CANNABIS SATIVA L.: A REVIEW OF THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THIS 'WONDER PLANT' AND AN UPDATE ON THE NIGERIA SITUATION

Abstract

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual herbal plant of the family Cannabinaceae and abundant in nature. It is known locally as igbo, taba, blaze, joint, pot, dope, ganja, sensi, kpoli, weed, and morocco on the streets of Nigeria, and used as a medicinal plant for many centuries in many different parts of the world. Although native to Central Asia, Cannabis is now grown globally. Cannabis is the most abused plant worldwide, used for medical and recreational purposes. Recent studies have shown its efficacy in several disease conditions, including pain, sleeplessness, depression, and intractable epilepsy. The use, handling and cultivation of Cannabis sativa in Nigeria is illegal and backed by several laws. Despite the availability of these regulations and legislation, Nigeria is currently dealing with a drug abuse issue. After alcohol, cannabis is the most often used illicit/illegal substance in Nigeria, with a 10.8% estimated prevalence use rate. Cannabis use in Nigeria has no class distinction as it is used by both the rich and the poor, with Nigeria currently the eighth-highest consumer globally and ranks second in the quantity of dried cannabis seized annually. This review examines the history of the plant, its phytochemical components, its therapeutic use, and the controversy over the plant's legalisation or decriminalisation in Nigeria (the Nigeria situation).

Full text

Ajagun et al., IJPSR, 2024; Vol. 15(2): 279-289. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 279
IJPSR (2024), Volume 15, Issue 2 (Review Article)
Received on 03 May 2023; received in revised form, 07 October 2023; accepted, 22 November 2023; published 01 February 2024
CANNABIS SATIVA L.: A REVIEW OF THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THIS 'WONDER
PLANT' AND AN UPDATE ON THE NIGERIA SITUATION
E. J. Ajagun 1, * 2, T. A. Abdulsalam 1, A. C. Oni 1, F. Afolabi 1 and L. A. Jayeoba 1
Bioresources Development Centre 1, Ogbomoso, P.M.B 3524, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin,
Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT: Cannabis sativa L. is an annual herbal plant of the family
Cannabinaceae and abundant in nature. It is known locally as igbo, taba,
blaze, joint, pot, dope, ganja, sensi, kpoli, weed, and morocco on the streets
of Nigeria, and used as a medicinal plant for many centuries in many
different parts of the world. Although native to Central Asia, Cannabis is
now grown globally. Cannabis is the most abused plant worldwide, used for
medical and recreational purposes. Recent studies have shown its efficacy in
several disease conditions, including pain, sleeplessness, depression, and
intractable epilepsy. The use, handling and cultivation of Cannabis sativa in
Nigeria is illegal and backed by several laws. Despite the availability of these
regulations and legislation, Nigeria is currently dealing with a drug abuse
issue. After alcohol, cannabis is the most often used illicit/illegal substance
in Nigeria, with a 10.8% estimated prevalence use rate. Cannabis use in
Nigeria has no class distinction as it is used by both the rich and the poor,
with Nigeria currently the eighth-highest consumer globally and ranks
second in the quantity of dried cannabis seized annually. This review
examines the history of the plant, its phytochemical components, its
therapeutic use, and the controversy over the plant's legalisation or
decriminalisation in Nigeria (the Nigeria situation).
INTRODUCTION: Cannabis sativa L. is a widely
known plant, with its first recorded appearance in
Central Asia at approximately 5000 BC 1, 2. It is an
annual dioeciously flowering plant of the family
Cannabaceae; globally referred to as marijuana,
Indian hemp and locally as igbo, wiwi and Ghanja
by the indigenous Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo people
of Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa; and its use
predates documented history 1, 3, 4.
QUICK RESPONSE CODE
DOI:
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.15(2).279-89
This article can be accessed online on
www.ijpsr.com
DOI link: https://doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.15(2).279-89
Cannabis sativa is a plant that originated in Central
Asia but then cultivated in Asia, Europe and China,
from where its use and cultivation have spread to
other parts of the world 1, 5, 6. For several years, the
plant has been a source of fibre, oil, and traditional
medicine; its use is still prevalent today 2, 6, 7.
