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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.
THC Settles Appeal Bid Out of Court, Status of Private Clubs Remains Uncertain
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17 November 2024 at 08:00:00
The Haze Club has reached an out-of court settlement with the Justice Department on its appeal court application to have private cannabis clubs legally recognized. The details of the settlement are confidential and in the absence of a court ruling, the legal status of cannabis clubs remains uncertain.
Finally, the Multi-Million Euro JuicyFields Cannabis Scam Starts Finding its Way to Court
17 November 2024 at 06:00:00
Two German nationals believed to be pivotal to the E645 million JuicyFields fraud are soon to appear in a Berlin court. However the thousands of investors left out of pocket by the complex cannabis pyramid scheme are unlikely to see any of their funds returned.
Trump’s White House Unlikely to Prioritize Cannabis, That’s Probably a Good Thing
13 November 2024 at 12:00:00
US cannabis stakeholders have cautiously welcomed Donald Trump’s return to the White House, saying the industry will probably escape the impending pushback of Biden policies. Trump does not see cannabis as a priority issue, which means current reform initiatives are likely to remain intact and that the plant is still in line to be removed from the federal list of controlled substances.
Driving the Private Club Revolution: GrowOneAfrica’s Self-Regulatory Model Makes Both Cannabis Consumers and the Taxman Happy
13 November 2024 at 07:00:00
GrowOneAfrica is one of South Africa’s leading cannabis service providers and the dominant enabler in the private cannabis club movement. Based in the Western Cape, G1A has pioneered a self-regulating club model that has created millions of rand in value, over a thousand jobs and serves over 9 000 members. Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber takes a deep dive into the GrowOneAfrica story with CEO Kobus Schoeman and GM Vanessa de Sousa (pictured above).
Intelligence Agency Offers ‘Compliance’ and ‘Law Enforcement Interaction’ with SAPS for ‘Grey Zone’ Cannabis Outlets
12 November 2024 at 12:00:00
Sika is a name that has cropped up over the past few months in the cannabis ‘grey zone’ where a number of outlets have signed up to their specialized services. Who is Sika and what do they do? Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber speaks to Sika founder and CEO Sandy Gounder to find out more
Joint Statement from SAPS and SAHPRA Warning To ‘Grey Zone’ Cannabis Outlets
12 November 2024 at 07:00:00
An undated press release from SAPS and SAHPRA says no cannabis retail outlets are allowed except in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. It also says businesses operating under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act are illegal.
Former Israeli US Ambassador: IDF is Targeting Hezbollah’s Drug Empire in Lebanon
11 November 2024 at 09:00:00
The Israeli Defence Force believes that one of Hezbollah’s main funding sources is the trade in Captagon, a powerful amphetamine that is produced almost entirely in the Middle East. A former Israeli ambassador to the US says the recent IDF strikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley have the aim of taking out Hezbollah’s narcotics production infrastructure.
Zimbabwe's Ivory Medical Launches Therapeutic Product Range Integrating Cannabis and Traditional African Medicine
11 November 2024 at 06:00:00
Zimbabwe has been struggling to develop its medical cannabis value chain but this looks set to change as Ivory Medical brings an innovative product range to market. Its CannaQure range, launched last week, integrates traditional African medicines into cannabis-based therapeutic products.
African Pharmacists Need to Take Cannabis Seriously – Or Risk Being Trapped in the ‘Knowledge Gap’
7 November 2024 at 04:00:00
Only nine countries in Africa have legalized medical cannabis to some degree, but for the rest of the continent the global medical cannabis revolution is passing it by. Nonetheless, African pharmacists should tackle their own knowledge gap in anticipation of cannabis becoming part of integrated public health systems in the future.
Trump’s Pro-Business Stance Gives US Cannabis Stakeholders ‘Tempered Hope’ for the Future
6 November 2024 at 18:00:00
Donald Trump’s White House victory has been greeted with cautious optimism by the big players in the US cannabis industry. They don’t see the Republicans rolling back plans for federal reform, banking access and state autonomy and hope for bipartisan support in dealing with regulatory challenges.
