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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 ‘Comseceuticals’: 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.
The Sweetwaters Switch: Labat Ditches Exports in Favour of Supplying Flower to Local CannAfrica Outlets
23 December 2024 at 15:00:00
Labat has shifted the focus of its Sweetwaters cannabis cultivation facility away from exports to servicing the domestic market. It’s done so to meet the huge consumer demand generated by its expanding CannAfrica nationwide retail footprint.
How is Govt's Fight Against Substance Abuse Going to Deal With the Most Widely-Used Illicit Substance it Intends Legalizing?
23 December 2024 at 11:00:00
Now that cannabis is to be removed from the Drugs Act, the next big challenge is how it is incorporated into a new National Drug Master Plan. The old one has just expired and a review is underway on how cannabis should be dealt with in substance abuse and crime prevention strategies and laws going forward.
West Rand Cannabis Hub Crystalizes Around VitaCann’s Carltonville Facility
23 December 2024 at 08:00:00
Central to government’s cannabis development vision is the concept of public/private sector partnerships. One such venture that has successfully emerged in Gauteng is VitaCann Pharm’s incubation by the provincial agriculture department which has turned its Carltonville facility into a fully-fledged export business.
Bitcoin and Bud: Crypto Offers Cultivators a Secure Financial Tool to Protect Their Interests
22 December 2024 at 09:00:00
Bitcoin is the natural fit for the cannabis industry. If you believe in decentralization, open-source technology, resilience, and biodiversity, Bitcoin aligns perfectly with these values. By using Bitcoin, breeders and growers can be paid in a currency that allows them to focus on their craft without the need to engage in patent wars or defend intellectual property.
Cannabis Australia 2024: Inappropriate Policies Out of Kilter With Public Opinion
21 December 2024 at 05:00:00
Australia is one of the fastest growing medicinal cannabis markets and there is mounting public pressure for adult-use legalization. However, as John Ryan of the Pennington Institute reports, 2024 has been a year where authorities have not got the message and a prohibitionist mindset continues to hold the industry back.
Labat Releases 2024 Financials: Historical Loss of R272 m Carried Forward But Directors Say it is a Going Concern
18 December 2024 at 11:00:00
Labat Africa’s historical losses are coming to light as the JSE-listed company gets its books up to date. It’s lost a ton of money in its quest to be South Africa’s cannabis heavyweight as it tries to find the right business mix to navigate unfavourable regulations.
Regulating Traditional Healers Will Reshape South Africa’s Medical Certification Landscape.
18 December 2024 at 06:00:00
The NPA says the Traditional Healers Act is being used as a front for cannabis retail and is illegal. This may be the case now, but there’s a whole debate coming about what constitutes medicine as the Government moves to bring traditional healers into the mainstream via a new set of regulations.
No I Didn't Spike Your Drink! Peruvian Cactus Medicine Comes to Town
17 December 2024 at 10:00:00
A young Gauteng entrepreneur, Moishe Schneider, has introduced South American plant medicine into the South African alternative plant therapy scene. He is championing the the Huachuma cactus plant from Peru as a ‘heart opening’ medicine in his initiative, the Healing House.
Want to Grow Hemp in KZN? Need Govt Support? Act Now as Permit Applications Close End January 2025.
17 December 2024 at 08:00:00
KZN’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has put out a call to prospective hemp farmers in the province who need support, to make contact by the end of January 2025 at any of their local offices.
Top International Recognition for South Africa’s Leading ‘Magic Mushroom’ Scientist
15 December 2024 at 14:00:00
Free State University geneticist Dr Marieka Gryzenhout, the author of the first formal study of psilocybin in South Africa, has been recognized by Stanford University as among the top 2 % of scientists in the world.
Searching for Sanity: Scientists Seek Solutions for Modern Mental Health Issues by Understanding Africa’s Ancient Plant Medicines
15 December 2024 at 09:00:00
A ground-breakng new ‘psycho-pharma research centre has been launched at the University of Pretoria to delve into the mysteries of African psychedelics and other medicinal plants to explore their potential to treat modern mental health conditions.