The earliest known use of the plant was
documented in the year 2737 BC by Shen Nung,
the Chinese Emperor in the Pen-Ts'ao Ching (the
world's oldest pharmacopoeia), where he provided
a detailed description of the plant's characteristics
and medicinal use 3, 6. Early records of its use as
medicine include its use as an anaesthesia,
treatment of female reproductive system diseases,
malaria, and rheumatic pain 6, 7, 8. Recent data
reports an increase in recreational use, where
Keywords:
Cannabis sativa, Joint, Legalisation,
Nigeria, Medicinal plants, Weed
Correspondence to Author:
E. J. Ajagun
Research Officer,
Bioresources Development Centre,
Ogbomoso, P.M.B 3524, Ogbomoso,
Oyo State, Nigeria.
E-mail: ajagunebelejoan@gmail.com

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International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 280
preparations derived from the adult female
cannabis plants are either smoked, eaten or infused
as tea; hence, it remains the most common illicit
drug worldwide 7, 9.
In addition to being classified as one of the sacred
plants in the Atharva Veda, referring to it as a
source of happiness and freedom, it is also used as
medicine in India. As a result, cannabis was used
regularly for various religious rituals and
celebrations 6, 10. The use of the cannabis plant
spread to Africa through the movement of traders
and soldiers in the fifteenth century, and its
medicinal applications include the treatment of
fever, malaria, and snake bites 8, 11. Cannabis is one
of the most widely cultivated plants in the world 7,
12. It can be grown outdoors or indoors through
sexual reproduction (using seeds), asexual
reproduction/vegetative propagation (using stem
cuttings) or in-vitro micro-propagation 2, 12.
Globally, it is still illegal to use, handle, cultivate,
or breed cannabis; however, in some nations,
exceptions are made for medical research and
pharmaceutical uses 2, 12, 13, 14.
Taxonomic Classification and Botanical
Description of the Cannabis Plant: The cannabis
plant is widely dispersed in nature and found in
several habitats, including temperate areas and the
foothills of the Alps 15, 16. The taxonomic
classification of cannabis has been the focus of
several ongoing discussions and disagreements.
The term "Cannabis" was initially used to refer to a
variety of plants (including Cannabis, Humulus,
and Celtis) but is now used to describe a genus of
flowering plants made up of multiple subspecies:
Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis
kafiristanca, Cannabis spontanea and Cannabis
ruderalis (species with intraspecific forms) 7, 9, 16.
TABLE 1: TAXONOMIC AND BOTANICAL
NOMENCLATURE OF CANNABIS SATIVA L.
Category
Botanical Nomenclature
Kingdom
Plantae
Sub-Kingdom
Tracheobionta
Super Division
Spermatophyta
Division
Magnoliohyta
Class
Magnolioppsida
Sub-Class
Hamamelididae
Order
Urticales
Family
Cannabaceae
Genus
Cannabis
Species/Subspecies
Cannabis sativa L.
The three subspecies of the cannabis plant most
frequently encountered are Cannabis sativa,
Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The
globally accepted taxonomic and botanical
nomenclature of C. sativa L. is shown in Table 1.
Cannabis is mono-typic because it consists of only
a species - C. sativa 2, 7. All subspecies of the
cannabis plant have been combined into a single
species as the chemical and morphological
differences that divide the plant into its various
subspecies are not easily discernible, vary
continuously, and are easily modified based on
prevailing environmental conditions (such as
temperature and light) 2, 16, 17. The amount of
certain phytocannabinoids (THC and CBD) in the
plant, the number, size and nature of its leaves, and
its height are the basis for grouping the species and
are constantly varying.
C. sativa and C. indica plants are widely cultivated
for their economic significance -fibre, oil, and
medicine 4, 2, 16. The cannabis plant can be grown
using several techniques, including sexual or
asexual propagation. The plant's cultivation
strategy is selected based on its intended use and
the resources available for its cultivation 2, 16.
However, in most parts of the world, the plant is
propagated using seeds in humid forests or on cliff
faces (guerrilla farming) because of the illegality
associated with the cultivation and handling 2, 18, 19.
