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Zimbabwe’s 'Dr Zoey': The Region Should Harmonize Regulations And Market Itself as a Solid Bloc on World Markets
22 March 2025 at 13:15:00
Imagine a ‘Cannabis SADEC’ in which the member countries harmonized their regulatory criteria and worked as a solid bloc to market southern African medical and industrial cannabis to the world. That’s the vision of Zimbabwe’s leading cannabis change-maker, Dr Zorondzai Maroveke who says that would make a real difference Africa’s prospects of becoming a real player in the global game.
Ministers Run for Cover as Hemp Foodstuff Ban Turns Into a Political Issue and Heads for the Courts
22 March 2025 at 10:00:00
Two weeks after Dr Aaron Motsoaled’s shock ban on cannabis in foodstuff, the Health Minister has yet to make a public statement or explain the intentions behind his actions which have wreaked havoc beyond the hemp industry. Neither has the DTIC nor the Presidency said a word about the major policy blunder that has derailed the Cannabis Master Plan and now become a political issue.
PM Keichel Warns Foodstuff Ban is Binding Even Though It is Legally Flawed
22 March 2025 at 07:30:00
As absurd as the hemp foodstuff ban may be, it is legally binding until such time as the Minister rescinds it or it is set aside by a court. That's just how it is, says leading cannabis lawyer Paul Michael Keichel even though legal commentators have slammed the ban as 'unconstitutional', 'illogical' and 'unenforcable'.
Cannabis Master Plan Descends into ‘Omnishambles’ as Hemp Foodstuff Ban Reveals Serious Faultlines at Cabinet Level
19 March 2025 at 20:30:00
Seven years after Government unveiled the Cannabis Master Plan, the sad truth has been laid bare: “There is no commercialization policy, there is no economic or industrial strategy, there is no plan”. That’s the view of leading private sector cannabis consultant M Ayanda Bam, who says all the stakeholder engagement with government now seems to have been a waste of time.
Enua Signs 10 Ton Offtake Order With Nexus, Opening a New Door for SA Farmers to the Lucrative German Market
19 March 2025 at 16:00:00
Major German medical cannabis distributor Enua has expressed its confidence in the quality of South African export cannabis production and is seeking a long-term relationship with SAHPRA licensees through biomass processor Nexus.
Make Them Pay! Call for Govt Officials Responsible for the Hemp Foodstuff Ban to be Held Personally Liable for Damages
19 March 2025 at 10:00:00
As damages from the hemp foodstuff ban mount with no sign of the Health Ministry backing down, lawyers are being briefed to put together a court challenge. Industry anger is growing as millions of rand are being lost, and now there’s a call for responsible officials to be sued in their personal capacity.
Health Minster Had Already Decided on the Hemp Foodstuff Ban Before SONA, so Why Didn’t He Tell the President?
19 March 2025 at 08:00:00
Over 1 000 businesses and 400 SMME’s have been affected by the Health Minister’s ‘inexplicable’ ban on hemp foodstuffs and are bleeding millions of rand. The shock announcement has derailed the President’s cannabis vision and laid bare the policy rot at the core of the Cannabis Master Plan
DTIC: ‘Stop Dealing in Cannabis-Related Foodstuff Until Such Time as the Ban May Be Lifted’
18 March 2025 at 18:30:00
The DTIC says although the ban on hemp foodstuffs does not fit in with the Cannabis Master Plan, the law is the law, and dealing in all such products “must cease”. It said it would engage with the Department of Health to relook at the ban but offered little solace to stakeholders who stand to lose millions of rand in the meantime.
Minister a ‘No Show’ for Hemp Webinar But Senior Health Official Says Stakeholder Concerns ‘Will Be Addressed’
18 March 2025 at 15:00:00
Senior Health officials have started ‘walking back’ the controversial ban on hemp foodstuffs saying it’s part of a ‘regulatory process’ and that the Minister will ‘address the concerns raised’ by the hemp industry.
SA Cannabis Reform Now Seriously Unravelling; Can DTIC’s New Team Fix the Mess Created by Other Departments?
18 March 2025 at 09:30:00
It’s been six months since the DTIC was given responsibility for the National Cannabis Master Plan and since then cannabis reform has fragmented and turned ugly. The Department is putting together a special team to tackle cannabis commercialization, but without effective leadership at the top, it's being tasked with ‘mission impossible’.
