It’s not clear exactly what the Health Department’s unilateral ‘grand plan’ for cannabis and foodstuffs was, but it has come crashing down before it got out the starting blocks. Cabinet is understood to have chastised the Health Minister for trying to go it alone and told him that stakeholder consultation is critical going forward. It’s not clear exactly what the Health Department’s unilateral ‘grand plan’ for cannabis and foodstuffs was, but it has come crashing down before it got out the starting blocks. Cabinet is understood to have chastised the Health Minister for trying to go it alone and told him that stakeholder consultation is critical going forward. 28 March 2025 at 07:45:00 Brett Hilton-Barber, Cannabiz Africa President Ramaphosa has papered over the cracks in cabinet caused by his Health Minister’s hare-brained ban on cannabis related foodstuff. A well-connected Cannabiz Africa source says that Dr Motsoaladi was reprimanded during this week's Cabinet meeting for his unilateral action which embarrassed the President and made a mockery of the country’s cannabis reform programme. However, in the toned down version of the cabinet discussions from the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni ( pictured here ), said only that Cabinet made it clear to Dr Mostoaledi that any future regulations “ must be fully consulted upon, ensuring alignment with the Constitutional Court’s judgment, and should not contravene the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, which was proclaimed last year.” Cabinet met on 26 March 2025 and welcomed the President’s decision a day earlier to lift the ban which caused market mayhem and was described by various comentators as “illogical”, “unscientific”, “absurd”, “unprocedural” and “stupid”. It is interesting to note that no sector or interest group came out in support of the Health Minister, who claims he was acting in the interests of consumer safety in ‘restricting’ the sale of cannabis-related foodstuffs. Ntshaveni said that during the meeting, the Health Minister had “expressed concern about unregulated imported foodstuffs flooding the South African market, containing hemp and cannabis. This has raised alarms about the potential health risks associated with these products.” She said “In line with this, President Cyril Ramaphosa has affirmed his support for more stakeholder consultation and public participation on the formulation of new regulations that will limit health risks and the negative impact of foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp, particularly on minors." While Ramaphosa’s swift action to rescind the ban staved off multi-million rand damages claims against the Government, it has not addressed the basic problem underlying the whole sorry saga – there is a deep-lying structural fault in the way government departments act and a lack of accountability. There has been no explanation for the ban, which Government sources say was chiefly the work of the Deputy Director of Health, Dr Anban Pillay, a long-time ‘denialist’ that cannabis in any form has any nutritional merit. He told News24 before the ban was lifted that it was part of a “grand plan”. Although he has not fleshed out in detail, what the ill-fated ‘grand plan’ was, it would appear that the intention was to set up a new, over-arching regulatory regime to govern the use of cannabis in food. That is now history. Minister Ntshavheni said after the Cabinet meeting: “The regulations have been formally withdrawn by the Department of Health.” The Minister emphasised the importance of a balanced approach to the growing hemp and cannabis industry in South Africa. “If you recall, South Africa developed a hemp and cannabis strategy under the sixth administration, recognising the industry's potential. The objective is to grow this industry as a major economic sector, but we must ensure that it is regulated to safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly children.” She said that while cannabis was part of South Africa’s economic strategy, regulations had to be put in place to protect “children and other vulnerable groups”. ' Western Cape Agriculture MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer, who was one of the fiercest critics of the ban, applauded the President’s decision. “This will allow for comprehensive public consultation, ensuring that all voices, including those of business and health experts, are heard,” he said. “This will lead to the development of policies and rules that support the potential of the cannabis and hemp industry to generate jobs, improve public health, and boost economic growth.” However, the mystery question that remains unanswered is why hemp foodstuffs, which are already legal, were part of the blanket ban. And as FGFA’s Myrtle Clarke has pointed out: all cannabis infused foodstuffs are illegal anyway, highlighting the nonsensical nature of the ban. At first blush it would appear that the President has reasserted his authority over cannabis reform, and he has been commended for his commitment to stakeholder consultation before any further regulations are released. But the deeper issues of governance have not been resolved, and the DTIC is yet to step up in its role of co-ordinating government departments which remain dysfunctional when it comes to dealing with cannabis issues. However, stakeholders will take heart from the fact that the President has irrevocably committed himself to a course of public engagement on cannabis regulations and that non-government entities might finally have some form of recognized policy input. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Cabinet Privately Reprimands Health Minister, Nips Department’s 'Grand Plan’ in the Bud

