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.
Bob Marley’s estate has accused cannabis multinational Tilray Brands of fraud by deliberately hiding royalties payments due to the commercial heirs of the legendary reggae icon. The estate has filed a lawsuit to recover US$11 million it believes it is due.
Thailand’s move away from general adult-use towards a ‘medical only’ model has led to the decimation of that country’s ‘Grey Zone’. Of the 18 000 cannabis outlets facing closure, fewer than 15% are likely to continue under new regulations which specify that cannabis sales are for medical use only.
President Donald Trump has opened the door for psychedelic drugs to be used as a potential treatment for serious mental illness. He signed an executive order on 18 April 2026 that empowers the FDA to do this and put aside US$50 million for psychedelics research.
International collaboration is one of the pathways for marginalized cannabis communities to have their voices heard. Soweto Cannabis Association founder Tia Ramfate (pictured here) is to visit Canada to strengthen international ties for the AfuRaka Foundation she has launched.
The cannabis industry has a new center of gravity. In 2025, pre-rolls became the most-sold product category in the United States by unit volume, closing the chapter on flower’s long-standing dominance and opening a new era shaped by speed, scale and brand execution.
Greenwashing is the false presentation of products in order to secure EU GMP certification. It is becoming an increasingly common practice as multinationals exploit the ambiguities of global compliance. Guest writer Tom Hoban says it is a matter of time before these loopholes are closed down.
For much of the modern cannabis era, product development has centred on two compounds: THC and CBD. But the industry is increasingly turning its attention to a wider group of plant molecules known as minor cannabinoids, including cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv).
NHS psychologist Dr Max Permberton writes that it is madness using cannabis to treat mental health issues under current UK regulations. He says a handful of doctors who are not specialists in either mental health or cannabis have turned the system into ‘retail with a prescription pad’ without concern over grave consequences.
The consequences of the war in the Middle East are becoming increasingly evident throughout the horticulture chain, the medical cannabis sector included. Rising energy prices, more expensive raw materials, and higher logistics costs are forcing suppliers worldwide to increase their prices.
Sound familiar? Five years after it was legalised in the state, cannabis is seemingly everywhere in New York. But, business owners say that many legitimate outlets are struggling – largely because of a thriving grey market, and the complicated legal status of the US cannabis industry.
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