Nonetheless, it is typically grown in greenhouses,
farms, and gardens in countries where its
cultivation is legal 2, 18. The length of the plant's life
cycle from seed to adult depends on how and when
planted, how it was transplanted, and its variety; in
most cases, a cycle is finished in 4 to 9 months,
during which the plant can grow to attain a height
of 5 m. (16 ft.) 2, 18, 19.
The morphological difference between C. indica
and C. sativa species is the leaves, while C. sativa
leaves are smaller, thinner, and green in Colour, C.
indica leaves are deep green with purple
undertones that turn dark purple upon maturity.
They also have wider fingers than C. sativa leaves
4, 20. In addition, the C. sativa species is native to
Eastern Asia and the West, while the C. indica
variety is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India,
and their surrounding areas 4, 17.

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Description of the Plant: Cannabis sativa is a
dioecious annual plant species with several
phenotypic traits. The genetic heritage of the plant
plays a part in the presentation of the leaves in
terms of the number of branches or size. However,
the leaves typically have 5-7 leaflets, are palmate,
and green. They can be either opposite, alternate, or
spirally arranged, as long as 6-11 cm and 2-15 mm
wide, and have coarsely serrated leaf margins. The
adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces have sporadic
resinous trichomes and are green 2, 20. The stems
are typically angular, branched, furrowed, and have
woody interiors, while the branches on the stem
have opposite or alternately presentations of leaves
2, 20. The roots grow as branched tap roots with
different depths (up to 2.5 m in loose soils) but are
more branched in wet soils 2, 20.
FIG. 1: (A) YOUNG CANNABIS PLANT (B) MATURED FEMALE CANNABIS PLANT (C) SEEDS, MATURED
FEMALE FLOWER AND OIL EXTRACTED FROM THE SEEDS OF THE CANNABIS PLANT
The leaf axil gives rise to its inflorescence, with
several flower heads on long, leafy stems, the male
and female cannabis flowers growing on different
plants. Each leaf axil produces an inflorescence
with multiple flower heads on long, green stems.
Five pale-green hairy sepals (2.5–4 mm long) and
five pendulous stamens with slender filaments and
stamens make up the staminate or male flower,
while the pistillate (female flowers) are almost
sessile and occur in pairs 2, 21, 22. The fruit is an
achene that houses a single seed with a tough shell.
The ovary's thin wall closely encloses the shells,
giving it an elliptical form. The seeds are brownish
and speckled, have smooth surfaces, and range in
length from 2 to 5 mm 2, 22, 23.
Phytochemical Constituents of C. sativa: The
Cannabis plant yields more than 538 different
chemical components, including terpenoids,
cannabinoids, hydrocarbons, sugars and related
compounds, nitrogenous compounds, non-
cannabinoid phenols, flavonoids, and fatty acids,
with over 104 different types of phytocannabinoids
1, 2, 3, 4, 20, 24, 25. The presence of several chemical
components confirms the complexity of the plant.
Due to their origin, cannabinoids in the plant are
called phytocannabinoids and are a special kind of
terpene phenolic molecule with over 80 different
forms discovered so far 1, 2, 24. Delta 9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol
(CBD), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV),
cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and
cannabichromene (CBC) are among the
phytocannabinoids that have been isolated and
identified; with Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
and cannabidiol (CBD) as the abundant
cannabinoid 20, 24, 30.

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FIG. 2: CHEMICAL STRUCTURES OF CANNABINOIDS PRESENT IN CANNABIS SATIVA. A. Δ9-
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (Δ9-THC); B. CANNABINOL (CBN); C. CANNABIGEROL (CBG); D.
CANNABICHROMENE (CBC) E. CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
There are two classes of phytocannabinoids in a
cannabis plant: psychoactive and non-psychoactive
types, with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)
and cannabidiol (CBD) as the most prevalent,
isolated, and studied psychoactive and non-
psychoactive cannabinoid (active ingredients)
respectively 20, 26, 27, 28. Early studies divided the
many varieties of cannabis into distinct groups
based on the qualitative and quantitative
differences in their cannabinoid ratios,
distinguishing the medical-grade cannabis plants
from the fibre grade.