Government Reports Back on the National Cannabis Master Plan: It’s Happening Slowly But It’s Happening
5 November 2024 at 10:00:00
Presidential cannabis advisor Garth Strachan acknowledges the pace of cannabis reform has been slow but says that now the DTIC is in the saddle, there should be more momentum. Here is his summary of the current state of regulatory play in the cannabis sector.
SAPS Training Woefully Inadequate to Handle, Well...Anything Kinda Complicated
5 November 2024 at 04:00:00
As most of the cannabis community that has borne the brunt of the law is strongly aware: police are not trained to think. SAPS is about to embark on a mass recruitment drive but until such time that recruits are taught not just to obey orders but to make decisions, there will be no curbing South Africa’s high crime levels.
Parks Tau to Take Charge of the Cannabis Master Plan; DTIC to Oversee Further Changes to Law
4 November 2024 at 10:00:00
South Africa’s new Trade and Industry Minister, Parks Tau has been given the task of bringing other Government departments into line on cannabis policy. He’s also going to be responsible for drawing up appropriate legislation to enable cannabis reform.
SAHPRA Confirms Nationwide ‘Grey Zone’ Clampdown Underway; Says Cannabis Retailers Should Face 'Full Might of the Law’
3 November 2024 at 09:00:00
SAHPRA says authorities have raided ‘grey zone’ cannabis outlets in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and have taken ‘appropriate enforcement actions’ against them. It says there is no such thing as a dispensary license and anyone selling cannabis to the public should face the ‘full might of the law’.
Mexico Moves to Ban All Vapes, Critics Fear The Cartels Will Step Into the Void
2 November 2024 at 07:00:00
Mexico’s new president wants to constitutionally ban all vapes by the end of the year. Critics are concerned that this overlooks the fact that vapes are nicotine alternatives and that banning them will simply drive the vape market further underground.
Tackling the Biomass Build Up: Nexus Launches Major Project to Process and Export SA Cannabis
31 October 2024 at 12:00:00
Despite billions of rands in investment, South Africa’s medical cannabis industry continues to face an uphill battle, not least of which are a surplus of unsold inventory and a lack of return. New cannabis player Nexus Pharma has built its business model around tackling these challenges to market South African medical cannabis internationally.
Global Cannabis Market Just Keeps Growing, Africa Nowhere Really to be Seen
31 October 2024 at 07:00:00
International consulting company Global G has just released its Global Cannabis Market: Fall 2024 Outlook which shows the market just keeps growing. The oils market especially has expanded rapidly in a sector that has increased by 14% in value over the past year. Sadly, Africa is nowhere to be found in this positive prognosis.
USA: NYC vs 'Grey Zone'; 'Grey Zone' Wins for Now
31 October 2024 at 06:00:00
South African cannabis retailers trapped in the ‘grey zone’ of regulatory vacuum may take heart from a recent bombshell ruling in New York City. A Queens judge has ruled as unconstitutional a state law that allowed NYC to padlock hundreds of suspected illegal cannabis shops.
Waxing Lyrical: Stellenbosch Academics Patent New Cannabis Extraction Process Using Plant Wax to Boost Productivity
31 October 2024 at 05:00:00
Extracting active compounds from cannabis for medicinal purposes is a fast-growing industry world-wide. The enormous impact this could have on the local cannabis industry has seized the imagination of a Stellenbosch University chemical engineering team who have developed and patented a unique extraction process involving the purification of plant wax to preserve active compounds
New Wave of Legalization Expected After US Elections, Starting with Florida
30 October 2024 at 10:00:00
The US Presidential elections are set to unleash a new wave of cannabis legalization no matter what the outcome. This is the first US election where there is bipartisan support for cannabis reform with both Democrats and Republicans backing the Biden administration’s push to reschedule cannabis and remove it from the list of scheduled substances..
eSwatini Cannabis Confusion, Cannabis Bill Floats in Parliamentary Backwaters, While Police Intensify War Against Growers
29 October 2024 at 16:00:00
eSwatini’ MP’s hope that the controversial Cannabis Bill will still be retabled before the year is out, but with more ministries being pulled into the legalization issue, don’t expect this to happen.
