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CANNABIZ AFRICA LEGAL NEWS FEATURE
Prince Says No Progress as Police Play Hardball at Rasta Round Table, Insist on Upholding Their Rights to ‘Search and Arrest’
The SAHRC-convened Rasta Round Table in Gauteng this week made little progress in its campaign to halt cannabis arrests. The cops agreed to ‘sensitivity training’ for SAPS members, but would not back down on their rights to ‘search and seizure’. Rasta leader Ras Gareth Prince (pictured here) said afterwards, it was clear that Government was not serious about negotiating in good faith.
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CANNABIZ AFRICA LEGAL DESK
Your guide to the latest news and views on legal developments in the African Cannabis Industry. Keep up to date with policy changes, court cases, corporate activity, activism and news from the legislature.
NPA To Issue Cannabis Arrest Guidelines ‘Soon’, But No Sign Yet of Cannabis Act Regulations
3 March 2025 at 09:00:00
A senior policeman has confirmed that the National Prosecuting Authority is to issue new guidelines regarding cannabis arrests ‘soon’. However, these guidelines depend on what regulations govern the Cannabis Act, a task the Justice Department has been sitting on for nine months.
Prince Says No Progress as Police Play Hardball at Rasta Round Table, Insist on Upholding Their Rights to ‘Search and Arrest’
1 March 2025 at 10:00:00
The SAHRC-convened Rasta Round Table in Gauteng this week made little progress in its campaign to halt cannabis arrests. The cops agreed to ‘sensitivity training’ for SAPS members, but would not back down on their rights to ‘search and seizure’. Rasta leader Ras Gareth Prince (pictured here) said afterwards, it was clear that Government was not serious about negotiating in good faith.
Medigrow Recalls Hemp Seed Distributed in Mpondoland, Saying ECRDA Should Carry the Can for ‘Misunderstanding’
26 February 2025 at 15:00:00
Medigrow CEO Edgar Adams (pictured here) has moved swiftly to calm rising tensions over hemp in Mpondoland. The company has withdrawn the hemp seeds distributed to a select group of farmers and has met with the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association farmers to allay fears that their landraces were under threat.
Silence of the SOPAs: Not a Word from E Cape and Gauteng Premiers on Any 2025 Plan for Industrial Cannabis to Create Jobs
26 February 2025 at 11:15:00
The Eastern Cape Premier never misses an opportunity to promote cannabis development so why the mysterious silence on the subject during his SOPA? And Gauteng? Not even a SOPA whisper on how the country’s economic powerhouse intends to use industrial cannabis to uplift the poor and create jobs.
Rastas and the Law Square Off at the Round Table to Halt Cannabis Arrests
26 February 2025 at 20:00:00
The South African Human Rights Commission convened the Rasta Round Table at the Birchwood Hotel on the East Rand on 26 February 2025. This was the first high profile meeting between Rastafarian representatives from all nine provinces and senior security cluster officials with the SAHRC's main aim being to halt cannabis arrests
FGFA’s Myrtle Clarke; 100 Years Of Prohibition Kept Alive by Government Ignorance
18 February 2025 at 12:00:00
Wednesday, 19 February 2025 marks 100 years of cannabis prohibition. In 1925, the Geneva Opium Convention declared 'Indian Hemp' as a banned substance. Although there are sweeping gains across the world, the prohibitionist mindset is far from over. Activist Myrtle Clarke, co-founder of FGFA says that unfortunately, when it comes to cannabis legalization, prohibitionist thinking remains alive and well in South Africa.
First High Profile Cases Emerge from KwaZulu Natal ‘Grey Zone’ Clampdown as Private Club Owners Face Charges for 'Dealing in THC'
14 February 2025 at 04:30:00
The owner of Durban private cannabis club Rooftop 420 has been arrested with three other club managers and all have been charged with illegally selling and distributing THC products four years ago.
Stirrings of Rural Resistance as Angry Legacy Growers Mobilize to Push Back Against Medigrow: “No Hemp in Mpondoland”
12 February 2025 at 18:00:00
The Lusikisiki Agreement between legacy growers and government agencies has fallen apart before the proverbial ink has dried. Mpondoland farmers have accused Government of breaking its word that no hemp would be introduced into the area without consultation and intends mobilizing local communities to resist Medigrow’s plans to distribute hemp seeds in the area.
Qure’s Brenda Marx: “Market Will Be Boosted By Govt Recognition of the Importance of Cannabis Testing
12 February 2025 at 15:00:00
The quiet announcement by the DTICC that product testing will be compulsory in funding applications is hugely significant says Qure's Brenda Marx. She says this requirement signals the start of a standardization process across the industry and will encourage laboratories to work more closely together.