Plants with tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THC),
cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD) (THC +
CBN/CBD) ratios greater than or equal to 1 are
referred to as chemo-types, whilst ratios less than
or equal to 1 are fiber-types in this
chemotaxonomic categorization 20. This system
differentiates the putative and subspecies into the
chemotype, intermediate, and fibre type 24.
Recently, an unusual chemotype with low levels of
Δ9-THC and CBD ratio and CBG as the main
constituent has been reported 20, 22.
FIG. 3: GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-FLAME IONISATION DETECTOR (GC-FID) OF (A.) HIGH CBD TYPE AND
(B.) HIGH THC TYPE CANNABIS PLANT

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The quantity of cannabinoids such as Δ9-THC and
CBD found in the tissues of the cannabis plant is
another quantitative characteristic of the plant,
establishing its potency. Nonetheless, the plant can
be categorised into many morphological forms at
various stages of its development based on age,
offering a viable tool for classification 20, 22, 24, 29.
History of the Medicinal Uses of C. sativa:
According to historical records dating back to 4000
BC, the cannabis plant was used for its euphoric
and therapeutic effects 5, 20, with many civilisations
presently using it for recreational and medicinal
purposes. The herb (either dried or as tonics) has
reportedly been widely utilised as patent medicine
in the United States in the 19th and early 20th
century, with evidence of its uses described in the
United States Pharmacopeia in 1850 5, 20, 31, 32 and
its use continues to date. Several parts of the plant
are reported to have therapeutic effects, making it
one of the 50 essential herbs in traditional Chinese
medicine. The Shennong Bencaojing, also known
as "Shennong's Materia Medica Classic," is the first
Chinese Pharmacopeia and provides a detailed
description of the cannabis plant and its medicinal
applications 32, 33. A Chinese surgeon (Hua Tuo)
also recorded the early use of cannabis as
anaesthesia for surgery, where the powdered leaves
are mixed with wine and administered before the
procedure 5, 34.
The seeds were also prescribed for nervous
disorders, laxative (use continues to this day), anti-
helminthic, and as a diuretic agent; ii) the tonic of
the bark was also used as a diuretic agent; iii) the
juice of the roots used in the management of
postpartum haemorrhage and expelling retained
placenta; and iv) the tonic of the leaves and flowers
are used for the management of menstrual disorders
and wounds healing 5, 34. Cannabis has a long
history of use in India, dating back to at least 1000
BC, where it was used as a recreational drug and
herbal remedy 5, 34, 35, 36, 37. Its use as an analgesic,
anticonvulsant, hypnotic, anaesthetic, anti-
inflammatory, antispasmodic, appetite stimulant
and expectorant are only a few documented
medical uses 5, 35. According to the recently
discovered Ebers Papyrus document dated 1550
BC, the early Egyptians used cannabis as
suppositories to treat the pain associated with
haemorrhoids, inflammation and eye problems 38,
39.
Although cannabis was first brought to Africa by
early Arab traders in the 15th century, there are
several documented medical uses for the plant,
including the use of a tonic or extract to treat or
manage snake bites, facilitate childbirth, treat fever,
blood poisoning, malaria, asthma, dysentery, and
other conditions 5, 40. Although traditional medical
practitioners (TMP) have documented its usage in
pain, depression, and insomnia, the medicinal
application in Nigeria has been constrained by the
illegality of handling the plant and its related
central nervous system (CNS) effects.
Recent Pharmacological Uses of C. sativa: The
interest in cannabis as a starting point for drug
discovery and synthesis of novel pharmacological
moieties has gradually increased over the last 45
years; this is evident by the drastic rise in the
number of research on the plant 27. Cannabis plants
and their derivatives have been accepted and used
as alternative traditional and orthodox medicines
over time, and their use is still growing globally 41.
Information on the effectiveness/efficacy of
cannabinoids as a medication is currently available
as several researches have shown the therapeutic
efficacy of separated/isolated cannabinoids on
several conditions in man 24, 41, 42. Consequently,
herbal remedies and synthetic versions of the
phyto-constituents found in cannabis plants have
received FDA approval and are commercially
available 24.
