According to a new report from cannabis analytics firm New Frontier Data, Nigerians consume the most cannabis amongst other nations in the world, including the United States and Canada. The West African nation is the leader in global cannabis consumption with an estimated $21 million cannabis users consuming annually with more than $15 billion spent on the plant every year. Despite the high consumption rates, cannabis sales are illegal in Nigeria, though the western state of Ondo is considering a medical cannabis program. Ondo State lead by Governor Rotimi Aketi traveled to Thailand to study how cannabis can be of more advantage to the state and Nigeria just the way the Thai government has done saying,

“ We all know that Ondo State is the hot bed of cannabis cultivation in Nigeria. We know how to grow it and it thrives well in the Sunshine State. With an estimated value of $145 billion in 2025, we would be shortchanging ourselves if we failed to tap into the legal marijuana market. Our focus now is medical marijuana cultivation in controlled plantations under the full supervision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. I strongly implore the FG to take this seriously as it is a thriving industry that will create 1000’s of jobs for youth & spur economic diversification.”