SAHPRA in Crisis! Regulator is Failing its Mandate and Medical Cannabis Sector is Feeling the Pain
SAHPRA’s unilateral decision to halt approval of any further Section 21 medical cannabis applications has spiralled into a crisis. Patients are being denied access to medication and service providers face uncertainty while the regulator remains silent.
Section 21 Medical Cannabis Crisis Stakeholder Webinar
Join the Cannabis Crisis Committee and Cannabiz Africa on 29 October 2026 to shape a sector response urging SAHPRA to clarify medical cannabis access after halting Section 21 approvals.
The Case for Sun-Grown Cannabis
Sun grown cannabis is on the rise in the US as soaring input costs hit ‘indoor’, while ‘outdoor’ may foster a richer, more complex chemical profile.
Rwanda’s Export-Only Cannabis Policy is Structured to Suit Big Pharma, But it’s Not Going Quite as Planned
Rwanda aims to be East Africa’s ‘Big Pharma’ cannabis hub, but its strategy locks out locals and benefits elites.
KZN Landraces Have High Presence of ‘Appetite Suppressing’ Cannabis Compound, THCV
A distinctive feature of African sativas is the presence of THCV, and KwaZulu Natal is a strong candidate for THCV-forward expressions. That’s according to a deep dive by the Landrace Sativa team, who report that apart from THC, minor cannabinoids CBG and CBC also feature in what’s commonly known as ‘Durban Poison’.
Shapeshift Alert! Africa Beginning to Look at Integrating Medical Benefits of Cannabis into Public Health Systems
Africa has all been left behind by the medical cannabis revolution sweeping the world. However, there are signs that this could be changing as a new generation of policy makers led by Zambia’s Dr Prosper Sievu, are questioning why Africa is not harnessing the benefits of cannabis for its own people.
‘80% of SA Medical Cannabis Export Flower May be Finding its Way into the Illicit Local Retail Market’
Research confirms that SA’s licensed medical cannabis cultivators appear to be putting more flower into the illegal local market than they are exporting. Despite the fact that this is largely illegal, many growers are finding it easier, and more profitable, to supply the ‘Grey Zone’ than it is to crack the difficult EU market.
DTIC says Knowledge of Cannabis Sector Would be ‘Added Advantage’ as it Selects New Master Plan Project Manager
Government’s first ‘back to the drawing board’ steps do not augur well for the industry. In advertising for a new project manager for the beleaguered National Cannabis Master Plan, the DTIC says knowledge of the cannabis and hemp industry would only be an ‘added advantage’ rather than an absolute prerequisite
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Cannabis Legalization But Retail Access is Still a Major Issue for Consumers
88% of Americans support cannabis legalization, but only 53% live in states where consumption is legal. This has impacted retail patterns. Take the tiny town of New Buffalo, Michigan: it sells more cannabis than the whole of LA – because of its ease of access to neighbouring Illinois and Indiana where prohibition remains.
Mpondoland’s Snoux Poswa: We Should be Celebrating and Building Our Beautiful Cannabis Heritage, Not Criminalizing It
Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association secretary general Snoux Poswa says legacy growers have a wealth of accumulated wisdom and practical knowledge around the healing benefits of indigeous landraces. Yet government will not listen, and instead continues to criminalize the people it is meant to represent.