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Five unusual ways Ghanaians use weed

In your toffee, soup or with eggs? Ghanaians are becoming inventive in how they take weed. Here are some ways we have heard of.

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Whether its for a medical or social reasons the power of this herb rings strong for many, despite Ghana Police often arresting and charging people for using it.

Here are some of the more unusual ways we have heard of it being used.

In a soup

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On Tuesday August 9, The Ghanaian Times reported on a dawn swoop by the Ashaiman Divisional Police Command which led to the arrest of a couple accused of using cannabis (wee) in the preparation of light soup in their chop bar.

According to a Ghanaian Times report the couple who operate a drinking spot at New York in the Kpone Katamanso District were arrested for allegedly selling narcotic drugs to the public.

Their soup which is sold at the spot is popularly called “nkrampi or light sanja (wee light soup)" in the community.

This arrest comes a few months after the Police discovered that substances suspected to be Indian hemp are used in the preparation of toffees.

The police said they found pots of soup, four compressed slabs and 112 wrappers and quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 69 pieces of toffees and a bottle of drink all believed to have been prepared with narcotic drugs.

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In alcohol

This potent mix has made headlines here, and been condemned by communities and experts.

The drug is mixed with alcohol, and in areas around Tema the drink is known as "Shocker", "Amen" in Osu, and "Wengeze" in Adabraka. In East Legon, the drink is termed "Atemuda".

Pulse reporter Europa Taylor has seen people causing havoc in her community, after apparently ingesting the concoction. Mixing alcohol and marijuana can also cause paranoia, which makes people make flawed or even fatal choices. Alcohol and marijuana are both depressants, which work by slowing down the central nervous system, Psychology Today has said.

As a sweet

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Watch out if someone you might not trust offers you a sweet. This is a known way some people will get high. There have been news stories over the past few years of people being arrested for selling marijuana-laced sweets. In September 2015, a drinking bar operator allegedly sold toffees suspected to be laced with cannabis in Kumasi.

Also last year, police in the Eastern Region arrested a woman accused of selling candy made of weed to children in the community. She was accused of being part of a gang which proceseed weed into different products such as cakes and toffees and selling it. Police had said it was a new way for drug dealers to sell in a bid not to be caught.

With eggs

There are rumours every now and then of people starting their days with some nutritious eggs, with a side of weed – apparently they will sprinkle the drug over their eggs. Pairing marijuana with food is not uncommon, as we have seen with the couple allegedly selling it in a soup.

In hair

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Hemp is a popular product for a lot of health products, from oil to body lotions, It is also used in clothing as a natural fibre. Here in Ghana it is gaining popularity for women's hair. Considered a natural product, hemp is a part of the cannabis plant. According to Ghana beauty company We Naturals, which uses it in some of their products, hemp oil is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. It is made from the Cannabis sativa plant but has no psychoactive properties. Hemp in products is generally legal in many countries in the world.

The oil contains essential fatty acids which tend to greatly improve the hair condition and contribute to keratin formation, thus making the hair healthier and stronger, We Naturals says on its website. It moisturizes the scalp and hair, stimulates hair growth and strengthens hair to prevent breakage.

Disclaimer: This article in no way seeks to promote the use of illegal drugs. It is a compilation of known ways - as often reported in the media, by police - that cannabis is used in Ghana.

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