SAHPRA Upgrading Systems to Deal with Surge in ‘Fake Licenses’, Bigger Regulatory Review Underway
SAHPRA says it is sourcing a barcoding system to authenticate Section 21 medical cannabis service providers. This comes amidst a surge of new businesses signing up medical cannabis patients to supply them with their ‘prescriptions’, and this is ringing the regulator’s alarm bells loudly.
DTIC Minister Tau: ‘Justice Dept Must Scrap Drugs Act Before Commercialization is Put on the Table’
The DTIC is waiting for the Department of Justice to scrap the Drugs Act before it can implement a commercial framework for cannabis. DTIC Minister Parks Tau has told Parliament that a draft cannabis commercialization policy is under internal discussion and will be released for comment once it is ‘finalized’.
Tau’s Time-Frame: New Cannabis Law Must Be Passed by end February 2026
Trade Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) says the Agriculture Department is working on a cannabis zoning plan to support legacy farmers and safeguard local cannabis landraces. He says at the same time the DTIC is working on an overall cannabis commercialization policy which it wants to be in law in nine months time.
Infrastructure Snags Slow Down Rwanda’s Flagship Cannabis Development Project
Rwanda’s Development Board has put up US$1,5 million of the US$3 million needed to complete a major project in partnership with US company KKOG which has already sunk US$10 million into its Musanze facility. The project, already delayed by a year, is now ‘83%’ complete according to the RDB.
Namibia is the New Frontline in Southern Africa’s Battle for Cannabis Reform
Namibia’s draconian anti-drug laws are increasingly under the spotlight as cannabis activists mobilise to legally challenge Windhoek’s prohibitiosist stance. Here Cannabiz Africa’s Africa editor, John Makoni takes a deep dive into the Namibian cannabis landscape where the fault lines are opening up like never before.
Botswana Stakeholder Conference Planned: ‘Cannabis Policy Not Just Up to Govt Alone’
The private sector must get in on the ground to help shape Botswana’s cannabis and hemp policies. This is the view of IETD director Charity Kennedy (pictured here) who is organizaing a stakeholder conference at the end of August 2025 to help shape Government policy.
Botswana Activists Launch New Advocacy Group to Decriminalize Cannabis and Ensure Govt Policy Benefits the People
CAB head Peo Seed (pictured here) says cannabis legalization should not just be about job creation but entrepreneurial development and technological innovation. CAB wants cannabis decriminalized and to reshape the nation’s approach to the plant as one that could bring prosperity to the people
Namibia May Be Easing Prohibitionist Stance as Government Calls for Public Input on Cannabis Laws
Namibian cannabis stakeholders have until Friday 13 June 2025 to have their say on cannabis reform. The Namibian government has invited public comment on current cannabis legislation, and its new-found openness to engagement could result in an easing of its prohibitionist laws.
Joint Submission by Namibia’s Main Cannabis Organizations to the Ministry of Justice
This is the joint submission to the Namibian Government by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia (CHAN), Medical Marijuana Association of Namibia (MMAN) and Rasta United Front (RUF) of Namibia ahead of today’s deadline for public comment on cannabis laws. They specifically criticize the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act 41 of 1971 (RSA), also known as “the Impugned Act”) and the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 (“the Medicines Act”).
Namibian Justice Officials Attend Colorado Conference on International Cannabis Regulations
Namibia may be in for a complete overhaul of its cannabis laws in the strongest indications yet from the Government of a change in its prohibitionist attitude. It has called for public input on current legislation and proposals on the way forward, and senior Justice Department officials this month attended the Cannabis Regulators Association meeting in Denver, Colarado.