SACCA spokesperson Bertie van Jaarsveldt tells Cannabiz Africa there has been “strong early engagement” since SACCA launched its website in early August. “The initiative is quickly becoming a focal point for collaboration in the cannabis sector, as South Africa edges closer to national cannabis regulations expected in March 2026” he says.
He says the online forum discussions are already underway with a positive response to the initiative from cultivators, club operators, edible producers, service providers and policy advocates He says many have expressed readiness to contribute to the drafting of a ‘National Code of Compliance’ and a National Policy Paper for submission to Government.
“The interest we’ve seen so far confirms what we already knew — there is a strong appetite for unity. We now need to turn that interest into action. Time is short, and the work ahead is crucial” says van Jaarsveldt. “Regulations are on the horizon, and the sector must proactively present a credible, community-driven framework before decisions are made without them”.
The SACCA forum has been launched with the aim of providing an open, democratic workspace for members to debate, draft, and refine the documents that will guide the private cannabis club sector.
The collaborative process will focus on:
· Establishing clear compliance structures for all cannabis formats — including flower, edibles, and concentrates;
· Developing justifiable packaging and dosage guidelines to improve safety and accessibility;
· Ensuring the National Code of Compliance reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the cannabis community;
· Crafting a National Policy Paper that will be submitted to all relevant ministries and government departments in March 2026.
A central priority for SACCA , emphasizes van Jaarsveldt, is ensuring that indigenous communities, traditional plant bearers, and legacy growers — the very people who have carried cannabis through prohibition — are not left behind in the formalisation of the industry.
SACCA’s efforts have captured international attention through a recent feature but in High Times, the world’s most established cannabis publication founded in 1974 in New York, and El Planteo, one of Latin America’s leading cannabis and counterculture media platforms. Both outlets highlighted SACCA’s role in pioneering a unified approach to private cannabis clubs in South Africa — underscoring its potential to serve as a model for international reform.
Van Jaarsveldt says this recognition signals that the work being done in South Africa is not only locally significant but part of a broader global conversation on cannabis regulation, equity, and community-driven frameworks.
SACCA on Why It Matters
Without unified representation, cannabis clubs risk exclusion from future legislation — or worse, criminalisation. But beyond the survival of clubs themselves, the future of cannabis in South Africa must honour the communities who have carried this plant through prohibition. Legacy growers, indigenous custodians, and traditional healers are the original plant bearers — the ones who kept knowledge, genetics, and culture alive when it was illegal and dangerous to do so.
SACCA believes it is not enough to simply open the market; we must ensure that those who carried the plant are not left behind as spectators in a new economy built on their shoulders. Creating accessible, transparent avenues for participation — from cultivation and processing to policy-making and compliance — is crucial for true equity and social justice.
By uniting now, the cannabis community can present government with a credible, community-driven framework that prioritises inclusion, fairness, and sustainability. This is about more than compliance: it’s about building a cannabis industry that reflects South Africa’s heritage, respects its indigenous wisdom, and creates shared prosperity for all.
SACCA is inviting all members of the cannabis community to join now and add their voices to the conversation.
Register free at: sacca.org.za
Get involved in shaping:
· The Code of Compliance for ethical, transparent self-regulation
· The National Policy Paper for recognition and regulation of private cannabis clubs
· A fair and inclusive cannabis future for South Africa
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