Hear the Health Minister Here on Cannabiz Africa 12h00 Tuesday, 18 March
17 March 2025 at 15:00:00
Cannabiz Africa in association with Cheeba will be livestreaming the 'What the Hemp' Webinar at 12h00 on Tuesday, 18 March 2025. Health Minister Aaron Mostsoaledi will appear on the platform to explain the reasons behind the ban in cannabis foodstuffs. See below for the link
Namibia: Definition of Dealing Under Scrutiny in the Courts
17 March 2025 at 11:30:00
Namibian law assumes anyone found with over 115 gm of cannabis is guilty of dealing. That definition is being contested in the Windhoek High Court where a Keetmanshoop man convicted of having 241 gm in his possession was convicted as a drug dealer.
‘Suspend the Ban, Let’s Talk Guidelines for Cannabis in Foodstuff’
17 March 2025 at 06:30:00
Top Government officials are being drawn into the Health Department's ban on cannabis in foodstuffs. Lawyer Charl Botha has written to the President saying the ban is unconstitutional and should be suspended while proper regulatory guidelines are put in place.
Hemp Organization Suspicious of Motivation Behind Ban, Threatens Court Action
15 March 2025 at 11:00:00
Hemp activists are mobilizing resources to take on the Minister of Health’s surprise ban on cannabis in all foodstuffs. FOHSA says its prepared to challenge the ban in court as it is unconstitutional and is concerned about what the real reasons behind the restrictions are.
Cannabis-Infused Foods on the Rise Worldwide, Highlighting Need for International Guidelines
15 March 2025 at 10:00:00
There are undisputed therapeutic and nutritional benefits associated with cannabis-infused foodstuff and around the world consumer demand is rising for such products. However, there are no international guidelines protecting consumers and a framework needs to be put in place.
Health Dept Moves to Calm Industry Nerves: ‘Cannabis Food Ban is Start of Regulatory Process’
15 March 2025 at 07:00:00
Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale says the recent sudden ban of cannabis in foodstuffs was done in the name of consumer safety. He hinted that the ban would not be permanent but the start of a regulatory process to assess cannabis products before they appear on shelves.
Health Minister Agrees to Face the Nation on Cannabis Foodstuff Ban
14 March 2025 at 12:45:00
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has agreed to appear on a Cheeba emergency stakeholder webinar on the crisis facing the hemp industry following last week’s cannabis foodstuff ban. To date the Minister has not explained his reasons for the surprise ban but he’s expected to do so next Tuesday, 12h00 along with a range of other guests on the Webinar entitled, What the Hemp. REGISTER HERE
Food, Beverages and The Cannabis Ban: What the Law Says
14 March 2025 at 11:30:00
The cannabis and health food industry is still reeling from last week’s ban on cannabis in all food and beverages. The ban will be a hard hit for legitimate businesses in this sector, while the ‘grey zone’ will do as it always pleases. Brett Pollack from cannabis consultancy Harambe Solutions offers a legal perspective
Health Minister's Cannabis Foods Ban Unleashes a Chorus of Condemnation
12 March 2025 at 13:00:00
Health Minister Aaron Mostoaledi’s decision to ban cannabis in foodstuffs has revealed the deep policy faultlines running through Government and widespread condemnation from industry stakeholders. The ban threatens to derail the National Cannabis Masterplan and undermines the President’s commitment to developing the hemp industry.
Appeal to President: 'Retract the Ban on Cannabis in Foodstuff, It Could Kill the Hemp Industry
12 March 2025 at 09:45:00
Hemp seeds have been regularly available on South African shelves for four decades and are now outlawed under the Health Minister's surprise ban on cannabis in foodstuff. The ban is bad news for the hemp industry generally and Cheeba Cannabis Academy has written an open letter to President Ramaphosa urging him to immediately rescind the ban before further harm is done.
Shock Announcement! Health Minister Suddenly Bans Cannabis in All Foods and Beverages!
11 March 2025 at 08:45:00
In an astounding regulatory development, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, has issued a notice banning the use of cannabis in foodstuffs. The announcement in the Government Gazette of 7 March 2025, has left cannabis stakeholders stunned, as this flies in the face of the Presidency’s cannabis vision and undermines the National Cannabis Master Plan.
UCT Study Reveals About 5% of High School Kids Use Cannabis Regularly and Warns of Alarming Rise in Vaping
10 March 2025 at 11:30:00
About five percent of South African high school students use cannabis on a monthly basis. That’s according to a recent UCT study on vaping, which highlighted the health dangers of adolescents using e-cigarettes and encouraged parents to discourage the habit.
