South Africa occupies a unique position in the rapidly developing legal cannabis market. With a government that seeks to legalize and develop the cannabis and hemp sectors as a sunshine industry and a private and community sector desperately willing to engage, this should be a match made in heaven. Yet the country finds itself in a regulatory quagmire with market forces, both legal and illegal, now in control. Cannabiz Africa is your front row on the torturous journey towards a regulated adult-use commercial market.
Labat Africa has posted its annual financial results up to May 2025 showing a remarkable turnaround with a profit of R131 million compared to the previous year’s loss of R26 million. It has also announced that its AGM will be held on 2 December 2025.
The National Prosecuting Authority has seized the home of 44-year old Upington resident Lucia Louw after she was bust on the premises in a 2022 undercover operation for dealing in 30 ziplock bags of cannabis valued at R300.00
Registration is now open for Project Indlela’s ‘Pathways to Legality’ webinar for stakeholders in the cannabis industry. The South African Cannabis Clubs Alliance and Cannabiz Africa are hosting the webinar on 11 November 2025 to explore issues around compliance as the industry awaits clearer guidelines from Government.
The cannabis industry will be presented with the DTIC’s cannabis commercialization in policy at the end of March 2026 after it has already been approved at ministerial level. This flagrant violation of the Presidency’s commitment to transparency in drafting cannabis regulations, confirms industry fears that Government is not interested in consultation.
Labat says its sold its cannabis interests for R23 million to P64 Investments, which is an ‘unrelated party’. There may be no connection between Labat and P64 right now, but Labat director Brian van Rooyen (pictured here) and P64’s beneficial owner, Hymie Pedro, were sole directors of Friedshelf 477 Investments (Pty) Ltd way back in 2005.
South Africa is becoming a tik nation as the manufacture and consumption of crystal meth rises alarmingly. This is because Mexican cartels have gained a foothold in the country and are setting up industrial-scale drug factories in the platteland and are shaking up the underworld.
The DTIC has concluded cannabis commercialization discussions with ‘targeted stakeholders’ and has got their approval for a policy document that will land on the DG’s desk by the end of the month. It will then be sent for ministerial approval before the wider public will be allowed to comment at the end of March 2026.
H3 Legal Solutions’ Charl Botha says concern is mounting that officials within government are deliberately delaying cannabis reform because they benefit from illegal trade. He says the result is a “state-enabled vacuum” that benefits criminals, corrupts governance and favours the politically connected.
Tshwane University of Technology senior cannabis researcher Dr David Katerere (pictured here) and his colleagues argue that South Africa should be seeing cannabis as a tool for rural industrialization, nutrition and sustainable economic development rather than just a controlled substance. Here are the six steps they suggest to put South African cannabis reform back onto a healthy pathway.
The cannabis industry calls for a new creative approach from the advertising industry says Cache co-founder Marco Russolillo (pictured here), who’s Cape Town agency has just been appointed by Canna Collective to drive its market exposure. Russolllo believes the cannabis industry is poised for explosive growth which will open up new strategies for brand development.
The latest news from the rapidly evolving African cannabis and hemp sector in your in-box every Thursday, fresh and free. Don’t miss out on what’s happening on market and regulatory developments across the continent, subscribe now for exclusive coverage, breaking news and opinions that will help you make informed decisions.
"*" indicates required fields
32,400+ subscribers · Unsubscribe anytime · No spam, ever.
Start typing below to search Cannabiz Africa.