Open Farms chairman Shaad Vayej says the President’s move to lift ‘The Ban’ signals a much needed shift towards as transparency and stakeholder engagement in formulating future policy. Open Farms chairman Shaad Vayej says the President’s move to lift ‘The Ban’ signals a much needed shift towards as transparency and stakeholder engagement in formulating future policy. 26 March 2025 at 20:00:00 Xolile Mtembu, IOL News Open Farms chairman Shaad Vayej told IOL News on 26 March 2025 that the withdrawal of the recent prohibition on cannabis and hemp foodstuffs, was a pivotal moment for the industry "This move signals the government's commitment to broad stakeholder consultation—a much-needed shift towards transparent and evidence-based regulation," he said. "The withdrawal of the prohibition means that CBD and THC-infused foodstuffs are no longer outright banned under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Foodstuffs Act)." He added that, nevertheless, this does not imply a free for all in the market. "The regulation of these products still falls under existing SAHPRA guidelines and the Medicines and Related Substances Act (Medicines Act), which continue to classify certain cannabis-derived products as scheduled substances." On Tuesday, the Presidency announced that the Minister of Health will repeal the regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act (Foodstuffs Act) that prohibit the sale, importation, and manufacture of hemp and cannabis-containing products. Vayej said that while the repeal of ‘The Ban’ was a success for the industry, the Department of Health's concerns about product safety and labelling remained genuine. He cited the government's possible concerns, including unregulated imports and weak product labelling, which might lead to unintended access to psychoactive chemicals, particularly among minors. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Vayej: ‘The President’s Call to Lift ‘The Ban’ Is Pivotal to Moving Towards Industry Transparency’

Botswana will once again get a chance to showcase its bold vision to incorporate hemp into its economy when it hosts the Inaugural Hemp Business Summit in Gaborone on 5 April 2025. Botswana will once again get a chance to showcase its bold vision to incorporate hemp into its economy when it hosts the Inaugural Hemp Business Summit in Gaborone on 5 April 2025. 26 March 2025 at 19:30:00 John Makoni, Africa Editor Up to 300 delegates are expected to descend on the Ba Isago Convention Centre for the event “Unlocking the Hemp Industry” which is to help the Botswana government chart a regulatory framework for a prospective hemp industry. The country, which legalized the export of medicinal and industrial cannabis last year, seeks to diversify its diamond-dependent economy, reduce its import inventory and create employment opportunities. The summit comes just three months after Botswana hosted a hemp conference ( delegates pictured above ) as part of the capital city’s partnership with Toronto in January. Top of the agenda will be a discussion of necessary policy reforms to legalise hemp for sustainable development. “We’re not just diversifying our economy. We’re building industries that will sustain Botswana for generations to come,” President Duma Boko has emphasised. Boko has made hemp and cannabis a priority of his economic agenda and has hinted that time is running out for Botswana as the country seeks to follow in the footsteps of regional players such as Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe, who were the first to legalise cannabis for their economies. To this end Botswana is drawing on the expertise of hemp pioneers and experts from all over the world, including North America and Africa. World-renowned regulatory specialist Joy Beckerman from California will be in attendance with hemp industry pioneer Lawrence Serbin also confirmed for the event. Colorado-based Nutiva, a world leader in hemp food processing and imports, will be looking to meet hemp farmers and create synergies to strengthen its supply lines while successful farmers have been invited to mentor local and aspiring hemp farmers, according to Oratile Masala, IHBS CEO. Local banks and insurance companies will also present their product portfolios at the summit, said Masala. The summit also presents Botswana with a golden opportunity to sell its cannabis programme to its citizens, given perceived resistance from conservative sectors of society who have expressed reservations that the country will be overrun with cannabis. President Boko has moved to allay those fears and stressed that hemp will help reduce dependence on imported construction supplies by localising production of hempcrete, hemp bricks and hemp fibre while drawing the distinction between hemp and medicinal cannabis, whose cultivation he has promised will be stringently regulated. While Botswana’s government has shown leadership in trying to incubate a hemp economy, that has not been the case for countries like Kenya and Uganda where industry is battling a lack of legislative reform and red tape from government. This makes Joy Beckerman’s attendance propitious as she has dedicated herself “to advance common-sense regulation”. Her long history of non-profit leadership can benefit African governments who seem unable to navigate the regulatory phase to legalise hemp and generate much-needed revenue. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Botswana Hosts Major Hemp Indaba to Chart Regulatory Way Forward