SAPS Reveals ‘Da Culture’ is an Ongoing Undercover Operation Against Illegal Cannabis Outlets in KZN
10 March 2025 at 08:15:00
Seven people have been arrested as a result of a four year SAPS undercover operation targeting illicit cannabis dealing networks in Kwa Zulu Natal. Police say the operation, in which plainclothes police officers target ‘grey zone’ outlets pretending to be customers, is ongoing.
Hawks Hail Prosecution of Pensioner Producing Cannabis Therapeutic Products as a ‘Significant Win’ in the Fight Against Drugs
9 March 2025 at 09:30:00
Random prosecutions continue against ‘grey zone’ operators with the Hawks hailing the conviction of an elderly Somerset West woman for dealing in R50 000 worth of cannabis-related products as a ‘significant win’ in efforts to curb the ‘illegal drug trade’.
JuicyFields Saga: Headspinning 'Scams Within Scams' and Now a Shadowy Link to the Russian 'Deep State'
7 March 2025 at 08:00:00
The first Juicyfields cases are likely to come before European courts this year as two new twists emerge in the scam that cost thousands of investors an estimated US$678 million. Journalists have found links to Russian ‘deep state’ involvement, and the lawyer bringing the investor class action against Juicyfields is suspected of being a scammer himself!
Durban Medical Cannabis Expert Encourages Mainstream Doctors to Make More Use of Section 21 But Warns Against Being “Led Astray” By the Illicit Market
5 March 2025 at 20:30:00
Durban medical cannabis expert Dr Yernush Naidoo says more mainstream doctors are becoming aware of the healing qualities of cannabis, but that most practioners are ignorant of the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Labat Lowers Cannabis Exposure, Raises IT Profile with R25 million Deal to Acquire Software Importer Ahnamu
5 March 2025 at 19:00:00
Labat Africa has spent over R40 million buying into two IT companies in the last few months, signalling its intention to reduce its dependence on its cannabis business. While the board is reviewing the risks associated with Cannafrica, its biggest cannabis business, its pivoting purposefully into the infotech arena.
ECRDA Says its Championing Local Landraces as it gets Caught in the Mpondoland Hemp War Crossfire
5 March 2025 at 13:30:00
The ECRDA says it’s committed to supporting legacy cannabis farmers and is in the process of registering local landrace seeds for commercial use. But it points out that its mandate is also to help hemp permit holders grow imported genetics and that it has to manage these competing dynamics.
Trump Looks to Slash Cannabis Research Funding, Long-Awaited Rescheduling Now in Doubt
4 March 2025 at 12:45:00
Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House throne was initially greeted with cautious optimism by US cannabis stakeholders, who hoped his pro-business stance would be good for the industry. However, the President’s determination to cut federal research funding threatens over 500 cannabis projects, and puts in doubt whether cannabis rescheduling will actually take place this year.
Botswana Leverages Gaberone’s Twin City Status with Toronto to its Cannabis Advantage
4 March 2025 at 10:00:00
Botswana is the latest African country to partially legalize cannabis, and South African and Canadian stakeholders are getting in on the regulatory ground floor. Botswana hopes to use South African and Canadian expertise in getting a framework in place that will enable it to use cannabis to reduce its dependence on diamond exports, stimulate business and reduce unemployment.
NPA To Issue Cannabis Arrest Guidelines ‘Soon’, But No Sign Yet of Cannabis Act Regulations
3 March 2025 at 09:00:00
A senior policeman has confirmed that the National Prosecuting Authority is to issue new guidelines regarding cannabis arrests ‘soon’. However, these guidelines depend on what regulations govern the Cannabis Act, a task the Justice Department has been sitting on for nine months.
Prince Says No Progress as Police Play Hardball at Rasta Round Table, Insist on Upholding Their Rights to ‘Search and Arrest’
1 March 2025 at 10:00:00
The SAHRC-convened Rasta Round Table in Gauteng this week made little progress in its campaign to halt cannabis arrests. The cops agreed to ‘sensitivity training’ for SAPS members, but would not back down on their rights to ‘search and seizure’. Rasta leader Ras Gareth Prince (pictured here) said afterwards, it was clear that Government was not serious about negotiating in good faith.
