Why Raila Junior wants weed legalized

Raila Junior has maintained that marijuana should be legalized due to its medicinal purposes.

Speaking during an interview on a local radio station, Junior noted that weed would go a long way in helping HIV/AIDS patients improve their appetite.

“One of the taboo subjects in Kenya is marijuana, but it is the right time to push for this. It was made illegal in Kenya 1994, but before that it was legal.

“It was used back in the history as a pain reliever during childbirth, among other medicinal purposes. It can be used as a chronic pain reliever for cancer survivors, or a stimulant for appetites that does not need to be smoked.

“This is what we want to push,” he said.

Junior further stated that marijuana farming can benefit Kenya’s economy greatly and can even earn foreign exchange.

“If you look around the world — America, South Africa — they have legalised recreational marijuana, and they are now pushing it to marijuana farming.

“Cannabis sativa, which is an Indian variety of cannabis, can be used as a cash crop product to earn foreign exchange, which adds to the economy of Kenya,” he said.

Junior added: “We know very well that if marijuana is abused, it can cause drug psychosis. But we are addressing control prescribed on medicinal use under supervision of a health profession, because even painkillers like Panadol, when used wrongly, can kill.”