The economics of cannabis cultivation are starting to hurt US farmers dependent on indoor growing facilities. A new study shows there’s renewed interest in outdoor growing as the environmental – and financial – costs of indoor grow ops mount. The economics of cannabis cultivation are starting to hurt US farmers dependent on indoor growing facilities. A new study shows there’s renewed interest in outdoor growing as the environmental – and financial – costs of indoor grow ops mount. 26 March 2025 at 09:30:00 Ben Adlin, Marijuana Moment This report from Marijuana Moment , published on 25 March 2025. Greenhouse gas emissions from the legal marijuana industry have climbed so quickly in recent years that they now equal that of about 10 million cars, according to a newly published study into the energy and emissions of cannabis production. A switch from indoor to outdoor grows, however, could lessen that environmental impact by lowering emissions as much as 76 percent. That’s according to Northern California-based researcher Evan Mills, who has spent years building a model of the legal cannabis industry’s energy inputs and emissions outputs. All told, his new paper in the journal One Earth concludes that energy use by the sector is “on par with that of all other crop production,” and that the marijuana industry represents 1 percent of “total national emissions from all sectors of the economy.” Compared to other industries, the study continues, “direct, on-site use of fuels and electricity by the cannabis industry is 4 times that of domestic use by the US pharmaceutical industry and beverage and tobacco manufacturing.” “Energy use is a third of what is used by data centers nationally,” it adds, “and 1.5 times that of cryptocurrency mining.” Mills’s lifecycle analysis includes not just cultivation itself, but also transportation, retail and waste disposal. “Cannabis has become the most energy- and carbon-intensive crop,” the author wrote, “as cultivation has shifted from open fields to indoors, covering an area of ∼5 million square meters (∼270 average Walmart stores) in the US.” That physical footprint, he noted, is “greater than that dedicated to artificially lit food production and floriculture across the country.” But not all cannabis production is equally responsible for energy use and emissions. Mills’s report asserts that about 90 percent of marijuana-related emissions come from indoor grows, which are far more energy intensive than outdoor cultivation. “Indoor cultivation can also yield worse outcomes for indoor and outdoor air quality, power grids, waste production, water use, energy costs, worker safety, and environmental justice.” As far as reforms go, the new paper says federal legalization of marijuana “would achieve only modest reductions” in energy and emissions—about 8 percent overall—though it notes a national-level reform “could enable more potent policies.” The most promising is a pivot away from indoor grows and toward outdoor cultivation. “Emissions have risen substantially despite widespread state-level legalization efforts, which suggests that relying on market forces alone is not a viable climate strategy for this industry,” the report says. “More targeted policy initiatives are needed to manage emissions, and the greatest potential lies in guiding the industry toward a much larger share of open-field cultivation.” Additional policy shifts that could reduce emissions include increased home growing of cannabis, wider use of greenhouses by cultivators, use of more energy efficient varieties of the plant, implementation of on-site solar and other updates. But there’s also a risk of increasing emissions in the new legal cannabis era. For example, if more marijuana is grown indoors, or if more products are delivered directly to consumers’ doors, emissions would rise under the model. If half of all sales were done through deliveries, that would increase emissions by 4 percent, the study says. Meanwhile if a quarter of all outdoor-grown cannabis were shifted indoors, that would lead to a 10 percent emissions increase. “Key upward pressures include rising demand for cannabis, changes in industry structure, reversion of legal producers to the illicit market (where electricity sources can be dirtier and less efficient) in response to what are perceived as overzealous regulations, and a trend toward derivative products that embody added processing energy,” the report says. Mills said that while consumers have access to information about energy consumption around other types of products, that information typically isn’t available for cannabis. “Consumers don’t know any of this,” he told The Washington Post . “They know that a car is labeled with how many miles per gallon it gets, or a refrigerator has an Energy Star label, but there’s zero consumer information about cannabis.” One factor the new analysis doesn’t account for is interstate commerce, which lawmakers could approve as part of federal legalization or separately. That would allow regions better suited to outdoor cannabis cultivation to grow more marijuana outdoors and sell it elsewhere. Mills’s model of federal legalization doesn’t dig into that dynamic. “The ‘full legalization’ case,” his paper