NACOC Chief Tackles Cannabis Myths at KNUST Youth Conference: Natural Plant Origin Doesn't Mean Safe

The Narcotics Control Commission has launched a direct counter-offensive against widespread cannabis myths circulating among Ghana's youth, with Director-General Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey using a national platform to debunk the dangerous belief that a substance's natural origin guarantees safety. Speaking at the National Youth Conference at KNUST on Wednesday, he emphasised that cannabis directly damages cognitive function—impairing memory, judgment and decision-making—regardless of its plant-based status.

The warning comes as misinformation on social media and peer pressure continue to normalise drug use among young Ghanaians, with false claims that cannabis can enhance intellectual performance proving particularly seductive to students. Major Gen. Mantey challenged this head-on, making clear that such myths actively encourage experimentation, especially among vulnerable populations exposed to misleading online content.

The Myths Being Pushed

NACOC identified several persistent misconceptions fuelling cannabis use amongst young people. The most common—and most dangerous—is that plants cannot be harmful. This ignores the reality that many natural substances, from poisonous plants to toxic minerals, carry severe health risks. The second major myth suggests cannabis improves cognitive abilities or makes users smarter, a claim completely contradicted by neuroscience. Major Gen. Mantey stressed that both narratives are weaponised by peer pressure and social media algorithms that amplify pro-drug content, making resistance particularly difficult for teenagers navigating online spaces designed to encourage engagement regardless of harm.

Why It Matters for Ghana

Ghana's young population—comprising nearly 40% of the nation under 15—represents the country's demographic dividend and future workforce. However, rising cannabis use threatens educational outcomes, economic productivity and social stability. The substance's impact on decision-making is particularly concerning in a context where youth unemployment and limited opportunities already constrain life trajectories. When cannabis impairs judgment, young Ghanaians risk derailing education, damaging relationships and limiting employment prospects—outcomes with cascading effects on families and communities.

The NACOC intervention also signals institutional recognition that drug abuse cannot be tackled through enforcement alone. Major Gen. Mantey explicitly called for broader societal involvement from parents, teachers, religious organisations and civil society, positioning drug prevention as a collective responsibility. This multi-stakeholder approach acknowledges that young people receive conflicting messages: street culture and online spaces often glamorise cannabis, whilst official messaging warns against it. Without consistent, credible counter-narratives from trusted community figures, young people default to peer influence.

NACOC's Path Forward

The Commission committed to intensifying public education and prevention programmes, with emphasis on equipping young Ghanaians with accurate scientific information. Major Gen. Mantey encouraged youth to become ambassadors for drug-free lifestyles within their communities, effectively turning peer pressure into an asset for prevention rather than a liability for promotion. He also signalled openness to those struggling with substance use, urging them to seek help rather than remain isolated by shame or misinformation.

The KNUST conference itself represents a strategic choice—targeting students at Ghana's premier science and technology university where evidence-based thinking should theoretically be strongest, yet where cannabis normalisation has visibly spread. By engaging youth directly, NACOC moves beyond top-down warnings into dialogue, potentially more persuasive than broadcasts.