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.
South Africa is an arid country. Hemp is a thirsty plant that can flatten 28 l of water/day. Researchers studying the impact of hemp on water resources have warned that uncontrolled cultivation of the crop could damage frail ecosystems.
Legal activist Gareth Prince and fellow applicants seeking an urgent halt to cannabis arrests and a review of legislation, have stepped back from ‘Lawfare’ and a settlement appears to be under discussion. This follows discussions held in the Western Cape High Court last week.
Cannabist ‘activist-entrepreneurs’ Tia Ramfate and Linda Siboto are behind the formation of a new grassroots cannabis organization, the TRCA. Their idea is to translate indigenous knowledge skills into entrepreneurship opportunities for rural and township cannabis businesses.
Cheeba Africa co-founder Linda Siboto has taken on two new leadership positions aimed at empowering small scale rural and township cannabis growers. He takes up senior roles at farming empowerment company U Can, and has founded a new NPO, the Township and Rural Cannabis Association.
FGFA has endorsed two cannabis stakeholder surveys that are currently underway. It says people should generally be careful about giving their data away, but says participation in the Dagga Bay State of the Leaf 2026, and the ClearPath Justice surveys are contributions towards future cannabis policy.
Mpondoland traditional healer Lungiswa Nonkwelo is living proof of how medical cannabis can work. The Mpondoland traditional healer was diagnosed with cancer 26 years ago – and given six months to live. Today, she has not only bounced back to health, but has launched her own cannabis business.
In a defining moment for the cannabis sector, the National Dialogue Steering Committee is to bring together all major role players in a landmark meeting scheduled for 27 August 2026 at Kempton Park. The Presidency, SAHPRA, the NPA and SAPS have been invited to engage the industry.
Governments are licensing conduct to capital while continuing to punish people for performing materially and morally similar conduct outside the licensed system. That’s the view of Professional Misfit Lee Hymers, who asks why the Justice Department is playing the role of sector regulator?
High terpene cannabis strains can degrade plastic packaging and reduce shelf-life. This warning comes from veteran cannabis consultant Natie Ferreira, who says South African cannabis farmers focus too much on cultivation and not enough on post-harvest processing.
Government should consider bringing out a Private Cannabis Clubs Act to clear up the legal mess it has created around the model, which clearly has a place in the reform framework. Lawyer Josh Swart says that legitimate clubs should be regulated without the threat of criminal sanction and puts these options on the table.
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