SAPS Cannabis Arrest Policy in Disarray and the Poor Pay the Price
SAPS has been unable or unwilling to update its cannabis arrest guidelines and is contributing to Government’s policy confusion. In the absence of new national guidelines, provincial police are a law unto themselves, hence the absurdity of SAPS Northern Cape hailing the arrest of a township man for cultivating 28 cannabis plants as a success in the fight against crime.
Botswana Gazettes Cannabis Regulations – All Focus on Exports, Strict Prohibition Back Home
Botswana’s new cannabis framework has been described as ‘the most detailed cannabis control regime’ in Africa. The Cannabis Act of 2025, published on 12 January 2026, favours big business in that it’s export-orientated, prohibits adult-use and does not allow for the developmet of a domestic cannabis economy.
European Cannabis Prices Will be Under Pressure This Year as Surplus Stock Reaches Market
The global cannabis trade underwent significant changes in 2025, especially in the European market, where price compression and potentially strict regulatory changes are adding to an already complex market. This means exporters to Europe can expect lower cannabis prices in 2026.
Kenyan Rastas Face Pushback as Cannabis Prohibition Challenge Goes to High Court
The Rastafarian quest to have their cannabis rights recognized is becoming a pan-African phenomenon. Rastas in Kenya are challenging the country’s cannabis prohibition laws, following a strategy of activism developed in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. However, as Africa Editor John Makoni reports, they are facing organized resistance.
International Medical Cannabis Market Growing at 23% a Year as Regulations Loosen and Patients Seek Alternative Therapies
One of the reasons behind the surging global growth in medical cannabis is the demand by consumers for alternatives to opioids. That, along with better regulatory frameworks and more research on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, are the main drivers behind the growth of the US$30 billion market
If Traditional Healers Are Empowered to Write Sick Notes, Prescribing Cannabis is Just A Step Away
Traditional healers will be legally empowered to write sick notes for their patients that employers will be legally bound to recognize them. This is once they have been registered in terms of draft regulations, and accept levels of compliance. This may just be a mechanism to allow healers to ‘prescribe’ cannabis as well.
SA Cannabis Club Scene Exploding, Over 2 000 Operators Hustling Under the Legal Radar
There may be over 2 000 private cannabis clubs operating under the legal radar in South Africa creating a cultural community vibrancy that rivals those in Barcelona and Amsterdam. That’s the view of international magazine High Times which reports that the evolution of a dynamic club culture has outpaced government’s chaotic attempts to regulate the sector.
Morocco Begins Cannabis and Poultry Study to Replace Antibiotics in Animal Feed
Moroccan animal scientists believe processed cannabis sativa residue could boost the Kingdom’s poultry industry with a substitute for antibiotics that would also produce healthier meat. An agreement has been signed between Morocco’s cannabis regulator and the country’s leading veterinary science institute to begin scalable feasibility studies .
High Times Magazine: Legal Weed Didn’t Fix South Africa’s Cannabis Problem
South Africa is struggling to reconcile human rights, economic opportunity and effective reform, according to an in-depth dive by the iconic High Times Magazine into South African cannabis activism and the ambiguously shifting legal landscape. Reporter John Veit writes about the human cost of contradictory laws, police chaos, and an export-first legalization model that sidelines legacy growers.
Iron Mike Squares Up for a US$50m Legal Fight With Pro-Wrestler Shareholder in Tyson 2.0 Brand
Mike Tyson (pictured second from left, and that’s not a punchbag he’s holding) has filed a $50 million lawsuit against former executives of Carma HoldCo, including major shareholder Ric Flair, a professional wrestler. Carma is the parent company behind the multi-million dollar Tyson 2.0 cannabis brand, which Iron Mike believes has been ripping him off.