DTIC Appoints Four Labs for Testing Cannabis Products as it Issues New Funding Guidelines
12 February 2025 at 11:00:00
The DTIC has issued new guidelines for entities seeking funding and has appointed Afriplex, NAFS, Qure and Vinlab as its official cannabis testing labs. The Department says funding applications for product development has to be accompanied by product test results from one of these four service providers.
Cannabis King Khoisan’s Protest Palace at the Union Buildings Demolished
12 February 2025 at 08:00:00
The Department of Public Works tore down the ramshackle residence of self-styled King Khoisan SA, this week. This effectively ends the King’s seven year protest occupation at Pretoria’s Union Buildings, where he became a tourist attraction, championing cannabis and indigenous rights.
SONA 2025: A World Within One Word Gives Private Sector Cannabis Stakeholders Some Hope
10 February 2025 at 15:00:00
Private sector cannabis stakeholders have taken an upbeat view of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s brief reference to cannabis and hemp in last week’s SONA. The fact that the word ‘commercial’ passed the President’s lips, has elicited an initial positive response from a fragmented industry awaiting guidelines on the way forward.
Presidency’s Control of Cannabis Reform Threatened by the Growing ‘Crisis of Illegality’
5 February 2025 at 10:00:00
Since the landmark 2018 Concourt ruling, South African cannabis sector has been shaped by court decisions rather than driven by Government policy-makers. This has resulted in conflicting spheres of influence behind the scenes, the consequence of which is today’s seriously dysfunctional cannabis industry.
Regulatory Nightmare Gets Worse: Cilo Cybin Quits SA Market “Until We Know Where We Can and Can’t Play”
19 January 2025 at 19:00:00
One of South Africa’s key medical cannabis players is pulling its CBD range from the local market completely because of the regulatory morass. Cilo Cybin says until such time as Government issues clear regulatory guidelines for the cannabis industry, it will pursue an export-only strategy.
Namibian Police Seize 380 kg Cannabis in December, Concerns That Other Drug Use is Rising
17 January 2025 at 06:45:00
Namibian police are concerned that the country is becoming a “nation of drug addicts and drug dealers". This follows the arrest of 126 people in December for drug-related offences, the appearance of metamphetamine in the country and the increasing use of Namibians as ‘drug mules’.
Agbiz Chief Economist: Provinces Must Pressurize Central Government to Develop Clear Cannabis Regulations
11 January 2025 at 10:00:00
Leading agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo (pictured here) has called on South Africa’s provinces to pressurize national government into putting the right regulations in place to develop South Africa’s cannabis industry. Regulations, he emphasizes, are essential to guiding the market in an orderly way.
Global Drug Policy Report: The ‘War Against Drugs' Has Failed; Time to Move Beyond Punishment
13 December 2024 at 07:00:00
Cannabis legalization has reduced criminal activity and led to better health outcomes. That's the view of the Global Commission on Drug Policy which has urged the US and Canada to decriminalize the use and possession of drugs, saying to date previous prohibition policies have failed.
Let the Games Begin: MBOSA Muscles in on Cullinan’s Law Firm with ‘Urgent’ Appeal to Cannabis Master Plan’s Secretive Steerco.
11 December 2024 at 05:30:00
Who knows what the National Cannabis Master Plan’s Steering Committee is up to? Well, whatever that is they should put it aside immediately to consider an “urgent” request by the Marijuana Board of South Africa to hold an “inquiry” into leading cannabis law firm, Cullinan and Associates in the interests of ‘transparency’.
What Future is there for the Man Who Literally Sang the Praises of Mandela, Gadaffi, Castro and Chavez? Why, a Seat at the Cannabis Master Plan Top Table of Course!
11 December 2024 at 05:00:00
President Ramaphosa must think cannabis reform is in for a bit of song and dance because he’s appointed Nelson Mandela’s ‘Imbobgi Yesizwe’ to represent traditional leaders on the National Cannabis Master Plan’s Steering Committee.
Cash Crop vs Social Harms: Kenya Divided Over Muguka, a Popular But Addictive Plant Stimulant
8 December 2024 at 12:00:00
There’s growing controversy in Kenya over the role and status of muguku, a variety of the popular stimulant known as khat or miraa. Government is obliged to fund farmers who grow the plant, but now there is kickback from critics who say it’s contributing to the country’s addiction crisis.
Just When You Thought You Were No Longer a Criminal, Take a Look at the New Cannabis Transgression Laws Coming Your Way
4 December 2024 at 07:00:00
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act will replace the Drugs Act as the main tool in the Justice Department’s kit to punish cannabis offences – as soon as that law is promulgated. Here’s a summary of the new sanctions contained in the Act
Australian Greens Fail to Push Cannabis Legalization Through the Senate
27 November 2024 at 12:00:00
Legalization in Australia has suffered a setback after a Greens Party bid to introduce a cannabis law in the Senate was blocked by other parties. The Greens responded, slamming the Government for continuing to “criminalize” Australia’s 8,8 million cannabis users, saying “legalization was inevitable”.
