Community physicians now up in arms against Cannabis cultivation, writes to Prez

Sri Lanka risks facilitating the growth of a trade that is increasingly stigmatised in the developed world

By Huzefa Aliasger

The College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL), the national professional body of specialists in Community Medicine have requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the approval of cannabis cultivation citing that long term health consequences far outweigh the economic gain in a recent media release.  

 Cannabis is a psychoactive and addictive substance with well-established adverse health effects, particularly harmful to adolescents and young adults, cannabis is used for medicinal purposes only in special, rare situations and those conditions do not justify large-scale cultivation or industrial demand, “ it wrote.   

The shift of focus towards countries like Sri Lanka stems from the fact that nations already permitting cannabis cultivation have progressively tightened regulations and imposed higher taxes in response to the serious public health and social harms associated with the industry, CCPSL says. “As a result, the cannabis industry is now targeting low-income countries where foreign investors are often granted special privileges and tax concessions. In doing so, Sri Lanka risks facilitating the growth of a trade that is increasingly stigmatised in the developed world.”  

Addressing the president CCPSL says given the socioeconomic vulnerabilities and history of weak compliance at grassroots level in the country, especially among unskilled workforce, the likelihood of obliging with strict security measures are questionable even though they are enforced. Diversion and misuse of cannabis cultivated for export poses serious risks to both local communities and national reputation.