Examination of the Tanzania’s Legal Framework in Mainstreaming Agricultural Domestic Support Principle as a Strategy to Curb Cannabis Cultivation
The problem under this study is the continuing rise of cannabis cultivation in Morogoro region of Tanzania, regardless of the presence of legal framework for criminalization of the cultivation. The main research question under this study is to what extent the Tanzania’s legal framework mainstreams the principle of agricultural domestic support, as articulated under international trade law, particularly the Agreement on Agriculture, in addressing cannabis cultivation in Morogoro Region. In this study, domestic support measures are legal and policy measures that intends to diversify the cannabis cultivation into food and or cash crops.Using a qualitative legal research approach, the study employed doctrinal analysis to assess international legal instruments and domestic statutes, law books, journal articles, policy documents under documentary review method of data collection to explore legal challenges. Through thematic and content data analysis techniques, the findings indicate that the principle of domestic support is impartially domesticated in Tanzania as evidenced through unclear legal mandates, insufficient funding, and weak community engagement limiting the effectiveness of current interventions. The paper recommends legal amendments to empower institutions with preventive mandates, enhance inter-sectoral coordination, and prioritise agricultural domestic support in the Mvomero and Kilosa districts of Morogoro Region.
Keywords: Cannabis cultivation, criminalisation, agricultural domestic support principle, legal framework, Morogoro, Tanzania