THC % Limits to Increase Tenfold to 2% Under DTIC’s New Hemp Plan
26 November 2024 at 08:00:00
The DTIC is putting together a “hemp value-change development plan” which will be put to the private sector and other ‘social partners’ to sign off. A key part of the plan is to raise the acceptable THC percentage in hemp from 0,2% to 2%.
Presidential Cannabis Advisor: ‘The Industry is in a Free-for-All and We Are Dealing With a Crisis of Illegality’
26 November 2024 at 07:00:00
It’s official: the President’s cannabis advisor Garth Strachan has admitted that the fledgling South African cannabis industry is in a ‘free for all’ because of a “crisis of ‘illegality’.
Cannabis and Private Property – How Private Are Sectional Title Schemes?
25 November 2024 at 13:00:00
Cannabis consumption in shared areas of sectional title schemes is not on, but what about growing plants on your balcony or smoking in your living room? Well, that depends on the rules of the complex you’re in and the definition of ‘nuisance factor’.
Namibia: Cops Refuse Permission for Cannabis Protest Because ‘Foreign Nationals’ Are Involved.
24 November 2024 at 06:00:00
The Namibian Police won’t allow a planned cannabis protest march to take place on 10 December 2024 because ‘foreign nationals’ have been invited to participate’. A top officer says this will be ‘detrimental to Namibia’s sovereignty and will only let the protest go ahead if no foreigners are involved.
Botswana Breakthrough: New President Embraces Cannabis in First SONA
20 November 2024 at 09:00:00
Botswana will diversify its diamond-dependent economy by launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine, President Duma Boko said on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 in his first State of the Nation address (SONA).
The Law Seems Certain About One Thing: Private Cannabis Clubs Are Neither Illegal Or Legal
19 November 2024 at 14:00:00
South Africa’s vibrant cannabis club culture continues to face legal uncertainty after hopes that a SCA ruling in the THC case would provide finality. However, a last-minute out of court settlement put paid to that and the legal advice to private club owers is: tread carefully and stick to the Prince Judgement.
SA Court Censures Swaziland News for Calling eSwatini King a “Dangerous Dagga Dealer " Intent on Looting the Nation
18 November 2024 at 09:00:00
Judgement has been reserved in a Mbombela court case in which the eSwatini Prime Minister is tryng to gag the rebel Swaziland News, accusing it of terrorism and defamation. Part of the PM’s objection is that the paper reported without substantiating its sources, that King Mswati III is involved in the Kingdom’s illegal cannabis trade.
THC Settles Appeal Bid Out of Court, Status of Private Clubs Remains Uncertain
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17 November 2024 at 08:00:00
The Haze Club has reached an out-of court settlement with the Justice Department on its appeal court application to have private cannabis clubs legally recognized. The details of the settlement are confidential and in the absence of a court ruling, the legal status of cannabis clubs remains uncertain.
Finally, the Multi-Million Euro JuicyFields Cannabis Scam Starts Finding its Way to Court
17 November 2024 at 06:00:00
Two German nationals believed to be pivotal to the E645 million JuicyFields fraud are soon to appear in a Berlin court. However the thousands of investors left out of pocket by the complex cannabis pyramid scheme are unlikely to see any of their funds returned.
Driving the Private Club Revolution: GrowOneAfrica’s Self-Regulatory Model Makes Both Cannabis Consumers and the Taxman Happy
13 November 2024 at 07:00:00
GrowOneAfrica is one of South Africa’s leading cannabis service providers and the dominant enabler in the private cannabis club movement. Based in the Western Cape, G1A has pioneered a self-regulating club model that has created millions of rand in value, over a thousand jobs and serves over 9 000 members. Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber takes a deep dive into the GrowOneAfrica story with CEO Kobus Schoeman and GM Vanessa de Sousa (pictured above).
Intelligence Agency Offers ‘Compliance’ and ‘Law Enforcement Interaction’ with SAPS for ‘Grey Zone’ Cannabis Outlets
12 November 2024 at 12:00:00
Sika is a name that has cropped up over the past few months in the cannabis ‘grey zone’ where a number of outlets have signed up to their specialized services. Who is Sika and what do they do? Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber speaks to Sika founder and CEO Sandy Gounder to find out more
Joint Statement from SAPS and SAHPRA Warning To ‘Grey Zone’ Cannabis Outlets
12 November 2024 at 07:00:00
An undated press release from SAPS and SAHPRA says no cannabis retail outlets are allowed except in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. It also says businesses operating under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act are illegal.
Government Reports Back on the National Cannabis Master Plan: It’s Happening Slowly But It’s Happening
5 November 2024 at 10:00:00
Presidential cannabis advisor Garth Strachan acknowledges the pace of cannabis reform has been slow but says that now the DTIC is in the saddle, there should be more momentum. Here is his summary of the current state of regulatory play in the cannabis sector.
