The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a Rs100 million technical supplementary grant for the newly established Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority. The funding will support renovation and operational work for its headquarters.
The authority is responsible for regulating Marijuana and related industrial and medical uses in Pakistan. It will operate from a building in Islamabad that was previously used by the Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technologies.
Officials said the building requires major renovation and structural changes. These changes are needed to meet the operational requirements of the new authority.
The ECC was informed that additional funds were requested through a Technical Supplementary Grant for the current fiscal year. The Cabinet Division had earlier arranged partial funding due to budget constraints.
Initially, the authority had requested Rs1 billion for fiscal year 2025–26. However, the Finance Division only allocated Rs200 million for the project.
Due to limited resources, the Cabinet Division redirected Rs100 million from its own allocation. This amount was later approved by the ECC as a supplementary grant.
The approved funds will be used for renovation work and to operationalize the remaining facilities of the authority.
The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority was created under a federal ordinance. Its role is to regulate the cultivation, extraction, and use of Marijuana for medical and industrial purposes.
It also oversees licensing for cultivation and production activities. These licenses will be valid for five years under the regulatory framework.
The authority operates under a 13-member board of governors. The board is chaired by the secretary of the Defence Division.
It also includes representatives from key ministries and institutions. These include the Cabinet Division, Law Ministry, National Food Security Ministry, provincial governments, intelligence agencies, Anti Narcotics Force, and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
Officials said the authority will advise the federal government on policy matters related to Marijuana regulation. It will also ensure controlled and legal use under the new framework.
The ECC’s approval marks an important step toward operationalizing the authority. It is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight and institutional capacity in this sector.
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Authorities believe the structured system will help regulate Marijuana use for approved purposes while maintaining legal control and monitoring.
