Compliant Players Feel the Pain as Losses Rack Up in the Absence of Regulations’
Government promises have cost private cannabis stakeholders billions of rand, left traditional growers in the lurch, and have created a regulatory vacuum which is penalising legitimate businesses. Cannabis legal activist Charl Botha says it’s time a multi-stakeholder cannabis task team to was set up to get a new overarching cannabis law on the books in 2026.
The Matekwane Sandbox Aims to Empower North West Cannabis Communities
North-West University (NWU) has unveiled its innovative Matekwane Sandbox, a “transformative research and development hub” aimed at integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the legal cannabis industry. University cannabis researcher, Dr Thandeka Kunene (pictured here), says this is a significant milestone in ensuring people are able to access opportunities in the commercialization of cannabis.
FGFA and UCT Launch Data-Driven Police Reform Programme to Highlight Where the System is Going Wrong
FGFA will be using its presence at the Cannabis Expo to raise awareness and cash for its new research project. The data-driven exercise, in partnership with UCT, hopes to provide police management with the evidence they need to reform SAPS from within to stop using cannabis arrests to persecute the poor
Health Department Challenges Tobacco Industry Over Safety of Vaping
The Health Department wants to impose greater restrictions on the sale of vapes, accusing the tobacco industry of misrepresenting e-cigarettes as a means of ‘harms reduction’. Vaping is getting out of hand amongst youngsters, say public health advocates, who want the Bill to put severe restrictions on how vaping products are sold and displayed.
Psychiatry Association Warns ‘Ketamine Craze’ Coming to SA – Along with its Breakthrough Benefits and Associated Dangers
The anaesthetic ketamine has evolved into a so-called game-changing treatment for depression and its use in South Africa is on the rise. More and more ‘ketamine clinics’ are appearing online offering treatments and cashing in on the lack of guidelines, while recreational use of the drug appears is gaining popularity.
UN Drugs Report 2025: North Americans Now Consuming More Cannabis Than Anyone Else, Anywhere
Over 20% of North Americans have consumed cannabis over the past year. The comparable figure in West Africa is 10% and in South Africa 5%! The latest UN figures show that cannabis use has increased 34% worldwide over the past decade.
Cannabis Seeds Launched To Orbit By SpaceX Crash Into Sea, Setting Back Mission To Grow Marijuana On Mars
A science experiment intended to study how cannabis seeds fare in space—in hopes of one day planting the crop on the moon or even Mars—failed last week when a capsule carrying the payload crashed into the Pacific Ocean.
Released Cannabis Leader to Sue Namibian Govt for N$1,25 Million for Human Rights Abuse
Ganja Users of Namibia President Brian Jaftha spent nearly two years in jail for possessing 100 gm of cannabis and forfeited assets to the state of N$160 000. He was released early as a gesture of goodwill by the Government, but tells Africa Editor John Makoni in his first interview since his release, that this is not justice enough and is to sue for N$1,25 million in damages in his personal capacity.
Western Cape’s CanPlan to Focus on Hemp Trials and Knowledge Transfer
The Western Cape’s CanPlan is taking shape with the province aligning itself with the DTIC in the foundational development of the hemp industry. Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer (pictured here) says the focus is on knowledge transfer and farmer support with hemp varietal trials currently underway.
Morocco Becoming Ghana’s Mentor in Developing a Cannabis Regulatory Framework
Ghanaian officials will head to Morocco this month to learn from one of Africa’s most experienced cannabis producers, as Accra prepares to bring an age-old illicit crop into the legal economy. This follows a meeting earlier this year in which Morocco offered Ghana assistance in establishing a regulatory framework that includes smallholder farmers.