Attempt to legalise cannabis fails in High Court

An attempt to have the possession and use of cannabis legalised in Namibia has failed in the Windhoek High Court.

With Namibia’s government considering new legislation about the possession and use of cannabis, it is premature for the court to decide a legal challenge about the prohibition of dagga in the country, judge Claudia Claasen said in a ruling delivered in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.

Claasen said policymaking regarding cannabis – whether to legalise dagga, or keep its current prohibition unchanged – is primarily a function for the executive and legislative branches of the state.

“The classification of cannabis calls for a probe into matters such as the risk of harm caused by the substance, religious and broader social values, addiction potential, social and economic cost, and law enforcement,” Claasen said in her judgement.