SAPS Training Woefully Inadequate to Handle, Well...Anything Kinda Complicated
5 November 2024 at 04:00:00
As most of the cannabis community that has borne the brunt of the law is strongly aware: police are not trained to think. SAPS is about to embark on a mass recruitment drive but until such time that recruits are taught not just to obey orders but to make decisions, there will be no curbing South Africa’s high crime levels.
Parks Tau to Take Charge of the Cannabis Master Plan; DTIC to Oversee Further Changes to Law
4 November 2024 at 10:00:00
South Africa’s new Trade and Industry Minister, Parks Tau has been given the task of bringing other Government departments into line on cannabis policy. He’s also going to be responsible for drawing up appropriate legislation to enable cannabis reform.
SAHPRA Confirms Nationwide ‘Grey Zone’ Clampdown Underway; Says Cannabis Retailers Should Face 'Full Might of the Law’
3 November 2024 at 09:00:00
SAHPRA says authorities have raided ‘grey zone’ cannabis outlets in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and have taken ‘appropriate enforcement actions’ against them. It says there is no such thing as a dispensary license and anyone selling cannabis to the public should face the ‘full might of the law’.
Mexico Moves to Ban All Vapes, Critics Fear The Cartels Will Step Into the Void
2 November 2024 at 07:00:00
Mexico’s new president wants to constitutionally ban all vapes by the end of the year. Critics are concerned that this overlooks the fact that vapes are nicotine alternatives and that banning them will simply drive the vape market further underground.
eSwatini Cannabis Confusion, Cannabis Bill Floats in Parliamentary Backwaters, While Police Intensify War Against Growers
29 October 2024 at 16:00:00
eSwatini’ MP’s hope that the controversial Cannabis Bill will still be retabled before the year is out, but with more ministries being pulled into the legalization issue, don’t expect this to happen.
Lesotho Loses Revenue to Unchecked Cannabis Licensing Corruption
26 October 2024 at 07:00:00
cannabis licencing corruption remains rife in the country and the government is turning a blind eye. That's according to The Lesotho Reporter, the Kingdom’s main newspaper, which alleges there is a single mastermind behind the ongoing licensing fraud whose identity is known to the authorities.
‘Understaffed’ SAHPRA ‘Over-Reliant’ on ‘High Risk’ Fee Income from Big Pharma
25 October 2024 at 05:00:00
SAHPRA’s government grant has been declining for years and the regulatory authority is increasingly reliant on fee income, which it says is a “high risk situation”. It has appealed to Treasury for further funding saying that it is understaffed and needs to invest in technical infrastructure.
Cannabis Master Plan ‘Secrecy’ Under Fire As Hand-picked Steering Committee Meets Privately and Doesn’t Share Agenda
24 October 2024 at 08:00:00
It has come to light that the Presidency set up a committee of non-government stakeholders a year ago to help rebuild the National Cannabis Master Plan. However, the committee, which was set up in secret, has been meeting behind closed doors with no communication to the broader cannabis community as to what it has been discussing. This has raised concern among activists and the business community, as the Presidency had promised to be transparent.
Malawi: Cannabis Bill Delayed by Faith Leaders' Objections
22 October 2024 at 13:00:00
Malawi’s president has not yet enacted into law a Bill passed by Parliament in March this year intended to regulate the cannabis industry. This was because of objections by religious leaders that not enough harms prevention measures had been put in place, even though the Malawi is only permitting cultivation for export.
Uganda Issues Medical Cannabis Export Guidelines
22 October 2024 at 12:00:00
Uganda’s cannabis policy is to legalize cannabis only for export. Kampala is currently not considering domestic consumption of industrial, medical or recreational cannabis, but has recently issued guidelines for prospective exporters.
Creating a Dispensary Framework in SA: Start with the Obvious and Allow Licensed Growers to Supply Licensed Outlets
19 October 2024 at 13:00:00
Authorities urgently need to come up with regulations to govern the hundreds of “grey zone” cannabis outlets that have emerged in the past 12 months. Hempvest CEO Zaid Mohidin has called for a cannabis retail licensing system to be implemented allowing licenced growers to supply licenced outlets – otherwise organized crime is going to move into this space to enhance its own interests.
SAHPRA Concerned Over Medical Cannabis Prescription 'Misuse': Section 21 Clampdown On Its Way
17 October 2024 at 08:00:00
Sources close to SAHPRA say a clampdown on the ‘misuse’ of medical cannabis prescriptions is on its way. The regulator is concerned that many ‘Section 21’ medical cannabis patients are actually using their prescriptions for ‘recreational’ purposes and intends taking remedial action.
