‘Blockbuster’ Cannabis Drug for Chronic Lower Back Pain Set for Release in 2026
The first cannabis-derived product for chronic lower back pain VER-01, is to be launched this year by German pharmaceutical company Vertanical, It claims the new product is twice as effective as existing treatments and opens up a new and uncontroversial pathway for cannabis prescriptions.
Kiwi Hemp Overhaul: THC Limit Will be 1% and Farmers Won’t Need Permits to Grow
New Zealand has announced an overhaul of hemp regulations aimed at cutting red tape and encouraging more planting. The new rules see the THC limit in hemp raised to 1% and the permit system dropped for a looser regulatory regime.
Snapshot Summary of the the World’s Most Significant Cannabis Developments in 2025
The International Business Conference Berlin says South Africa’s cannabis landscape changed significantly in 2025 and was one of 13 major highlights of the year. As the new year dawns, the ICBC looks back on a year that proved to be significant for cannabis policy and industry in many parts of the world. Here are some of the top 2025 international cannabis stories.
Minister Tau: Cannabis Commercialization Policy is DTIC’s ‘Immediate Focus’ Going into the New Year
The development of a cannabis commercialization policy is one of the DTIC’s priorities going into the new year and the Department is working with the SABS to develop standardized guidelines for the packaging and labelling of cannabis products for general retail and medical cannabis purposes.
Cannabis as a Stress Management Tool for Family Holidays
Besides the obvious joint or two, cannabis helps manage holiday stress through fast-acting gummies for social anxiety, CBD products for travel nerves, balanced edibles for family gatherings, and energizing vapes for cooking marathons. CBD capsules offer stress relief for crowded shopping, in-law visits, work parties, and post-feast relaxation.
Learning the Hard Lessons of the American Cannabis Market
Joao Duartte (pictured here), Business Developer at Decibel Engineered Systems in Almada, Portugal says Europe should take note of the hard lessons from the US cannabis industry – namely oversupply kills markets, price dropping bankrupts companies and fragmentation destroys scalability.
Vape Shop Owner Disappears in a Cloud of Smoke After R40 m Investment Goes Missing
East Rand Vape shop House of Clouds owner Mohammed Karolia (pictured here) is reportedly on the run owing over R40 million to a former business partner who obtained a far-reaching court order freezing all his bank accounts on 18 December 2025.
Statement from the White House: Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research.
This is the statement issued by the White House on 18 December 2025, accepting the medical benefits of cannabis and rescheduling its classification as a less dangerous drug. Although this does not allow federal legalization, the executive order is a deeply significant step in US cannabis reform.
The Culture War: Factions, Egos, and the War for the Soul of Cannabis
Ego has become the barricade that prevents cannabis from realizing its full potential. Infighting among growers, scientists, and newcomers only strengthens the architects of exclusion, leaving us fractured from within. Guest columnist Lee Hymers writes that perhaps a dose of humility is needed all round.
FGFA Calls on Cannabis Communities to Help Shape Post-Prohibition Police Guidelines
One of the most contentious issues right now is the continued application of apartheid-era policing by SAPS which continues to arrest and harass people for cannabis offences. FGFA has launched a bold project to change SAPS from within and is urging cannabis communities to make their voices heard in this regard at a workshop planned for February 2026.