TABLE 2: COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PREPARATIONS OF CANNABIS AND CANNABINOIDS
Trade names
Preparation
Medical Uses
EpidiolexR
Plant derived CBD oral solution
Seizures associated with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome or
Dravet Syndrome patients 2years or older
SativexR
Preparation containing equal
quantities of THC:CBD
Muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis
CesamentR and CanemesR
Oral capsules of THC
Nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
MarinolR and SyndrosR
Dronabinol (THC)
Anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with
AIDS. Nausea and vomiting associated with
chemotherapy

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The treatment and management of chronic non-
cancer pains such as neuropathic pain, neck, back,
and shoulder pains, headaches, and arthritis is the
most popular use for cannabis and cannabinoids
globally 24, 41, 42. The data from a randomised
clinical trial with inhaled vaporised herbal cannabis
showed that patients who smoked the plant were
three times more likely to report a 30 % reduction
in pain (with odds ratio (OR = 3.2) than those who
received a placebo43. Also, a Cochrane review
demonstrated that patients receiving cannabis were
likely to experience a 50% reduction in pain
compared to those receiving a placebo 44.
Research has also shown that an extract containing
equal amounts of THC and CBD, sold as SativexR,
was efficient in neuropathic pain and muscular
spasms in people with neurodegenerative disorder
multiple sclerosis 41, 45. In addition, data from a
randomised clinical trial showed that patients
placed on SativexR in addition to their regular
treatments experienced fewer episodes of muscle
spasms than patients who received a placebo 45.
For over a decade, doctors in the United States
have recommended dronabinol, a brand of THC
commercially accessible, for the treatment of
nausea and vomiting in advanced stages of
malignancies and acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) 41, 42, 46. MarinolR (dronabinol/
THC) was also authorised in the U.S. in the late
1990s as an appetite stimulant in patients with
AIDS-related wasting syndrome 47.
Recently, claims on the effectiveness of CBD oil
preparations (available as drops) for treating
several medical conditions such as depression,
diabetes, and sleeplessness have been made 48, 49.
Parents of children with intractable epilepsy have
stated that CBD-rich oil preparations reduce the
severity and frequency of seizures. These reports
were in line with the results of a multisite
randomised clinical trial (RCT) and a significant
open-label trial 50, 51. Hence, cannabis plants,
extracts, and oils are used for a wide range of
symptoms in terminally ill patients, including pain,
decreased appetite, anxiety, and insomnia 41. Other
uses of the plant and bioactive cannabinoids
include the management of diabetes and its
complications, anxiety, post-traumatic stress,
depressive and sleep disorders, chronic pain and
inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's
disease and others 41, 50. Hence, recommendations
for a large multisite randomised experiment to
evaluate the efficacy of cannabis and cannabinoids
in managing several disease conditions have been
made.
The Nigeria Situation: The Cannabis sativa L.
plant is not native to Nigeria; clear evidence
suggests it was brought here from other parts of
West Africa by traders, soldiers (during and after
World War II), and sailors, with additional
evidence of small-scale cultivation during the
British colonial masters' rule 52, 53. In Nigeria,
cultivation spread rapidly from the 1960s to the
1980s before progressively becoming a public
health concern amongst the nation's youth in the
1990s 54. Cannabis is the only illicit drug grown
and produced locally 18, 54, 55.
In Nigeria, dried cannabis leaves and flowering
buds are widely available, in addition to other
preparations of the plant, and go by several street
names, including igbo, taba, blaze, joint, pot, dope,
ganja, sensi, kpoli, weed, and morocco, among
others 18, 55, 56. Although the plant's leaves and
flowering buds are commonly smoked, several
other methods are used to ingest them; these
include infusing the dried leaves as tea, using the
fresh leaves in soup as vegetables, or soaking the
dried leaves in alcoholic beverages to make
cocktails (monkey-tail) 18, 54.
The Dangerous Drug Act (1935), supported by the
Indian Hemp Decree (1966), continues to make it
unlawful to possess, use, handle, and cultivate
Cannabis sativa in Nigeria 52, 56. Despite the
availability of these regulations and prohibitions,
Nigeria has emerged as a significant exporter of
African-grown cannabis, ranking second only to
Morocco in terms of the amount of dried cannabis
seized annually 18.