‘War Against Drugs’: SANDF Bust Rural Cannabis Dealers Along the Mozambique and eSwatini Borders
16 October 2024 at 10:00:00
The SANDF has praised its soldiers for their “commitment and dedication to the sovereignty of the state” for arresting two rural women with 17 kg of cannabis near the eSwatini border. SANDF border patrols also discovered 190 kg of cannabis in an unrelated action in the same area of eastern Mpumulanga.
Webber Wentzel Advises Mining Bosses to Revisit Cannabis ‘Intoxication’ Policies to Include ‘Risk Assessment’
16 October 2024 at 05:00:00
The legalization of cannabis is forcing businesses to change their labour policies. Being tested positive for cannabis is not sufficient in itself to bring disciplinary charges against an employee, there has to be a degree of ‘impairment’ for action to be taken.
Hawks Warn Fentanyl Has Entered Local “Drug Trafficking Conveyer Belts” Yet Two Gauteng Rehab Facilities Close Doors Because of Funding Challenges
14 October 2024 at 09:00:00
The deadly opioid fentanyl is now firmly part of the South African ‘drug conveyer belt’. This is the warning from the head of the Hawks who expects substance abuse levels to increase. This comes at a time when two major Gauteng private rehab centres have closed doors because of Government 'funding challenges', leaving hundreds of patients stranded.
Medical Cannabis SA: Here’s What You Need to Know
8 October 2024 at 09:00:00
There has been a huge upsurge of Section 21 medical cannabis patients in the last year, with SAHPRA expressing concern that many ‘dispensaries’ offering this service are actually just a front for ‘recreational’ sales. Just what is the current legal landscape in terms of medical cannabis in South Africa? Bassani Medical Cannabis CEO Mike Stringer lays down the line.
The South African Consumer Market’s ‘Dagga Dilemma’: Regulations vs Reality
7 October 2024 at 06:00:00
In the last year there has been an explosion of private cannabis shops, clubs and dispensaries across South Africa’s metros. Most of the so-called “grey zone” consumer-orientated cannabis outlets are actually very much ‘black’, and against the law. Even though police appear to be turning a blind eye to this thriving ‘wild west’ sector, stakeholders have called for legal clarity on how commercial cannabis will be regulated.
Hemp SA: A Quick Guide to the State of the Sector
3 October 2024 at 09:00:00
Industrial cannabis (hemp) is where all Government’s energy is going and this is clearly where the most entrepreneurial opportunities lie. Control over non-medical cannabis is being handed over to the Agriculture Department and the plant will soon be dropped from the Drugs Act. This changes in the regulatory framework are slowly coming into place.
Cannabis USA: The Economic Upside of Legalization
3 October 2024 at 07:00:00
There’s no doubt that despite the pain many cannabis companies have felt, the industry itself is burgeoning, creating new businesses and jobs, opening up fresh markets – and importantly, from a government perspective, adding big numbers to the fiscus. In the US, legal cannabis jurisdictions generated over US$4 billion in tax revenue in 2023.
THC Appeal Court Date Set for 19 November, Has Far-Reaching Implications for All Private Cannabis Clubs
29 September 2024 at 08:00:00
On 19 November 2024 the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein will finally hear the case of The Haze Club (THC). This is almost two years after a Western Cape reserved judgement on the matter which has implications for the legal status of South Africa’s scores of private cannabis clubs
Medicines Act Amended to Pass Control of Non-Medical Cannabis to Agriculture Dept
25 September 2024 at 15:00:00
The Medicines Act has been amended, allowing control over non-medical cannabis to be passed on to the Agriculture Department. This means that future decisions, such as acceptable THC levels for various cannabis products, will ultimately be decided on by Agriculture, and not by the Health Department.
Suspected Cannabis Dealer Killed in Shootout with KZN Police
21 September 2024 at 13:00:00
A suspected cannabis dealer was shot dead near Umhlali north of Durban after an exchange of fire with police. Seven bags of cannabis were recovered from his vehicle after the shootout on the N2. Two alleged accomplices are on the run.
Judge Sets Aside ‘Dagga Dealing’ Conviction, Calls for “Refresher Courses” for Magistrates on Cannabis Legislation
19 September 2024 at 11:00:00
A Mpumulanga Judge has set aside a cannabis conviction based on a section of the Drugs Act that was declared unconstitutional 30 years ago!. He also wants the Chief Magistrate “to help identify areas in need of training and refresher courses” regarding cannabis law.
Onslaught Against Illicit Cultivators Continues: R30 Million Cannabis Bust in Port Alfred
19 September 2024 at 10:00:00
Police raided a property near Port Alfred last week, seizing what they estimate as R30 million worth of cannabis and related products. Five people were arrested, three of whom were foreign nationals, in further evidence that international crime syndicates are infiltrating the local drug market.
