Namibia: Bail for Okahandja Ganja Bust Driver: ‘I thought I was Transporting Meat Not Cannabis’
The driver accused of transporting 52 kg of cannabis in Namibia’s biggest ever cannabis bust has been released on N$50 000 bail after he claimed he was duped into transporting the consignment, which he thought was meat, His two co-accused , South African David van der Linden and farm manager Armand Schultz (pictured here) remain in custody until the legal proceedings continue in the new year.
Agriculture Dept Open to Engagement Over Regulatory Concerns in New Plant Improvement Act
The DoA has signalled that it is open to engaging with stakeholders who have raised concerns about the recently published hemp regulations under the Plant Improvement Act . The first of such meetings has been scheduled for the end of January 2026 between the Registrar of the Plant Improvement Act and a delegation led by Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions.
Medical Cannabis Marketing Now Positioning Cannabis as a Mainstream Healthcare Product Rather than Alternative Medicine
Leading international cannabis consultancy Prohibition Partners says the European medical cannabis market is maturing at speed, with providers focused on return on investment and a shift in marketing strategies. Cannabis is already well-known as an ‘alternative medicine’, but now marketing departments are looking at repositioning it as part of a cannabis ‘standardized healthcare’ package.
Ghanaian Stakeholders Appeal to Parliament to Rethink ‘Unrealistic and Exclusionary’ Hemp Licence Fees
Ghana’s leading hemp activist organization, Hempire Agric Ghana (HAG) is to take up the shock hemp licensing fee issue with Parliament. HAG’s Nana Kwaku Agyemang (pictured here) says the proposed fees, the most expensive in the world, are unrealistic and exclusionary and out of kilter with the market.
Global Perspective: New Markets, New Restrictions and the Rise of Telemedicine
Internationally, the cannabis industry is likely to see further advances in telemedicine as the main channel to market for medical cannabis in the year ahead, while Canada is likely to assert its leadership on the world stage. But watch out for new restrictrions kicking in in new markets and possible oversupply in 2026 – and keep an eye on Thailand
South Africa is Now the Synthetic Drug Capital of Africa
Health authorities have long been warning of the drugs crisis unfolding in South Africa with heroin and cocaine use up sharply. The situation has now reached a point where South Africa now has the most pervasive synthetic drug market in Africa.
You’ve Got to be Kidding! Ghana Unveils the Most Expensive Licensing Regime in the World
Local farmers will have to cough up big time if they have hopes of participating in the West African country’s fledgling hemp sector. The licensing structure and proposed fees for the hemp sector are a slap in the face for small-scale farmers as they are heavily geared towards multinationals able to afford the dollar-denominated fees and attendant taxes.
End of an Era: Brian van Rooyen Retires as Labat Says Farewell to Cannabis
Labat has announced the retirement of co-founder and director Brian van Rooyen (pictured here) after 30 years of service. This follows the group’s sale of Cannafrica and the mothballing of its remaining cannabis assets as it moves into the fintech space. Van Rooyen’s retirement marks the end of an era, but not necessarily the end of his cannabis ambitions.
Kenya’s Rastas in Renewed Push for Cannabis Legalization
A constitutional challenge by the Rastafari Society of Kenya pits religious freedom against decades-old narcotics laws, forcing a national debate on the future of cannabis. A High Court decision, expected in 2026, could have significant cultural and economic implications for the nation.
Buying Genetics: Top 10 Factors Cannabis Cultivators Need to Be Aware Of
Every cultivator’s first priority should be to purchase high quality genetics with a high ROI. This is because the seed you select can make or break your commercial operation. Still, selecting the best seed can be overwhelming due to the extensive seed inventory on the market. Africa editor John Makoni did some digging around and here’s his checklist for buying genetics.