Nigeria has a documented drug use and abuse
problem with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1 and a
drug usage and abuse rate of 1.3% to 5.5%, with
the South-West having the highest incidence,
particularly in Lagos and Oyo States 58. The United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that
14.4% of Nigerians (14.3 million) between the ages
of 15 and 65 who use or abuse drugs did so in the

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previous year 18, 19. Cannabis continues to be the
most widely used illicit/illegal drug in Nigeria, with
proven evidence of its significant usage and abuse
across all age groups 19, 58, and a general population
calculated prevalence use rate of 10.8%;
adolescence ≤ 25 years of 22.7%; secondary
students of 0.6-34%; pooled prevalence rate of
secondary students of 12.5%; and undergraduate
prevalence rate of 8-11% depending on the location
19, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63. Nigeria is currently the eighth-
largest consumer of cannabis in the world 52.
FIG. 4: DENSITY OF CANNABIS CULTIVATION IN SIX STATES IN NIGERIA (SOURCE- NIGERIA CANNABIS
SURVEY 18)
Nigeria is currently one of the largest growers,
suppliers, and users of the plant in West Africa.
The plant grown in Nigeria is for both domestic
consumption and export markets 12, 13, 19, 59.
Cultivation in Nigeria involves using large-scale
organised farmers with evidence of the
involvement of organised crime networks needed
for the trafficking of the plant from the farms to the
cities 18.
Cannabis is grown in all 36 states of Nigeria and
the Federal Capital Territory (FTC) in varied
degrees/levels. However, its cultivation is highest
in the following six states - Edo, Ekiti, Ogun,
Ondo, Oyo, and Osun 18, 19. The highest
documented cultivation density is in the field
border areas between Edo and Ondo States, in
regions with a low human population density and a
large forest cover 18, 58; throughout these states, a
total of 8,900 hectares of land are used 18. Cannabis
is cultivated in Nigeria sexually (using seeds) on
large fields of abandoned farms, either as a stand-
alone crop or growing beneath other crops to
provide aerial coverage 2, 18, 58. The majority of the
cannabis farms in Nigeria are fields located in
dense forests away from Urban settlements, with
85% of these farms over 3km away from major
roads. However, small-scale cultivation occurs in
gardens/small farmlands within urban settlements
for self-use/consumption 18, 53. A clear relationship
exists between deforestation and cannabis farming
in Nigeria, with 35% of all cannabis farms reported
to be cultivated on forest land cleared (areas of
deforestation) within the same year 18. Cannabis
cultivation requires a steady water supply within
the first few weeks of life; hence, farming in
Nigeria occurs mainly during the annual rainy
season.
Cannabis farms are harvested twice yearly – rainy
and dry season, resulting in increased potential for
the products 18. Cannabis is a very cheap product in
Nigeria, with price variations based on product
availability 18. According to reports, the location of
purchase (higher in urban settings compared to
rural settings) and distance to the source of
cultivation (more expensive in the northern parts of
the country) play a role in the final price/cost of
dried plants 18. The primary currency used in the
cannabis trade in Nigeria is the naira, with a
wholesale price of about three thousand (3,000)
naira per kilogram of dried product. Cannabis is
typically sold in wraps weighing 5 grams, enough
for three wraps of cigarettes and very affordable.
Retail of cannabis in Nigeria is as wraps of 5 grams
with quantities enough for three cigarettes, with
prices as low as ten to twenty (10-20) naira per
gram 18.

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The use of cannabis in Nigeria in whatever form
(fresh or dried leaves and oil) and for whatever
purpose remains illegal to date 18, 55. Despite
illegality and stigma associated with its use, the use
in Nigeria is fast growing amongst the productive
age group (15-39 age bracket), with studies
reporting its use ranked just below alcohol 64. Its
low cost, easy accessibility and ready availability
have contributed to its rising use in Nigeria 18.
Several claims on the efficacy of the plant have
been made, including its effectiveness in pain relief
and improvement in sexual and academic
performances 65, 66, 67, 68.