Small Business Dept to Fund R6 million Drakensberg Cannabis Processing Facility in KZN
27 October 2024 at 08:30:00
The oKhahlamba (Bergville) local municipality in the far KwaZulu Natal Midlands has harvested its second low-THC cannabis crop and has secured central government funding for a cannabis processing facility in the area.
Lesotho Loses Revenue to Unchecked Cannabis Licensing Corruption
26 October 2024 at 07:00:00
cannabis licencing corruption remains rife in the country and the government is turning a blind eye. That's according to The Lesotho Reporter, the Kingdom’s main newspaper, which alleges there is a single mastermind behind the ongoing licensing fraud whose identity is known to the authorities.
Trending USA: Younger Women Now Buying More Cannabis than the Guys
25 October 2024 at 07:00:00
The United States’ US$30 billion cannabis industry is experiencing a surge in female buying power. And with younger women now buying more cannabis than their male counterparts, cannabis companies are re-evaluating their product offerings and marketing strategies.
‘Understaffed’ SAHPRA ‘Over-Reliant’ on ‘High Risk’ Fee Income from Big Pharma
25 October 2024 at 05:00:00
SAHPRA ’s government grant has been declining for years and the regulatory authority is increasingly reliant on fee income, which it says is a “high risk situation”. It has appealed to Treasury for further funding saying that it is understaffed and needs to invest in technical infrastructure.
Cannabis Master Plan ‘Secrecy’ Under Fire As Hand-picked Steering Committee Meets Privately and Doesn’t Share Agenda
24 October 2024 at 08:00:00
It has come to light that the Presidency set up a committee of non-government stakeholders a year ago to help rebuild the National Cannabis Master Plan. However, the committee, which was set up in secret, has been meeting behind closed doors with no communication to the broader cannabis community as to what it has been discussing. This has raised concern among activists and the business community, as the Presidency had promised to be transparent.
CBD Skincare Market is Growing Faster Than You Can Apply Moisturizer on a Dry Day
23 October 2024 at 09:00:00
The South African CBD skincare market is poised to grow significantly for the rest of the decade, outpacing most other CBD categories. This is in line with global trends which show that growing consumer awareness of CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects is translating into sales.
Hemp-Derived CBD Pesticide Found to be Effective Against Mosquitoes
23 October 2024 at 08:00:00
New uses for industrial cannabis are being discovered all the time. A recent study published in the journal Insects found that hemp-derived CBD kills Yellow Fever mosquitoes in their larval phase, opening up new possibilities in ecologically-sustainable insect control.
Malawi: Cannabis Bill Delayed by Faith Leaders' Objections
22 October 2024 at 13:00:00
Malawi’s president has not yet enacted into law a Bill passed by Parliament in March this year intended to regulate the cannabis industry. This was because of objections by religious leaders that not enough harms prevention measures had been put in place, even though the Malawi is only permitting cultivation for export.
Uganda Issues Medical Cannabis Export Guidelines
22 October 2024 at 12:00:00
Uganda’s cannabis policy is to legalize cannabis only for export. Kampala is currently not considering domestic consumption of industrial, medical or recreational cannabis, but has recently issued guidelines for prospective exporters.
Here’s a Thought from the Taxman in Kansas: It Would Be More Practical to First Legalize 'Rec' Use While Developing a Proper Medical Cannabis Framework
21 October 2024 at 08:00:00
Kansas lawmakers are debating cannabis legalization, and a senior taxman has suggested the US state start with regulating cannabis for recreational use rather than begin with a medical cannabis programme as other states have done. This, he said, would be “easier to implement”. South African policy-makers should take note: this could solve a lot of self-inflicted regulatory problems, which appear to be getting worse.
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