The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has expressed strong opposition to the government's decision to allow foreign companies to cultivate cannabis in the country. 

In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the association urged the government to reverse the decision, highlighting significant health, social, and economic dangers.

The SLMA stated that the government's use of "medicinal use" is misleading, noting that global demand for medical cannabis is decreasing and its approved use is limited to a few rare conditions. 

The association warned that this policy could allow multinational cannabis companies to expand into Sri Lanka, leading to widespread normalization of cannabis use. 

They also argued that it would be nearly impossible for law enforcement to secure the plantations, potentially increasing the availability of cannabis on local streets.

The SLMA also raised concerns about the health risks associated with increased cannabis use, including mental disorders, addiction, and lung ailments. 

They noted that cannabis has been linked to impaired brain development in adolescents, self-harm, suicide, and road accidents. 

Economically, the association stated that the anticipated foreign exchange from these investments would be minimal and insufficient to address the country's $100 billion debt.

Describing the decision as the "first breach of the dam that protected Sri Lankans," the SLMA concluded by urging the government to abandon the plan, warning of the "untold sorrow" it could bring to the nation.