Africa’s Leading Business School Seeks to Create Cannabis Entrepreneurs Through ‘Business Mastery’ Programme
18 September 2024 at 12:00:00
The Gordon School of Business Science and Cheeba Africa’s Cannabis academy have teamed up to offer entrepreneurs and professionals a ‘business mastery’ course in cannabis that spans the plant’s value chain.
"The Potential for Settlement is Being Explored": New Cannabis Act May Affect State’s Case Against Haze Club
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16 September 2024 at 12:00:00
The Haze Club (THC) director Neil Liddel has been the fall-guy for the Private Cannabis Club (PCC) market since his arrest in 2021 for ‘dealing in cannabis’. Last year a Western Cape magistrate found him guilty under the Drugs Act, and the case was taken on appeal. However, the new Cannabis Act may have a bearing on the case and Liddel's legal team is in discussion with the state to explore the prospects of a settlement.
South African Law Firms Well Poised to Ride the Wave of African Cannabis Legalization
13 September 2024 at 14:00:00
The South African legal sector has significant experience in dealing with cannabis legislation and is well-positioned to benefit from the regulatory reform that is taking place in the rest of the continent.
New Cannabis Act Still on the Shelf, Justice Dept Hasn't Decided Yet on Home Grow Plant Limits
12 September 2024 at 10:00:00
Three months after the President signed off on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act it is yet to be enacted into law. One of the delays is understood to be the Justice Minister’s awaited clarification on regulations, such as how many plants you may grow at home. Until such time as the Cannabis Act is signed off (again) by the President, the Drugs Act remains in force.
Morocco: Now the Push is On to Legalize Full-on ‘Recreational’ Use
12 September 2024 at 06:00:00
Morocco’s cannabis policy has centred on medical and industrial exports and bringing small-scale farmers into the mainstream. This has given stakeholders new impetus to urge the Kingdom to go further and open a discussion on full adult-use legalization.
Cabinet: ‘Consultations on Cannabis Commercialisation Policy’ to Begin Soon
6 September 2024 at 08:00:00
South Africa’s Cabinet has been briefed on the Cannabis Master Plan and the new Government of National Unity has committed itself to developing the industry. The Presidency says its taking steps to enact the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act and that Trade and Industry will “soon commence consultations on the Cannabis Commercialisation Policy.”
Drugs Act Still in Use in Cannabis Cases Like There's No Tomorrow
4 September 2024 at 06:00:00
Five men arrested during a raid on a Port Alfred cannabis hydroponics grow op are being charged under the Drug Trafficking Act even though it’s due to be amended to exclude the plant. The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act was passed into law three months ago, and even though it specifies that cannabis is to be dropped from the Drugs Act, this has not yet happened
‘Hollow Victory’: Activists Slam Tshwane Cops For Bragging About Their “Biggest Dagga Bust Ever”
1 September 2024 at 06:00:00
Tshwane Metro Police have been trumpeting their success in a R1,5 million cannabis bust on the N1 Highway recently. But they’ve come under fire from activists, who say the action is hypocritical and that prosecution is unlikely because the legal landscape is in complete disarray.
Ibogaine Treatment 'Doctor' Guilty of Manslaughter after Death at Illegal Durban Detox Clinic
26 August 2024 at 09:00:00
The West African ‘wonder drug’ Ibogaine has developed something of an international cult following, particularly in the treatment of opioid addiction. However, its acceptance as a medicine remains limited because of its powerful side effects, which include fatality. Such an incident has come to light in South Africa where a Durban dentist has been convicted for manslaughter after a patient died during Ibogaine treatment at his ‘illegal’ rehab clinic.
Upmarket Private Cannabis Club Evicted From Camps Bay Premises for Business ‘Misrepresentation’
23 August 2024 at 06:00:00
Private cannabis clubs have proliferated across the country since the plant was legalized for personal consumption, but it’s still an uphill battle for many to gain social acceptance. A Camps Bay landlord recently obtained an eviction notice against Infusion Social Club, saying it did not disclose the true nature of its business, which was cannabis-related
So Far the Ride’s Been Good For the Vape Market, But New Laws Could Reverse That
22 August 2024 at 10:00:00
The vaping concept has taken off in the South African cannabis market, with retailers making good margins and consumers enjoying product variety. Those margins are likely to be significantly eroded as vaping will be pulled into a new regulatory framework governing tobacco products that is expected to come into law before the end of the year.
CT Private Cannabis Club Owner Walks Free As Authorities Decline to Prosecute Because of Legal Uncertainty
22 August 2024 at 06:00:00
The owner of Euphoria Social Club, a private cannabis club in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, is euphoric himself. That’s because prosecutors decided not to press charges against him after his arrest during a police raid, citing a lack of clarity on the legal framework surrounding cannabis.
