Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Ivan Meyer (pictured here) says the Health Minister’s ban of hemp foodstuffs does not only undermine the fledgling hemp industry but attacks the core of South Africa’s economic development plans.

“The criminalisation of the sale of cannabis- and hemp-infused food products is not just a threat to jobs, it’s a direct assault on economic growth and job creation” said Dr Meyer in an official statement at the weekend.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Dr Meyer said: “The banning of cannabis will stifle the contribution the cannabis and hemp value chain can make to the economic, social and environmental objectives of the Western Cape”,

Meyer said: “The cannabis industry in South Africa has a staggering potential size of R28 billion, with the capacity to create 10,000 to 25,000 jobs across the value chain, according to the national government’s own estimates”.

He urged the national government to act swiftly to reverse the ban and instead support the hemp industry, “which has the potential to significantly boost jobs, improve public health, and drive sustainable economic development”.

“The ill-considered move by the National  Department of Health will harm economic growth and jobs at a time when the government should be fostering growth and providing regulatory clarity for the cannabis and hemp industries” he said.

Meyer said the Western Cape’s cannabis strategy, the CanPlan, mirrored the cannabis master plan and was integral to the province’s own development plans which included the development of a sustainable hemp production and processing sector to create jobs.

Dr Meyer’s statement follows the 7 May 2025 publication of regulations relating to the prohibition of the sale, importation and manufacture of foodstuffs containing any part of the plant or component derived from the genus cannabis sativa l, hemp, hemp seed oil or hemp seed flour. Minister Motsoaledi issued these regulations  under section 15(1 )(b)(e),{g) and (7){b) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No.54 of 1972).

Cannabiz Africa understands there have been a series of meetings behind closed doors to come up with an official response to the growing anger and outrage in the cannabis industry at the Minister’s ban, which was done without consulting the President or the DTIC. 

The most senior DoH official to comment on the ban is Deputy Director General Dr Anban Pillay, who told News24 that the ban was part of a “bigger plan”, but has not yet elaborated other than to say this was a regulatory exercise to standardize cannabis foodstuff labelling in the interests of consumer safety.

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