TWO Ghanaian companies have become the first to receive licences to cultivate cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes under the government’s regulated cannabis programme. Major General Mantey said the commission adopted a comprehensive vetting process to ensure compliance with the Narcotics Control Commission Act and the Legislative Instrument governing the cultivation of low THC cannabis. “We took our time to scrutinise every application because this project is not an open invitation for anyone to cultivate cannabis. Cultivation of cannabis with 0.3 per cent THC is only legal when you have a licence. Major General Mantey emphasised that the issuance of licences did not legalise cannabis cultivation generally, stressing that recreational cannabis remained illegal and warning that anyone found cultivating cannabis without a licence would be arrested and prosecuted.