Brazil: Medical Cannabis Market Booming as the Pieces Fall into Place
14 December 2024 at 07:00:00
Medical cannabis use has climbed to new peaks in Brazil, with a 56% increase in patients seeking treatment. This in turn has led to a 22% increase in revenue in the sector as the South American giant shows how the healing benefits of the plant are having a knock-on effect on the economy.
High Hopes for Zimbabwe’s Medical Cannabis Sector Despite Challenges
14 December 2024 at 05:00:00
Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has noted farmers showing a growing interest in medical cannabis Zimbabwe for medicinal purposes, but production challenges are slowing the growth of the sector.
Malawi: Invegrow Kickstarts Exports But Cannabis Reform is Failing the Rural Poor It Was Meant to Help
13 December 2024 at 13:00:00
Where have we heard this before? Well, in South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini, Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco and just about every other African country that has legalized cannabis for export. Now Malawi joins their ranks in a sad but familiar repeat from the African cannabis playbook, with Invegrow being its only success story to date.
Global Drug Policy Report: The ‘War Against Drugs' Has Failed; Time to Move Beyond Punishment
13 December 2024 at 07:00:00
Cannabis legalization has reduced criminal activity and led to better health outcomes. That's the view of the Global Commission on Drug Policy which has urged the US and Canada to decriminalize the use and possession of drugs, saying to date previous prohibition policies have failed.
Let the Games Begin: MBOSA Muscles in on Cullinan’s Law Firm with ‘Urgent’ Appeal to Cannabis Master Plan’s Secretive Steerco.
11 December 2024 at 05:30:00
Who knows what the National Cannabis Master Plan’s Steering Committee is up to? Well, whatever that is they should put it aside immediately to consider an “urgent” request by the Marijuana Board of South Africa to hold an “inquiry” into leading cannabis law firm, Cullinan and Associates in the interests of ‘transparency’.
What Future is there for the Man Who Literally Sang the Praises of Mandela, Gadaffi, Castro and Chavez? Why, a Seat at the Cannabis Master Plan Top Table of Course!
11 December 2024 at 05:00:00
President Ramaphosa must think cannabis reform is in for a bit of song and dance because he’s appointed Nelson Mandela’s ‘Imbobgi Yesizwe’ to represent traditional leaders on the National Cannabis Master Plan’s Steering Committee.
Leaked NPA Guide on ‘Dagga Dealing Shops’ is Confusing But Appears to Endorse Private Cannabis Club Model
10 December 2024 at 12:00:00
Heaven help any poor prosecutor trying to make sense of “Dagga Shops Dealing in Dagga, a Practical Guide’, prepared by the National Prosecuting Authority in KZN. The document, prohibitionist by nature and confusing in presentation, indicates the NPA’s approach to cannabis offences now that the Drugs Act is on the way out.
Syria’s Collapse Exposes How Dictator’s Captagon Cartel Cornered the Jihad Market
10 December 2024 at 06:00:00
Syria has been responsible for 80% of the world’s production of Captagon, a metamphetamine-like narcotic that makes one feel ‘invincible. described as. Deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad is believed to have earned billions from the illicit production and distribution of the Jihad’s ‘drug of choice’ that generated over US$4 billion for his regime. Now what’s going to happen?
Ghana Launches Chamber of Cannabis Industry to Guide Policy and Set Standards
9 December 2024 at 06:00:00
Earlier this year Ghana’s Chamber of Commerce set up a specialist division to help establish a regulated cannabis industry in the West African country. The CCI’s CEO Mark Darko writes how Ghana is taking the regional lead in creating a commercial medicinal and industrial cannabis industry.
First South Africans Test Positive For Fentanyl as Killer Drug Surfaces in KZN and E Cape
9 December 2024 at 05:00:00
The first signs have emerged that South Africa is heading for a fentanyl crisis. Clinics in KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape report that patients have, for the first time, tested positive for the opioid that has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.
Cash Crop vs Social Harms: Kenya Divided Over Muguka, a Popular But Addictive Plant Stimulant
8 December 2024 at 12:00:00
There’s growing controversy in Kenya over the role and status of muguku, a variety of the popular stimulant known as khat or miraa. Government is obliged to fund farmers who grow the plant, but now there is kickback from critics who say it’s contributing to the country’s addiction crisis.