Over the past two years, Nigeria has entered the
global spotlight with its legalisation of cannabis
debates 24. The need to legalise cannabis sativa in
Nigeria has been the subject of numerous
discussions and counter-discussions for several
reasons 52, 55, 69. The governor of Ondo State
addressed a stakeholders' roundtable conference on
the benefits and opportunities of the plant to the
nation's economy and has been a leading proponent
of this movement. He made his case by stating that
Nigeria needed legal support to participate in the
multi-billion-naira cannabis sector to diversify the
economy and that the drug's benefits - medicinal
and the economical outweigh its drawbacks.
Whether Nigeria as a nation is ready to legalise the
plant for whatever reason remains unknown, even
though his argument was backed by existing facts-
established medical benefits and the cannabis
market's multibillion-dollar size. "NO" remains the
honest response.
Cannabis is still illegal to grow, possess, and
consume in Nigeria presently, but the statistics on
these Activities, local distribution and usage of the
plant are concerning. An estimated 14.3 to 19.4%
of the total population aged 15 and above have
used or are using the plant currently 18, 19, 70, 71.
Nigeria is currently ranked first globally in per cent
of use by the total population, giving the
impression that the plant is legal for use and
consumption.
Also, behind Morocco, we have the second-highest
yearly quantity of dried cannabis seizures 18. For
the same price as a cigarette or even less, dried
cannabis leaves are found on street corners, close to
educational institutions and recreational locations.
It is also frequently served at social gatherings
infused with drinks and now openly smoked
without concern and fear of the authorities or
shame over the associated stigma, as if it has
become the norm. Cannabis-laced cakes, candies,
and beverages are widely accessible in
supermarkets and retail outlets 65, 69.
Although the call for legalisation has cited several
benefits, including the creation of jobs, high tax
revenues from the farmers, and earning foreign
exchange that would serve as an economic boost,
one cannot help but consider the risks associated
with an increase in the number of people who
would have access and use the plant, early onset of
use (in terms of age) as well as prolonged use on
the Nations' already struggling and underfunded
health care system.
The country's healthcare system is now dealing
with several issues, including insufficient
infrastructure, a shortage of professional workers,
and a lack of people with the necessary training in
mental health. Consequently, the legalisation would
only result in driving the country into the ranking
of first place in terms of number of mentally ill
persons on the streets -"a country of
craziness/madness".
The body in charge of Nigeria's drug laws and
policies, the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA), is adamantly opposed to the
legalisation of cannabis for any purpose. They have
expressed concerns about the plant's legalisation on
several fronts, arguing that it will also increase use
and the chaos, criminality, and war that comes with
it as it may not be possible to cultivate the plant
under regulated conditions solely for medical
reasons70. Although advantages exist in its
therapeutic applications, looking at the Nigerian
situation, the risks exceed the rewards. So, it is
accurate to state that the debate about legalising
marijuana in Nigeria has been put on hold. At the
same time, one cannot completely rule out future
discussions on the subject matter.
CONCLUSION: In many cultures around the
world, Cannabis sativa L. has been used as a
medicinal plant for many centuries. The abolition
of prohibitions, decriminalisation, and legalisation
of cannabis on a global scale have had both

Ajagun et al., IJPSR, 2024; Vol. 15(2): 279-289. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 287
beneficial and harmful effects, with an increase in
the prevalence of abuse and use worldwide. The
argument for the legalisation of the cannabis plant
in Nigeria should never be given the green light,
notwithstanding the proof of its economic and
therapeutic benefits. One can conveniently argue
that as a nation, Nigeria is not prepared to meet the
challenges that would arise following the
legalisation or decriminalisation of the plant.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We express our
deepest gratitude to the entire staff of the National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo
State Command, Ibadan, Oyo State, for providing
the necessary support and research materials
needed for this work; without their support, this
work would never have seen the light of the day
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors
hereby declare no conflict of interest.
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How to cite this article:
Ajagun EJ, Abdulsalam TA, Oni AC, Afolabi F and Jayeoba LA: Cannabis sativa l.: a review of the medicinal properties of this 'wonder
plant' and an update on the Nigeria situation. Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2024; 15(2): 279-89. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.15(2).279-89.