Cannabis is the Gateway Drug to the World’s New Plant-based Medicine Revolution
1 March 2025 at 08:30:00
Plant-based therapies are becoming all the rage as more scientists unlock nature’s secrets to find new healing and wellness benefits. Africa is well-poised to take advantage of the new global plant-based product revolution that is integrating cosmetics and healing.
Rastas and the Law Square Off at the Round Table to Halt Cannabis Arrests
26 February 2025 at 20:00:00
The South African Human Rights Commission convened the Rasta Round Table at the Birchwood Hotel on the East Rand on 26 February 2025. This was the first high profile meeting between Rastafarian representatives from all nine provinces and senior security cluster officials with the SAHRC's main aim being to halt cannabis arrests
Medigrow Recalls Hemp Seed Distributed in Mpondoland, Saying ECRDA Should Carry the Can for ‘Misunderstanding’
26 February 2025 at 15:00:00
Medigrow CEO Edgar Adams (pictured here) has moved swiftly to calm rising tensions over hemp in Mpondoland. The company has withdrawn the hemp seeds distributed to a select group of farmers and has met with the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association farmers to allay fears that their landraces were under threat.
Silence of the SOPAs: Not a Word from E Cape and Gauteng Premiers on Any 2025 Plan for Industrial Cannabis to Create Jobs
26 February 2025 at 11:15:00
The Eastern Cape Premier never misses an opportunity to promote cannabis development so why the mysterious silence on the subject during his SOPA? And Gauteng? Not even a SOPA whisper on how the country’s economic powerhouse intends to use industrial cannabis to uplift the poor and create jobs.
Cannabis Mission DRC: Cheeba to the Rescue to Fix Broken Hemp Project
26 February 2025 at 07:00:00
The DRC hasn’t featured much in the African legal cannabis landscape because the industry is going through the teething pains of developing an export market. A major industrial hemp project near Kinshasa ran into trouble with its first harvest and called in South African-based Cheeba Consultancy to help iron out the problems.
Nexus Cements Ties With German Investment Partners as it Brings Two Processing Faciities to Market
26 February 2025 at 06:00:00
Nexus Pharmaceuticals is consolidating its position in the cannabis ‘biomass’ processing space as its Gauteng facility nears completion and German investors jet in to formalize their relationship with the company.
Ghana: Clearing the Ground for West Africa’s First Industrial Cannabis Revolution
24 February 2025 at 10:00:00
After years of legislative delays, Ghana’s plans to develop a hemp sector are finally underway. It hasn't been an easy ride getting here says 'Hempire's' CEO Nana Kwaku Agyemang. He tells Cannabiz Africa that large tracts of land are being cleared for hemp planting and that industrial cannabis in Ghana is open for business.
Staying Ahead of the Grey Zone Competition: The Key is to Have a Vision, Sussed Store Layout and Switched on Staff
23 February 2025 at 11:00:00
The ‘grey zone’ is evolving rapidly as thousands of illegal cannabis outlets across the country become openly competitive in their bid to attract customers. Whatever regulatory framework emerges, cannabis outlets will always be dealing with one key issue: customer retention. Here are a few tips from across the Atlantic.
CBD Shots Prove There’s Life Left in the Old Nag as Israel Develops New Pain Treatment Product for Animals
20 February 2025 at 12:30:00
Israeli company Innocann, has developed a single shot CBD injection treatment for osteoarthritis that could have wide application in the international veterinary world. The Liposomal CBD treatment was administered to Ariel the elderly donkey with positive results and there could be future application for humans.
Dr Gallow in Demand: SA’s ‘Medical Cannabis Ambassador’ Hits the World Stage After Concluding Ground-breaking SA Research
19 February 2025 at 12:30:00
Dr Shiksha Gallow recently wrapped up SA’s first Pharma-ethics and DOH approved clinical trials involving cannabis and has now become a highly sought after presenter in the international medical cannabis arena. She is presenting two papers in Brisbane this week at the CIU Australian Medical Cannabis Conference. This follows her whirlwind tour of USA, Costa Rica, Thailand and the Philippines in the past few months
KZN Players Reaching Out for New Industrial Cannabis Partnerships with France and China
19 February 2025 at 08:30:00
The KwaZulu Natal industrial cannabis sector is picking up with the construction of a large processing factory at Empangeni and provincial stakeholders forging relationships with French and Chinese hemp players.
Zimbabwe Hopes Local Genetics Research Will Lower High Input Costs of Cannabis Farming
18 February 2025 at 14:00:00
Zimbabwe has embarked on a programme to cross-breed indigenous landrace strains with imported genetics in the hope of bringing down farm input costs. This comes as it struggles to build traction in the industrial hemp market with only seven of the 48 licensees actually in operation.