Managing Risk: Cannabis ‘Grey Zones’ Pose a Big Challenge for the Insurance Industry
20 August 2024 at 12:00:00
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act has been signed into law, but there still remains no over-arching regulatory law regarding cannabis. This is a potential headache for the insurance industry as there are still too many “grey zones” in the reform landscape for it to adequately manage risk. Legal firm Norton Rose Fullbright details some of the cannabis insurance ‘hotspots’.
The Clampdown Continues: Police Hit Gqeberha Cannabis Supplier
19 August 2024 at 13:00:00
A recent police raid on a house in Masson Street, Kabega Park shows just how varied the choice is for consumers from the ‘illicit market. During the raid Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) police seized 19 kgs of cannabis and a range of ‘related’ products worth over half a million rand.
Don’t Be Fooled; New Cannabis Act is Really Just ‘Prohibition-Lite’
19 August 2024 at 08:00:00
The prohibition of cannabis, like that of booze and gambling, was an anachronism rooted in Calvinism, classism and racism. The Daily Maverick’s Ed Stoddard reflects that although its ending was decades overdue, the full commercial potential from this low-hanging fruit will not be harvested because sale for recreational purposes perplexingly remains banned.
FGFA Calls for More Citizen Pressure to Enable Cannabis Reform: ‘Legal Certainty Requires Litigation’
15 August 2024 at 15:00:00
FGFA's Myrtle Clarke says despite the intention to remove cannabis from the Drugs Act, there is still no legal clarity on the status of private cannabis clubs (PCC's). She says that it will require more citizen pressure on the state to get the concept legally accepted and has called on South Africans to support FGFA’s ‘Dagga Private Clubs Project’.
Morocco’s Illegal Cannabis Farmers Emerge Boldly From the Shadows Under New Regulatory Regime
10 August 2024 at 09:00:00
Morocco's partial legalisation of cannabis has seen the number of legal farmers rocket from 430 to 3 000 in just a year. This has seen the area under cannabis cultivation increase tenfold to 2 700 ha as the country cautiously reform the regulatory landscape.
SAPS Clampdown on Illicit Grow Ops Intensifies with an Estimated R70 million of Cannabis Seized in the Past Month
8 August 2024 at 07:00:00
Police continue to step up their campaign to close down illegal cannabis grow ops, with the latest being a raid on a farm on the outskirts of Cape Town where cannabis with an estimated R30 million was seized and two people arrested.
Secret Mpumalanga Training Camp was a Rehab Centre for Libyan Rebel Army's 'Problem Children'
7 August 2024 at 10:00:00
Authorities seized cannabis and cocaine at the secret camp near White River where 95 Libyans were arrested on suspicion of military training. They are believed to be part of a rebel Libyan army group and were sent to South Africa not only to improve their fighting skills but to ‘straighten them out’ as well.
New Cannabis Act a 'Peculiar' Piece of Legislation That Lacks Rationality
31 July 2024 at 12:00:00
The new Cannabis Act is not yet in force and will be implemented in stages. Nonetheless, it remains a fundamentally flawed law that is not founded on reason. The most telling lack of rationality is that the new cannabis law continues to criminalize non-harmful behaviour.
mPondoland Cannabis Farming Faces Collapse as Gradual Legalization is a Bigger Threat than the Police Were
31 July 2024 at 10:00:00
Eastern Cape Indigenous cannabis growers are losing out as legalization opens the way for more sophisticated cultivation operations to compete on quality and price. This investigative report by Groundup reveals how many cannabis farmers in the prime growing region of mPondoland are now facing poverty because they cannot sell their crops.
Concourt: 'Impairment' is the Crux of the Matter in Workplace Cannabis Testing
26 July 2024 at 11:00:00
The case between Barloworld and former employee Bernadette Enever, has been dragging on for months, even though the Labour Court ruled that her cannabis-related dismissal was unfair and awarded her R1 m settlement. Now the Constitutional Court has dismissed an appeal by Barloworld, saying that “impairment” is the key factor, not merely testing positive for cannabis.
Interpol Comes Knocking as SA Emerges as a Key Player on the International Narco-Trafficking Scene
24 July 2024 at 15:00:00
South Africa’s role as a key hub in international narco-trafficking is coming to the fore and the country is also a “cornerstone production location for crystal meth, cat, mandrax and MDMA. Now Interpol has dropped in for a look.
Vaping: Regulators Not Mindful of Serious Environmental Cost As New Law Looms
20 July 2024 at 11:00:00
Vaping has taken off in the South African cannabis community with retail outlets reporting rising sales over the past 12 months. A new law regulating vaping is imminent but the electronic waste issue has not been addressed.
SAHPRA: All Future License Applications Should Be BEE Compliant
12 July 2024 at 07:00:00
SAHPRA has proposed mandatory BEE conditions apply to all future license applications. The issue is likely to divide the cannabis community as the benefits of black empowerment may be offset by the additional red tape – and extends SAHPRA’s control into the agricultural sector.