says, “does not model the possible effects of relaxing restrictions on interstate commerce or other policies that could be deployed in a legal market.” Nevertheless, it continues, “In the event that interstate transport bans were lifted, related questions would be whether states with climates that do not favor open-field cultivation…would opt instead to import from states where it is more feasible (and where indoor cultivation is also less energy intensive).” Currently, the paper notes, cultivation is trending the wrong direction. “Large-scale legal indoor cultivation is increasingly concentrated in environmentally overburdened urban areas,” it says, “as seen in Oakland and Denver, each of which host about 200 sanctioned plant factory operations.” The new study comes on the heels of separate research last year finding that “outdoor cannabis agriculture can be 50 times less carbon-emitting than indoor production.” Authors of that report, published in the journal Agricultural Science and Technology, noted that while a handful of studies have examined indoor marijuana production, “very little is known about the impact of outdoor cannabis agriculture.” “Dissemination of this knowledge is of utmost importance for producers, consumers, and government officials in nations that have either legalized or will legalize cannabis production,” they wrote. Though the environmental impacts of cannabis production are often overlooked by policymakers, industry and consumers alike, some bodies have stepped up efforts to lessen the footprint of cultivation. In Colorado in 2023, for example, officials launched a program to fund the cannabis industry’s energy efficiency , pointing to a 2018 report from the state’s energy office finding that cannabis cultivation comprised 2 percent of the state’s total energy use. Electricity was pricey for growers too, the report found, eating up roughly a third of cultivators’ operating budgets. In 2020, Colorado launched a more experimental program aimed at using cannabis cultivation to capture carbon from another regulated industry: alcohol . The state Carbon Dioxide Reuse Program Pilot Project involved capturing carbon dioxide emitted during beer brewing and using the gas to stimulate marijuana growth. A 2023 report from the International Coalition on Drug Policy Reform and Environmental Justice, meanwhile, drew attention to the negative impacts of unregulated drug production in areas like the Amazon Rainforest and the jungles of Southeast Asia . Attempts to protect those critical ecosystems, the report warned, “will fail as long as those committed to environmental protection neglect to recognize, and grapple with, the elephant in the room”—namely “the global system of criminalized drug prohibition, popularly known as the ‘war on drugs.’” In 2022, meanwhile, a pair of U.S. congressmen who oppose legalization pushed the Biden administration to study the environmental impacts of marijuana cultivation , writing that they had “reservations regarding marijuana cultivation’s subsequent emissions and believe more research is needed on this industry’s rapidly growing demands on our country’s energy systems, along with its effects on our environment.” In an interview with Marijuana Moment at the time, pro-legalization Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) said that “there are some important nuances” when it comes to cannabis policy and the environment. He said that, even amid extreme drought conditions in California, there are water sources that should be providing resources to the community and industry that are instead being diverted by illicit growers. “We have not done a very good job of lifting up the legal market so that we can eliminate the black market—and that black market has really unacceptable environmental impacts,” he said at the time. California itself has taken some specific steps to ameliorate the issue . For example, officials announced in 2021 that they were soliciting concept proposals for a marijuana tax-funded program aimed at helping small cannabis cultivators with environmental clean-up and restoration efforts. The following year, California awarded $1.7 in grant money to sustainable cannabis growers , part of a planned $6 million in total funding. And in New York, set rules meant to promote environmental awareness , for example by requiring businesses to submit an environmental sustainability program and explore the possibility of reusing cannabis packaging. Lawmakers there also explored promoting industry recycling programs and cannabis packaging made from hemp rather than synthetic plastics , though neither proposal was enacted. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Energy Crunch Facing US Indoor Growers – Gas Emmissions Now Equal that of 10 m Cars