‘Eco-Friendly’ is a Growing Fashion Niche But Hemp Clothing Will Never Challenge Synthetics in the Mass Market
7 December 2024 at 04:00:00
Hemp clothing is gaining traction as an eco-friendly alternative in the apparel industry. Yet, the higher price tag often deters consumers. This premium stems from production challenges, including natural yarn inconsistencies, rigorous quality control processes and the commitment to sustainable practices.
Mthatha ma Chance: Cheeba and Township Cannabis Incubator Launch Skills and Business Development Project in Eastern Cape.
6 December 2024 at 10:00:00
Cheeba Africa has formed a partnership with the Township Cannabis Incubator to set up a cannabis training and market development drive in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The aim to match skills and business incubation to take on poverty in the heartland of South African cannabis.
Labat Expects “Third Party Financial Assistance” as It Reports Diminishing Losses for F2024
4 December 2024 at 15:00:00
Labat Africa will post a 3,7 cents headline loss per share for the year ending May 2024 which is not half as bad as the previous corresponding period. It’s also changed its company secretary at the insistence of a third party who may provide financial assistance.
Just When You Thought You Were No Longer a Criminal, Take a Look at the New Cannabis Transgression Laws Coming Your Way
4 December 2024 at 07:00:00
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act will replace the Drugs Act as the main tool in the Justice Department’s kit to punish cannabis offences – as soon as that law is promulgated. Here’s a summary of the new sanctions contained in the Act
Scratching the Next Surface: Minor Cannabinoids Hold the Key to Major Therapeutic Benefits
4 December 2024 at 06:00:00
From CBN to CBG and THCA, there are more than 100 cannabinoids in the plant with different psychoactive and non-psychoactive components. Indeed, each cannabinoid counts different attributes, with research only beginning to scratch the surface of how we can leverage specific cannabinoids for specific therapies.
Synergy Wellness: Building a Medical Cannabis Eco-System from the Ground Up
3 December 2024 at 10:00:00
Section 21 of the Medicines Act is the only way South Africans can buy cannabis legally so there's obviously been a surge of new ‘grey zone’ operators offering this service. Given that Section 21 itself is being so widely interpreted, where does the line of compliance lie? Cannabiz Africa spoke to market leader Synergy Wellness to find out more.
ARC Identifies Main Bio-Threats Facing Cannabis Farmers; Starts Developing New Crop Health Strategies
3 December 2024 at 09:00:00
ARC has spent the last two years studying the diseases affecting cannabis and hemp. Field trips in Limpopo and Gauteng have identified a number of threats to mono-cultural cannabis cultivation and government researchers are using this data to put together appropriate crop health strategies.
Cartel Colonialism and the Relentless Advance of Heroin Across Africa
2 December 2024 at 11:00:00
Uganda has now become a market for heroin whereas in the past it was ‘merely’ a distribution hub. This is the story of the new colonialism sweeping Africa as international criminal organizations move in with a new form of wealth-generating oppression to inflict on the natives: substance addiction.
Moving on Up! Cheeba’s Higher Certificate Course has Become Africa’s First Officially Recognized Cannabis Education Qualification
29 November 2024 at 08:00:00
Cheeba Africa operates at a foundational level in cannabis development, providing the basic skills, training and education that is the bedrock of any sunrise industry. After years of persistence it has finally clinched official recognition for its Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management course, providing a new basic industry standard.
Cartel Crackdown: Operation Orion, the Colombian Narco-Sub Navy, Record Coke Busts and 1 000 tons of Cannabis Seized in Undercover Raids
28 November 2024 at 10:00:00
A mega undercover anti-narcotics operation involving 64 countries resulted in the seizure of 1 000 tons of illicit cannabis and a world-record 225 kg cocaine bust. Operation Orion, which resulted in over 400 arrests, was aimed at hitting Colombian drug cartels and uncovered a major smuggling route from South America to Australia.