From the Legal Desk: New Cannabis Act Not Yet in Force; Will Be Implemented in Stages
9 July 2024 at 10:00:00
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act has been signed into law but is not yet operational. The Act, which was gazetted on 3 June 2024 will come into effect on a date to be fixed by the President which means it provisions cannot yet be enforced.
Urgently Streamline Licensing Processes and Establish Quality Standards to Get SA’s Cannabis Industry Into Gear
2 July 2024 at 08:00:00
Despite the passing into law of the Cannabis Act, South Africa’s cannabis regulatory landscape remains fraught with contradictions. Policymakers should urgently develop clear regulations and cut the red tape if the country is to benefit economically from the sector
EFF Calls for South African Cannabis Industry to be Nationalized
17 June 2024 at 07:00:00
EFF MP Suzan Thembekwayo: "The EFF notes that it will be important at some stage for the country to nationalise all natural resources, including marijuana. This will be important to make sure that the substance (of reform) is actually turned into an economic activity."
Medigrow Says New Cannabis Law Opens the Way for Mainstream Investors; Industrial Cannabis Sector Stands to Benefit the Most
13 June 2024 at 10:00:00
Medigrow CEO Edgar Adams says the most noteworthy feature of the new Cannabis for Private Purposes Act is that cannabis will be removed from the Drugs Act. This in turn paves the way for large scale investment to be unlocked, particularly in the industrial cannabis (hemp) value chain.
From the Legal Desk: Cannabis Bill Holds 'Seeds of Opportunity' for the Agricultural Sector
5 June 2024 at 06:00:00
Leading South African law firm, Cliffe Decker Hofmeyer says the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act envisages a change to the Plant Improvement Act which will open up new opportunities, particularly in industrial cannabis, but that as the law now stands, there are still limitations to using the plant to its full potential
A Step by Step Guide as to What the New Cannabis Act Means for You
1 June 2024 at 08:00:00
South Africa’s first cannabis act has been finally been signed into law by President Ramaphosa. After a four-year torturous path through Parliament, the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act is seeing the light of day. Qure has put together a practical guide as to what the new law means for you.
South Africa’s First Cannabis Law Sees the Light of Day, But its Imperfections Are Likely to be Challenged in Court.
30 May 2024 at 07:00:00
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act has been signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the final hours of his sixth administration. The new law seeks to regulate the private consumption of cannabis and allow for home-growing, but it remains full of contradictions that will open up a new front in lawfare between the State and non-government stakeholders.
Statement from the Presidency: Cannabis Act Now Signed Into Law
29 May 2024 at 05:00:00
With just hours to go before the deadline to sign outstanding legislation into law before the general election, President Ramaphosa has put his pen to paper and enacted the controversial Cannabis for Private Purposes Act. This is the brief statement from the Presidency released late on Tuesday 28 May 2024.
The Phakisa 'Non-Action' Cannabis Plan! The Presidency’s Bold Initiative Appears to Have Fizzled Out
27 May 2024 at 06:00:00
Almost a year ago the Presidency, with much fanfare, announced the revitalization of cannabis reform through it’s the Phakisa Cannabis and Hemp Action Lab. It held five days of intense consultation with over 100 private sector and community stakeholders to get their input. Then, suddenly, nothing happened.
Dagga Party’s Jeremy Acton Urges President Ramaphosa Not to Sign ‘Constitutionally Flawed’ Cannabis Bill Into Law
23 May 2024 at 09:00:00
With less than a week to go before the end of the 6th SA government administration there is still no clarity as to whether the President will sign the controversial Cannabis for Private Purposes Act into law - or whether it goes back to the drawing board for the new administration to start from scratch. Dagga Party founder Jeremy Acton argues that the President should not sign the Act into law as it is constitutionally flawed and is seeking public support for his petition.
Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections.
9 May 2024 at 06:00:00
The Cannabis Bill is one of 27 pieces of legislation sitting in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s in-tray at the Union Buildings. He has less than a month to sign them into law before he makes way for the post-election administration.
Open Letter to those in our Cannabis Community Opposing the Signing of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill
2 May 2024 at 08:00:00
Activist organization Fields of Green for All has come out in support of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill which is sitting on the President’s desk, waiting to be signed into law. FGFA co-founder Myrtle Clarke says the Bill will see cannabis taken out of the Drugs Act and its imperfections can be tweaked in future legal challenges.
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Silence of the SOPAs: Not a Word from E Cape and Gauteng Premiers on Any 2025 Plan for Industrial Cannabis to Create Jobs
The Eastern Cape Premier never misses an opportunity to promote cannabis development so why the mysterious silence on the subject during his SOPA? And Gauteng? Not even a SOPA whisper on how the country’s economic powerhouse intends to use industrial cannabis to uplift the poor and create jobs.
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