President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to withdraw the controversial ban on cannabis in foodstuffs with immediate effect. He’s also ordered the Minister to begin consultations with stakeholders before issuing any further notice on the matter. This is a statement from the Presidency. President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to withdraw the controversial ban on cannabis in foodstuffs with immediate effect. He’s also ordered the Minister to begin consultations with stakeholders before issuing any further notice on the matter. This is a statement from the Presidency. 25 March 2025 at 18:00:00 Vincent Magwenya, Spokesman to the President TO ALL NEWSROOMS/EDITORS TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2025 GOVERNMENT TO CONSULT OVER REGULATIONS OF CANNABIS AND HEMP FOODSTUFFS President Cyril Ramaphosa has affirmed his support for more stakeholder consultation and public participation on the formulation of new regulations that will limit health risk and the negative impat of foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp, particularly on minors. In briefing the President, the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, expressed concern about unregulated mpoted foodstuffs flooding the South African market containing hemp and cannabis. In light of further stakeholder consultations, the Minister of Health will withdraw the Regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Foodstuffs Act) to prohibit the sale, importation and manufacture of foodstuffs containing hemp and cannabis. The Department of Health will continue to consult broadly before publishing the revised regulations. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service President Ramaphosa Orders Cannabis Foodstuff Ban to Be Lifted Immediately

South Africa now has one of the most restrictive food policies in the world following the ban on hemp foodstuffs. Open Farms chairman and attorney, Shaad Vayej (pictured here), says government should be aligning with international best practice in developing the hemp sector, but has instead imposed “a backward-looking restriction that harms businesses, limits consumer access, and contradicts prior regulations.” South Africa now has one of the most restrictive food policies in the world following the ban on hemp foodstuffs. Open Farms chairman and attorney, Shaad Vayej (pictured here), says government should be aligning with international best practice in developing the hemp sector, but has instead imposed “a backward-looking restriction that harms businesses, limits consumer access, and contradicts prior regulations.” 25 March 2025 at 10:45:00 Shaad Vayej, Attorney and Open Farms Chairman A Draconian Misstep On 7 March 2025, South Africa’s Minister of Health enacted a sweeping regulation under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, banning the inclusion of any part of the Cannabis sativa L. plant—including non-psychoactive components such as cannabidiol (CBD), hemp seed oil, and hemp seed flour—in foodstuffs. With this gazetting of the ban in cannabis in foodstuffs,, South Africa has adopted one of the most restrictive cannabis food policies in the world, placing it even behind traditionally conservative regulatory jurisdictions such as the EU and Australia. Instead of advancing economic opportunities and aligning with international best practices, the government has imposed a backward-looking restriction that harms businesses, limits consumer access, and contradicts prior regulations. So what of the statement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his latest SONA where he stated that he wanted South Africa to be leading in the commercial production of hemp and cannabis? A Reversal of South Africa’s Cannabis Policy This abrupt policy shift contradicts South Africa’s previous regulatory stance and places the country at odds with progressive global trends that increasingly recognize the economic, nutritional, and medicinal value of cannabis derivatives in food. To appreciate the impact of this regulation, it is necessary to contrast it with South Africa’s prior legislative framework on cannabis products:2019 CBD Exemption: The Minister of Health issued Government Notice No. 42477, temporarily exempting certain CBD preparations from the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act 101 of 1965). This allowed for the sale of products containing up to 20 mg of CBD per daily dose, provided they made only general health claims and contained minimal THC.2020 Amendment to Medicines Act Schedules: Government Notice No. 586 (Gazette No. 43347) reclassified CBD as a Schedule 4 substance but retained exemptions for over-the-counter sales under specific conditions. Industrial hemp products with less than 0.2% THC remained legal for food and commercial use.The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act 7 of 2024: Notably, while the act prohibits the exchange of cannabis between adults for consideration, the definition of cannabis excludes cannabis seeds and seedlings from its operation. This effectively meant that hemp seed was capable of lawful, commercial production and trade, more particularly under the auspices of the Plant Improvement Act in respect of production. These prior regulations reflected a nuanced approach—acknowledging the distinction between psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabis components while allowing for controlled inclusion in consumer markets. The 2025 regulation, however, disregards this differentiation, treating all cannabis derivatives uniformly and prohibiting their use in food entirely. Consequences for Businesses and Consumers The consequences of this policy shift are far-reaching: Business Disruption : Companies that have invested in hemp-based food products now face financial losses and potential litigation, as previously compliant products are now illegal. This affects manufacturers, retailers, and farmers who have aligned their operations with South Africa’s evolving cannabis industry. More particularly, hundreds of hemp permits have been issued by the Department of Agriculture, where the vast majority of hemp cultivation is geared towards the