FGFA’s Myrtle Clarke; 100 Years Of Prohibition Kept Alive by Government Ignorance
18 February 2025 at 12:00:00
Wednesday, 19 February 2025 marks 100 years of cannabis prohibition. In 1925, the Geneva Opium Convention declared 'Indian Hemp' as a banned substance. Although there are sweeping gains across the world, the prohibitionist mindset is far from over. Activist Myrtle Clarke, co-founder of FGFA says that unfortunately, when it comes to cannabis legalization, prohibitionist thinking remains alive and well in South Africa.
Malawi Makes Up Lost Ground as Cannabis Momentum Begins to Build
18 February 2025 at 08:00:00
Malawi’s ‘head of cannabis’ says that the creation of a single cannabis authority, co-ordination between government departments and meaningful incentives for foreign investors have laid a solid foundation for future growth. Malawi is now poised to capitalize on its most famous landrace, Malawi Gold, as the export market opens up.
Will the Shift to the Right Derail Germany’s Dramatic Regulatory Changes?
17 February 2025 at 08:00:00
Germany’s cannabis sector has undergone dramatic regulatory changes in the last year, particularly in medical cannabis uptake. However, stakeholders are concerned that the gains may be undone as the European political landscape shifts to the right.
Colorado-Based Nutiva Gets in Quick as Botswana Begins Developing Hemp Sector
17 February 2025 at 06:00:00
Botswana is to kick off its part-legalization of cannabis with a hemp business summit in Gaberone in April, at which international companies and banks will be in attendance. The meeting’s main objective is to chart a regulatory way forward.
Welcome to the World of ‘Cosmeceuticals’: CBD Cosmetics Can Blend Beauty and Healing
14 February 2025 at 07:15:00
CBD is set to play an increasing role in cosmetic and beauty products such as skin and hair care as research highlights the cannabis compound’s anti-aging and antioxidant effects. It’s also been found to accelerate the healing of wounds.
First High Profile Cases Emerge from KwaZulu Natal ‘Grey Zone’ Clampdown as Private Club Owners Face Charges for 'Dealing in THC'
14 February 2025 at 04:30:00
The owner of Durban private cannabis club Rooftop 420 has been arrested with three other club managers and all have been charged with illegally selling and distributing THC products four years ago.
Stirrings of Rural Resistance as Angry Legacy Growers Mobilize to Push Back Against Medigrow: “No Hemp in Mpondoland”
12 February 2025 at 18:00:00
The Lusikisiki Agreement between legacy growers and government agencies has fallen apart before the proverbial ink has dried. Mpondoland farmers have accused Government of breaking its word that no hemp would be introduced into the area without consultation and intends mobilizing local communities to resist Medigrow’s plans to distribute hemp seeds in the area.
Qure’s Brenda Marx: “Market Will Be Boosted By Govt Recognition of the Importance of Cannabis Testing
12 February 2025 at 15:00:00
The quiet announcement by the DTICC that product testing will be compulsory in funding applications is hugely significant says Qure's Brenda Marx. She says this requirement signals the start of a standardization process across the industry and will encourage laboratories to work more closely together.
DTIC Appoints Four Labs for Testing Cannabis Products as it Issues New Funding Guidelines
12 February 2025 at 11:00:00
The DTIC has issued new guidelines for entities seeking funding and has appointed Afriplex, NAFS, Qure and Vinlab as its official cannabis testing labs. The Department says funding applications for product development has to be accompanied by product test results from one of these four service providers.
Cannabis King Khoisan’s Protest Palace at the Union Buildings Demolished
12 February 2025 at 08:00:00
The Department of Public Works tore down the ramshackle residence of self-styled King Khoisan SA, this week. This effectively ends the King’s seven year protest occupation at Pretoria’s Union Buildings, where he became a tourist attraction, championing cannabis and indigenous rights.
SONA 2025: A World Within One Word Gives Private Sector Cannabis Stakeholders Some Hope
10 February 2025 at 15:00:00
Private sector cannabis stakeholders have taken an upbeat view of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s brief reference to cannabis and hemp in last week’s SONA. The fact that the word ‘commercial’ passed the President’s lips, has elicited an initial positive response from a fragmented industry awaiting guidelines on the way forward.
