Uganda’s constitutional court invalidated a law that criminalized drugs and narcotics such as marijuana and khat.
It is a continuation of a demonstration that started six years ago in opposition to the 2015 law. After a judge determined that it was adopted without the required parliamentary quorum, it was overturned in its entirety.
To consider and pass legislation in Uganda, a quorum of at least one-third of all members entitled to vote is required.
Due to other Ugandan laws that have not been invalidated by the court, the risk of arrest for cultivation, possession, use, or sale of forbidden or restricted drugs exists.
In Uganda, private cannabis and khat farms are often attacked, burned, or uprooted by security agents. Recreational use and sale of the plants are also illegal, resulting in numerous arrests by law enforcement.
Commercial production and export of medical marijuana are gaining popularity in a number of African countries.
