopese noted that Canada, Uruguay, America and many other countries have legalised cannabis cultivation for medical treatment and economic benefit, stressing that if legalised at the national level it would drastically improve the economy of the country and as well address issue of chronic illness, which cost a lot of money to treat among Nigerians.

Recall that Governor Akeredolu had in May, 2019 urged the Federal Government to beam focus into the medicinal cannabis industry as parts of measures to diversify the country’s economy.

The Governor, who made the call in Thailand emphasized that Ondo is known for her fertile land for the cultivation of cannabis, adding that the multi-billion dollar industry if harnessed would help to create thousands of jobs.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail the governor’s proposal.