Presidency’s Control of Cannabis Reform Threatened by the Growing ‘Crisis of Illegality’
5 February 2025 at 10:00:00
Since the landmark 2018 Concourt ruling, South African cannabis sector has been shaped by court decisions rather than driven by Government policy-makers. This has resulted in conflicting spheres of influence behind the scenes, the consequence of which is today’s seriously dysfunctional cannabis industry.
Eastern Cape Programme to Incentivize Landrace Cannabis Farmers to Switch to Hemp Begins
5 February 2025 at 06:00:00
The first hemp seeds have been distributed to a select group of Eastern Cape farmers as part of Medigrow’s ambitious Coega-based industrial cannabis partnership with the provincial government.
‘TeleHealth’ Services Drive Rapidly Growing Australian Medical Cannabis Market
4 February 2025 at 07:00:00
Australia’s medical cannabis boom is being driven by an explosion of ‘telehealth’ clinics that have eliminated procedural bottlenecks and driven up prescription volumes. But they are also coming under scrutiny by authorities for ‘fronting’ for recreational use.
‘The Hypocrisy of Democracy’: Prince Slams Government for Perpetuating Racism Through “Reckless” Cannabis Reform
3 February 2025 at 09:00:00
Leading South African cannabis activist, Ras Gareth Prince, says 'whites and Indians' are the main beneficiaries of the cannabis ‘grey zone’ retail boom while police continue their persecution of indigenous communities. He has accused Government of deepening South Africa’s racial divide by its lack of regulation around the cannabis industry.
Rwanda Sets Aside Large Site for Cannabis Production, Five Companies Interested
1 February 2025 at 05:30:00
Last year Rwanda issued the first cannabis industry guidelines focusing on medical and industrial cannabis for export. Kigali has now set aside a large tract of land as a cannabis hub and is looking for investors.
Van Rooyen Steps Down as Labat CEO After 30 Years as Group Pivots into IT Space
29 January 2025 at 20:30:00
Labat CEO Brian van Rooyen has resigned as CEO of the JSE-listed group as it announces a shift in strategy by moving into the IT space through the acquisition of Classic International Trading. He will be replaced by Irfaan Mohammed, who says the group will be reviewing the risks associated with the cannabis sector and decide on the appropriate way forward.
African Cannabis Hits an Impasse: Limited Vision, Disappointing Exports and No Local Market Development
29 January 2025 at 19:00:00
Africa has missed out on the first wave of cannabis legalization that has swept the Americas and Europe. Exports have not lived up to expectation and there has been limited local market development. African cannabis is now at an impasse and is being left further behind as international markets grow exponentially .
New Partnerships, New Paradigms: Eco Green Becomes SCIPP’s Satellite Lab To Research Indigenous Psychedelics
26 January 2025 at 08:30:00
Cape Town cannabis lab Eco Green Analytics has entered the traditional medicine research field by partnering with the Pretoria-based Southern Centre for Indigenous Psycho Pharma (SCIPP). It will offer its services to analyse medicines used by traditional healers and psylocibin mushrooms in a quest to unlock the therepeutic benefits of indigenous plants.
Morocco: Growers Call for Recreational Cannabis to be Legalized as Hemp Stockpile Mounts and Prices Drop
24 January 2025 at 12:30:00
Morocco is Africa’s largest exporter of cannabis, mostly hemp for industrial purposes. However, cannabis reform has faltered with record crops and lower prices, prompting traditional growers to call for a legal domestic adult-use market to be legalized.
Mpondoland Municipalities Come Together to Develop Cannabis Strategies and Protect Landraces
24 January 2025 at 06:15:00
A grassroots initiative between local and central government to develop a cannabis economy in Mpondoland in the Eastern Cape is being spearheaded by the provincial development agency ECRDA. The development has now been formalized with an agreement at Luskisiki that brings together seven municipalities in the heartland of cannabis country into a common cannabis vision.
Police Raid ‘Grey Zone’ Newcastle Cannabis Manufacturer as Clampdown Intensifies
22 January 2025 at 04:30:00
Police have arrested two men in a raid on a ‘grey zone’ producer of cannabis and related products outside Newcastle in KZN. They seized a range of consumer products and dismantled a hydroponics lab and processing equipment.
Medigrow’s Ambitious Eastern Cape Industrial Cannabis Project Kicks Off as the Money Starts to Roll
21 January 2025 at 09:00:00
Medigrow’s billion rand Coega industrial cannabis project gets underway this month as equipment arrives on site in the Eastern Cape and the first hemp seeds are ready for delivery to small-scale rural growers.
