Although Lesotho legalized cannabis exports in 2018, Africa has been a slow starter in joining the ranks of those countries pushing for reform and regulated markets. Although fewer than a quarter of the continent’s countries have partially legalized cannabis, primarily medical cannabis for export and industrial hemp, Africa has the potential to be a future powerhouse on the international cannabis stage. Stay in the loop with all the news, policy, legislative, regulatory and market developments with Cannabiz Africa, your reliable content guide to the African cannabis environment.
Senior KZN government officials and national policy-makers will engage with stakeholders at a high level conference and expo on commercialising hemp, which will be held at the Elangeni Sun in Durban at the on 19 and 20 March 2026. The event has been put together by Ledile Textiles.
Ghana’s Chamber of Cannabis Industry is engaging with the country’s national regulator to open up the cannabis market to local farmers and businesses. CEO Mark Darko (pictured here) says regulatory integrity should not come at the cost of exclusivity.
Africa should be at the forefront of the legal cannabis revolution sweeping the world. However, the continent’s policy makes appear to have blinded themselves to the plant’s potential as an economic driver – and until they debunk these five constraining myths about cannabis, Africa will remain on the sidelines of global markets.
If Botswana is serious about cannabis being a major forex generator it needs to embrace cutting edge technology from the get-go. The investment in AI irrigation systems and digital market access platforms may be expensive for a Third World country, but will pay off if done right.
Botswana’s legal landscape is rapidly taking shape as an export-orientated industry favouring multinational investment rather than building a domestic industry. Despite this setback for local businesses, the Cannabis Association of Botswana’s Sekgele Mogobe (pictured here) says regulatory clarity is welcome and in contrast to South Africa where cannabis reform remains mired in confusion.
Hemp Innovations Botswana has been granted the first license to cultivate both medical cannabis and hemp in Botswana. HIB’s parent company, Swedish multinational Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE), is an established player in the EU’s transition to a ‘green economy’ and will provide Botswana immediate access to European markets.
Success in the cannabis industry depends on how well you understand the cannabis value chain. That’s the view of Cheeba Africa’s Trenton Birch, whose preparing for the first intake of students for Africa’s first mainstream cannabis qualification, the Cannabis & Hemp 101 Professional Certificate.
There’s been keen interest from US and Canadian companies in getting their hands on Ghana’s new cannabis licenses, but local growers are unhappy about the excessive fees which they say lock them out of the game.
Malawi is promoting cannabis exports to reduce its reliance on tobacco. At the same time it is clamping down on the thriving local illegal market, and the recent torching of five tons of sativa has reignited the debate as to whether Malawi could have a different approach and allow domestic trade.
Weather disturbances in northern Morocco have postponed the launch of “baldiya” cannabis planting, originally scheduled for late January. Despite this delay, the regulated sector is showing strong momentum with a massive increase in memberships.
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