Sri Lanka can take high road with cannabis instead of IMF to solve debt crisis: Diana Gamage

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka can stand straight and solve the debt crisis by exporting cannabis oil instead of bending in two before the International Monetary Fund and other creditors, legislator Diana Gamage appointed to parliament on the SJB National List but now backing the ruling party told parliament last week during the budget debate..

“We do not have to beg and bend in two – inga kanna, dekata nemenna – before the IMF or other lenders,” Gamage now in court trying to block the SJB from expelling her, told parliament.

“We can earn billions from the export of CBD oil (Cannabidiol) if we throw out British era legislation, and allow cannabis to be grown commercially. This country has now been an independent for 73 years and we need not be under colonial laws.”

It was a practical solution to the debt crisis and no zonking out (being under influence of drugs and alcohol) was intended.

“I am not saying to allow cannabis to be used as an intoxicating substance,” she said. “Those laws can stay. But we need to throw out legislation banning this crop.”

Gamage said IMF was not needed when Sri Lanka joined the cannabis bandwagon.

If the British era law was junked under Section 08 of the Ayurveda Act, the Commissioner of Ayurveda can allow the crop to be grown commercially for medicinal purposes.

“Our gods and nature has given us a cash crop,” Gamage said. “The European Investment Bank has said global trade in Cannabis will grow 1000 percent in 10 years.

“In 2018 it was worth four to five billion US dollars. By 2027 cannabis trade will be worth 140 billion rupees. It is now mostly confined to North America and Europe.

She said CBD oil was being approved for treating several diseases already. These included multiple sclerosis, post-trauma and also Dravet Syndrome for children.

“We can earn billions of dollars from the export of Cannabis (CBD oil),” she said. “I hope this house will throw out this 19th-century British ordinance.”