Medicinal Cannabis in Ghana: Uses, Research and Legal Status

Ghana's Cannabis Regulatory Programme includes a specific Research and Development (R&D) licence category that opens the door to clinical cannabis research in Ghana for the first time under a formal regulatory framework.

What Medicinal Cannabis Research Is Now Legal

Under an R&D licence issued by NACOC, licensed institutions can study cannabinoid-based treatments in controlled clinical settings. This includes growing low-THC cannabis plants, extracting CBD and other cannabinoids, conducting clinical trials with patient populations, and developing pharmaceutical formulations.

Target Medical Conditions

• Epilepsy: CBD has the strongest clinical evidence of any cannabinoid medicine, with an FDA-approved drug (Epidiolex) globally
• Chronic pain: CBD therapies show strong evidence for reducing inflammation and nerve pain
• Chemotherapy side effects: Cannabinoids can reduce nausea and stimulate appetite in cancer patients
• HIV/AIDS neuropathy: CBD shows promise for neuropathic pain common in HIV patients
• Anxiety and PTSD: Growing evidence for CBD as an anxiolytic treatment

Why Ghana-Specific Research Matters

Virtually all clinical data on cannabinoid medicines comes from North American and European patients. Sub-Saharan African populations have different genetic profiles, disease burdens, and nutritional contexts. Ghana-based research will produce the first population-specific data for the region.

How to Apply for an R&D Licence

Apply through portal.ncc.gov.gh. The applicant must be a registered Ghanaian entity with qualified research personnel and appropriate laboratory and security facilities.