Cannabis for Export: A Question of Morality, Practicality, and Policy

The government’s recent move to consider cannabis cultivation for export has sparked a heated debate across Sri Lanka. For over a century, the use and cultivation of cannabis have been prohibited here, and yet— much like illicit liquor or kasippu—the drug has remained freely available on street corners. Supply has never failed to meet demand, despite the ban.

Proponents argue that legalising cannabis cultivation for export could help shore up the country’s fragile foreign reserves. Reports suggest that seven investors are ready to bring in USD 49 million. But when measured against the size of Sri Lanka’s economy, this is a drop in the ocean. Is it worth opening such a controversial industry for so little relative gain?

The practical challenges are equally pressing. Once vast fields of cannabis are legally grown, can authorities realistically ensure that not a single leaf finds its way into the local market? Can smuggling and illegal consumption be prevented, when history shows that enforcement has always lagged behind demand?

Beyond these logistical concerns lies the moral dilemma. For decades, cannabis has been outlawed in Sri Lanka on the grounds of its harmful effects on health. If so, how ethical is it to cultivate the very same drug for export, simply because foreign consumers—and foreign dollars—are involved? In effect, what is deemed too dangerous for Sri Lankans would be marketed abroad for profit.

Globally, the picture is shifting. Today, nine countries—including Thailand, South Africa, and most recently Germany in 2024—have legalised cannabis for recreational use, while more than 50 nations permit its use for medicinal purposes. Sri Lanka, however, still clings to prohibition, even as illicit supply chains have thrived uninterrupted for the past century.

The debate, then, cannot be reduced to dollar figures alone. If Sri Lanka is to rethink cannabis, the discussion must be broader—about public health, social responsibility, and policy consistency. Otherwise, we risk trading one contradiction for another: outlawing cannabis for our own citizens, while cultivating it for the rest of the world.

Upali Weerasinghe