Regulatory Nightmare Gets Worse: Cilo Cybin Quits SA Market “Until We Know Where We Can and Can’t Play”
19 January 2025 at 19:00:00
One of South Africa’s key medical cannabis players is pulling its CBD range from the local market completely because of the regulatory morass. Cilo Cybin says until such time as Government issues clear regulatory guidelines for the cannabis industry, it will pursue an export-only strategy.
Namibian Police Seize 380 kg Cannabis in December, Concerns That Other Drug Use is Rising
17 January 2025 at 06:45:00
Namibian police are concerned that the country is becoming a “nation of drug addicts and drug dealers". This follows the arrest of 126 people in December for drug-related offences, the appearance of metamphetamine in the country and the increasing use of Namibians as ‘drug mules’.
Cilo Cybin Holdings Sitting on R60m; Shareholders Now Waiting for the Action
15 January 2025 at 10:00:00
Cilo Cybin Holdings has about R60 million in available capital as it goes into the new year. The group has just released its latest financials showing a healthy return on its investment income to date, but now that it has bedded down its assets, shareholders have high hopes this capital will be put to good effect in the year ahead.
SA’s Medical Cannabis Expertise Spreads its Wings: Dr Gallow Invited to Philippines to Support Legalization Bid
15 January 2025 at 06:30:00
South Africa’s ‘Medical Cannabis Ambassador’, Dr Shiksha Gallow, recently trained and certified 40 doctors in medical cannabis in the Philippines where the practice is generally outlawed. She was keynote speaker at a conference pushing to legalize medical cannabis and urged the Manilla government to accept the legitimacy of cannabis as a healing plant.
Three Trends Shaping the South African Cannabis Consumer Market
14 January 2025 at 05:30:00
There has never been more choice and greater convenience for South African cannabis consumers than what the retail ‘grey zone’ is offering right now. Although this sector is completely illegal, it has grown rapidly enough for credible consumer behaviour trends to emerge. These are the three to look out for.
Silverleaf’s Darryl Weisz: ‘DTIC Must Intervene as the System Has Been Set Up for Failure’
14 January 2025 at 04:30:00
The DTIC must urgently take regulatory action to level the playing field in South Africa's cannabis industry and prevent the ‘wild west’ situation from spiralling further out of control. This is the plea from Silverleaf Investments, which argues that the current ‘grey zone’ is a significant setback for legitimate companies striving to earn an honest income in the cannabis sector.
Poland’s Medical Cannabis Shake-Up: Drastic Drop in Patients as Authorities Halt the “Prescription Machine’.
13 January 2025 at 09:30:00
Since November 2024, Poland has observed a drastic decrease in the number of prescriptions for medical cannabis. This change is a direct result of the tightening of regulations on ‘prescription machines’ by the Ministry of Health which specifies that prospective patients have to be personally examined by a doctor.
2025: Mixed Outlook for US Cannabis Market, But Overall A Better Year Expected
12 January 2025 at 08:30:00
2024 was a rough year for cannabis investors in the US, but 2025 could be much better. Here are cannabis investment specialist Cabot Health’s top eight predictions for the cannabis sector for the year ahead.
Agbiz Chief Economist: Provinces Must Pressurize Central Government to Develop Clear Cannabis Regulations
11 January 2025 at 10:00:00
Leading agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo (pictured here) has called on South Africa’s provinces to pressurize national government into putting the right regulations in place to develop South Africa’s cannabis industry. Regulations, he emphasizes, are essential to guiding the market in an orderly way.
‘Cannabis’ King Khoisan SA Injured, Suffers Tragic Loss in Accident After Union Buildings Eviction
11 January 2025 at 05:00:00
King Khoisan SA had become a tourist attraction at Pretoria’s seat of state where for years he paraded semi-naked and grew cannabis in a protest for indigenous rights. Now he has been formally evicted by Public Works only to be badly injured in a car accident in the Eastern Cape
Feeling the Squeeze: Over 25% SAHPRA Growers Deregistered in Last 3 Months
10 January 2025 at 08:00:00
A quarter of South Africa’s SAHPRA-licensed cannabis growers have been deregistered in the past three months. This reflects the difficulties export cultivators are facing in their struggle to crack international markets, tied-up capital and surplus inventory.
