Although South Africa accounts for a tiny percentage of global cannabis trade, it is an important part of the bigger picture, with cannabis markets in Europe, the UK, Israel and Australia. Cannabiz Africa reports on international developments affecting the African cannabis and hemp sector as well as consumer market trends of interest to South African operators.
Cannabis overload is affecting many consumers in US states that have legalized adult-use, so much so that quitting altogether or cutting back on intake is increasingly finding its way onto New Year’s resolution lists.
‘Dry January’ is about intentional self-reflection which explains why ‘High January’ in the US is taking off. As 2026 rolls in cannabis is intruding increasingly on alcohol’s turf as an ‘alternative intoxicant’, a trend highlighted in a month often earmarked for abstinence.
The first cannabis-derived product for chronic lower back pain VER-01, is to be launched this year by German pharmaceutical company Vertanical, It claims the new product is twice as effective as existing treatments and opens up a new and uncontroversial pathway for cannabis prescriptions.
New Zealand has announced an overhaul of hemp regulations aimed at cutting red tape and encouraging more planting. The new rules see the THC limit in hemp raised to 1% and the permit system dropped for a looser regulatory regime.
The International Business Conference Berlin says South Africa’s cannabis landscape changed significantly in 2025 and was one of 13 major highlights of the year. As the new year dawns, the ICBC looks back on a year that proved to be significant for cannabis policy and industry in many parts of the world. Here are some of the top 2025 international cannabis stories.
Besides the obvious joint or two, cannabis helps manage holiday stress through fast-acting gummies for social anxiety, CBD products for travel nerves, balanced edibles for family gatherings, and energizing vapes for cooking marathons. CBD capsules offer stress relief for crowded shopping, in-law visits, work parties, and post-feast relaxation.
Joao Duartte (pictured here), Business Developer at Decibel Engineered Systems in Almada, Portugal says Europe should take note of the hard lessons from the US cannabis industry – namely oversupply kills markets, price dropping bankrupts companies and fragmentation destroys scalability.
This is the statement issued by the White House on 18 December 2025, accepting the medical benefits of cannabis and rescheduling its classification as a less dangerous drug. Although this does not allow federal legalization, the executive order is a deeply significant step in US cannabis reform.
Ego has become the barricade that prevents cannabis from realizing its full potential. Infighting among growers, scientists, and newcomers only strengthens the architects of exclusion, leaving us fractured from within. Guest columnist Lee Hymers writes that perhaps a dose of humility is needed all round.
Leading international cannabis consultancy Prohibition Partners says the European medical cannabis market is maturing at speed, with providers focused on return on investment and a shift in marketing strategies. Cannabis is already well-known as an ‘alternative medicine’, but now marketing departments are looking at repositioning it as part of a cannabis ‘standardized healthcare’ package.
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