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.
African policy-makers are the biggest obstacle to cannabis reform on the continent. By focusing on medical cannabis exports and industrial hemp, they are entrenching African cannabis at the low end of the international value chain – and denying Africans the health and wellness benefits of the plant.
Ghana is exploring avenues of high-tech collaboration with Israel in the development of its cannabis industry. The chairman of business association Channacham Dr Mark Darko, says Ghana could learn a lot from how Israel has developed its cannabis industry, particularly in areas of technology and productivity.
Spanish police say Moroccan hash smugglers have customized long-range drones to carry contraband across the narrow strip of the Mediterranean that separates the two countries. This follows arrests relating to a smuggling operation in which fleets of drones would carry hash across the sea under the cover of darkness.
Malawi is missing the point in marketing its most famous cannabis brand, Malawi Gold. Instead the country has launched a CBD version of the brand and is ignoring the massive brand potential of the genuine article. What a shame, writes Malawian columnist Iommie Chiwalo, who is critical of the CRA’s handling of cannabis reform so far.
It’s all systems go for the cultivation of cannabis in Botswana! President Duma Boko (pictured here) has announced the country will commence the pilot cultivation of medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (BUAN) next month.
A major bust of cannabis and prescription medicine in Limpopo in September 2025 has bought to light new patterns of drug smuggling fuelling the rise of ‘cannabis and codeine bush clinics’ in rural areas. The growing availability of illegal pharmaceuticals in towns along the major drug smuggling routes between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe has seen a rise in substance abuse amongst the youth.
Namibia’s police chief says a bill is being developed that will allow cannabis use under certain circumstances. This was revealed during court proceedings relating to the constitutional challenge against the prohibition on cannabis, which is heading for court again on 3 December 2025.
Botswana’s Land Minister Edwin Dikoloti (pictured here) has prioritized livestock and cannabis as part of an ambitious agricultural development plan. However, it has been criticized in Parliament by some MP’s who argue there are more pressing priorities than developing a hemp sector.
Lesotho’s main cannabis exporter MG Health and Maseru-based LuCan Labs are at the forefront of Lesotho’s bid to return to world cannabis markets after languishing in the doldrums over the past few years. The two companies are looking forward to opening new export markets, both having been awarded EU GMP certification via Polish authorities.
The Royal Eswatini Police is on a drive to destroy illegal cannabis plantations in the Hhohho District. This has prompted a call from an organization representing the unemployed for the Kingdom to legalize cannabis cultivation and consumption as prohibition is driving more people into poverty.
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