2025: A Year for Removing the Rocks on the Road to Cannabis Reform
8 January 2025 at 13:00:00
The South African cannabis industry has gone through a painful few years, constrained by Government’s slow and shambolic approach to regulatory reform. The irony is that to date the ‘grey zone’ appears to have benefitted the most so far from the Constitutional Courts 2018 decision to legalize private consumption, while other sectors of the cannabis economy have lagged behind. So what lies in store for SA cannabis in the year ahead? Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber has a look ahead.
Hello Hemp: Networking Event in Nairobi is Kenya’s First Step Towards Developing an Industrial Cannabis Sector
6 January 2025 at 14:00:00
Kenya has taken the first step towards realizing the potential of industrial cannabis with a landmark hemp workshopping conference planned for Nairobi on 20 January 2025.
SAPS Accused of Turning West Coast Highway Route into Shakedown Street
6 January 2025 at 11:00:00
Police are allegedly targeting Rastafarians and other cannabis users on the N7 highway that serves the Cape West Coast. Veteran cannabis activist Garth Prince says there have been numerous reports that police make the arrests to ‘steal’ the suspects’ cannabis, a practice that has been going on for years.
Africa: Cannabis Reform Stuck in the Shadows of a Substance Abuse Crisis
6 January 2025 at 07:00:00
Cannabis reform in Africa is taking a very different route from the legalization in other jurisdictions as the continent’s policy-makers see the plant simply as a drug. That approach means that cannabis is lumped in the same category as heroin, metamphetamines and cocaine which tends to obscure the real drug problem - Africa's growing synthetic drugs crisis.
Blowing in the Wind: Cannabis Cross-Pollination a Source of Concern for US Hemp Farmers
6 January 2025 at 06:00:00
It’s well-known that cannabis pollen travels far and wide and that planting high THC and low THC varietals in the same geographical area can be detrimental to both. According to a new study, cross-pollination in the US cannabis industry is becoming a serious challenge.
Brand on the Run: Cannabis Marketing Tips for the New Year
1 January 2025 at 14:00:00
As South African cannabis begins pivoting from the underground into the mainstream, so does brand development become a key focus for entrepreneurs. And as everyone knows, you can’t develop a brand without marketing. Here IC Glass, California shares some marketing tips that local cannabis business may find useful in 2025.
2025 to be the Year of Psychedelic Lawfare as State Opposes ConCourt Bid to Have Psilocybin Legalized
1 January 2025 at 09:00:00
The legal swords are being drawn in a new Constitutional Court challenge around plant medicine – this time psilocybin, also known as ‘magic mushrooms’. The apex court application to have psilocybin decriminalized along the same lines as cannabis was lodged last year. Now the State has given notice it intends to fight this as part of its ‘war against drugs’.
Happy New Year for Labat as JSE Lifts Suspension on Share Trading Now That Financials Are Up to Date
1 January 2025 at 07:00:00
New year has bought good news for Labat Africa. On 31 December 2024, the JSE lifted its 14 month suspension on the trading of the group’s shares after it finally posted its outstanding financials.
Going into 2025, Africa’s Potential to be a Medical Cannabis Powerhouse Remains an Elusive Dream
30 December 2024 at 09:00:00
Africa faces numerous hurdles if it is ever to realize its potential to become a global leader in medical cannabis production. Among those challenges are balancing policy, economic growth and social norms. With lazy, conservative thinking entrenched in post-colonial governments across the continent, Africa is many years away from any hope of being a player in the world medical cannabis arena.
50 Shades of ‘Grey Zone’: Cannabis Cowboys Drive the Rapid Rise of an Unregulated Retail Sector Worth Billions
25 December 2024 at 12:00:00
The ‘grey zone’ domestic cannabis retail market has exploded in 2024 has left regulators trailing in the dust. Although the sale of cannabis illegal unless it’s prescribed under Section 21 of the Medicines Act, thousands of ‘informal’ traders have brazenly opened shop across South Africa’s, selling cannabis flower and a host of related THC and CBD products.
Theron Consolidates Cilo Cybin’s Assets in R845 million Deal That Positions Group to Become a Major Player in African Medical Cannabis
25 December 2024 at 07:00:00
JSE-listed Cilo Cybin Holdings has just concluded its first major acquisition – the anticipated purchase of CC Pharmaceuticals. The multi-million rand deal will result in CCH taking control of the company’s Gauteng cultivation and processing facility and sets it up for growth in the cannabis healthcare space.
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