Australian Greens Fail to Push Cannabis Legalization Through the Senate
27 November 2024 at 12:00:00
Legalization in Australia has suffered a setback after a Greens Party bid to introduce a cannabis law in the Senate was blocked by other parties. The Greens responded, slamming the Government for continuing to “criminalize” Australia’s 8,8 million cannabis users, saying “legalization was inevitable”.
THC % Limits to Increase Tenfold to 2% Under DTIC’s New Hemp Plan
26 November 2024 at 08:00:00
The DTIC is putting together a “hemp value-change development plan” which will be put to the private sector and other ‘social partners’ to sign off. A key part of the plan is to raise the acceptable THC percentage in hemp from 0,2% to 2%.
Presidential Cannabis Advisor: ‘The Industry is in a Free-for-All and We Are Dealing With a Crisis of Illegality’
26 November 2024 at 07:00:00
It’s official: the President’s cannabis advisor Garth Strachan has admitted that the fledgling South African cannabis industry is in a ‘free for all’ because of a “crisis of ‘illegality’.
Cannabis and Private Property – How Private Are Sectional Title Schemes?
25 November 2024 at 13:00:00
Cannabis consumption in shared areas of sectional title schemes is not on, but what about growing plants on your balcony or smoking in your living room? Well, that depends on the rules of the complex you’re in and the definition of ‘nuisance factor’.
Trending USA: Pre-Roll Market on a Roll, Driven by Youngsters' Desire for 'Convenience Consumption'
25 November 2024 at 06:00:00
Millennials, Gen Xers and GenZ's are driving the shift towards convenience and ready-to-use cannabis products. One of the fastest growing segments in the US market over the past year as been that of pre-rolled joints. These have evolved from a niche offering to a staple on retail shelves
Namibia: Cops Refuse Permission for Cannabis Protest Because ‘Foreign Nationals’ Are Involved.
24 November 2024 at 06:00:00
The Namibian Police won’t allow a planned cannabis protest march to take place on 10 December 2024 because ‘foreign nationals’ have been invited to participate’. A top officer says this will be ‘detrimental to Namibia’s sovereignty and will only let the protest go ahead if no foreigners are involved.
Labat To Acquire IT Company for R16,75 million in a Paper Deal That Will Underwrite Group Liabilities
23 November 2024 at 08:00:00
JSE-listed Labat Africa is to acquire a 75,55% stake in IT company Classic International Trading in a paper deal worth R16,75 million. The purchase is contingent on Labat producing its outstanding financials, and if the JSE lifts the suspension of its shares, Classic will underwrite the group's liabilities going forward.
New Long-Term Study Busts Stereotypes About Cannabis Use and Mental Decline
22 November 2024 at 07:00:00
Men with a history of cannabis use over 44 years were not any more likely to show mental decline in old age than non-users. The ‘Brain and Behaviour’ Study is the latest report to debunk the myth that cannabis use leads to age-related cognitive decline.
Botswana Breakthrough: New President Embraces Cannabis in First SONA
20 November 2024 at 09:00:00
Botswana will diversify its diamond-dependent economy by launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine, President Duma Boko said on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 in his first State of the Nation address (SONA).
Pain Relief is what Most Medical Cannabis Patients Are Looking For
20 November 2024 at 05:00:00
In the United States nearly one-third (32%) of medical cannabis patients cite chronic pain as their primary condition for medical cannabis use, with anxiety the second most common (26.8%) followed by insomnia (18.5%).
The Law Seems Certain About One Thing: Private Cannabis Clubs Are Neither Illegal Or Legal
19 November 2024 at 14:00:00
South Africa’s vibrant cannabis club culture continues to face legal uncertainty after hopes that a SCA ruling in the THC case would provide finality. However, a last-minute out of court settlement put paid to that and the legal advice to private club owers is: tread carefully and stick to the Prince Judgement.
SA Court Censures Swaziland News for Calling eSwatini King a “Dangerous Dagga Dealer " Intent on Looting the Nation
18 November 2024 at 09:00:00
Judgement has been reserved in a Mbombela court case in which the eSwatini Prime Minister is tryng to gag the rebel Swaziland News, accusing it of terrorism and defamation. Part of the PM’s objection is that the paper reported without substantiating its sources, that King Mswati III is involved in the Kingdom’s illegal cannabis trade.
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