production and associated off-take of hemp seed, cold-pressed hemp seed oil, seed cake and in some cases low-THC hemp flower which is used in the production of CBD products. Without the option of valuable domestic consumption, hemp producers now face decreased demand for their crop and are forced to focus on export markets, potentially leading to large scale surplus and resulting in lower prices for cash crops. Missed Economic Opportunities : The global hemp food market is projected to grow exponentially, driven by increasing consumer demand for plant-based proteins and nutritional supplements. By banning hemp foodstuffs, South Africa effectively cuts itself off from local development of hemp-containing foods and as a result a lucrative industry that could create a significant number of jobs and stimulate economic growth. Consumer Rights and Access : The prohibition limits consumer choice, forcing the nations largest health retailers to pull hemp containing foodstuffs off of shelves and individuals to seek alternative sources, potentially fueling a black market. It also disregards growing scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of hemp seeds and CBD, which are widely used in functional foods worldwide. How Does South Africa Compare to Global Trends? Many leading economies have embraced hemp-derived food products, recognizing their safety and economic potential. South Africa’s new policy starkly contrasts with international best practices: European Union (EU): The EU permits the use of hemp seeds in food without restrictions, as they are not classified as “novel foods” under EU Regulation 2015/2283. However, cannabinoid extracts (including CBD) require novel food authorization before market entry. United States (US): The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes hemp seeds, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), allowing their inclusion in food products. However, CBD in food is still undergoing regulatory review. United Kingdom (UK): The UK follows similar guidelines to the EU, allowing hemp seeds and hemp oil in food while regulating cannabinoids under the novel foods framework.Australia and New ZealandAustralia legalized hemp seed food products in 2017. The country imposes strict THC and CBD content limits but allows the sale of hemp seed oil, hemp flour, and other derivatives. New Zealand follows similar regulations. Canada : Canada fully legalizes hemp seeds and hemp oil in food, provided they contain less than 10 ppm THC. The country’s well-established regulatory framework supports a thriving hemp-based food industry. Argentina : In 2023, Argentina amended its food code to legalize hemp seeds, permitting their use in foodstuffs with THC content below 1%. This move aligns Argentina with other progressive cannabis policies in Latin America. Italy : Italy’s government is considering restrictions on hemp flower production, which could impact its €500 million industry. However, hemp seeds and derivatives remain legal in food products. Why This Ban is Unjustifiable The South African government’s justification for this ban remains unclear. The regulation does not align with evidence-based policymaking and contradicts the country’s previous recognition of hemp and CBD as distinct from high-THC cannabis. While health authorities may argue concerns over consumer safety, the overwhelming body of scientific and international regulatory evidence supports hemp seeds and hemp oil as safe, nutritious food ingredients. Furthermore, the prohibition goes against South Africa’s efforts to develop a competitive cannabis industry. Countries that have embraced hemp foodstuffs are reaping the economic benefits, while South Africa isolates itself with an outdated and excessively restrictive approach. .If South Africa wants to position itself as a leader in the global cannabis market, this regulation must be reconsidered. Otherwise, the country risks falling behind in an industry where others are surging ahead. PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Thanks to the Health Minister SA Now Has One of the Most Restrictive Food Policies in the World

The push-back is gaining momentum as more cannabis stakeholders gear up for lawfare against the hemp foodstuff ban. The CTAA is to preparing to file an interdict against the Health Minister, saying his actions could be construed as criminally negligent, and “he needs to be charged or fired.” The push-back is gaining momentum as more cannabis stakeholders gear up for lawfare against the hemp foodstuff ban. The CTAA is to preparing to file an interdict against the Health Minister, saying his actions could be construed as criminally negligent, and “he needs to be charged or fired.” 25 March 2025 at 07:00:00 Brett Hilton-Barber, Cannabiz Africa The Cannabis Trade Association Africa is to file an interdict against the Health Minister’s ban on hemp foodstuffs and says he should face criminal charges for his ‘reckless and unscientific’ action which has had a devastating effect on the fledgling hemp sector and blown apart South Africa’s cannabis reform programme. The full extent of Dr Motsoaledi’s shock decision to ban cannabis-infused foodstuffs is still to be felt but already it’s becoming apparent that it will have a crippling effect on hundreds, if not thousands of legitimate businesses who have legally been trading in hemp foodstuffs, many for over a decade. The controversial regulations to the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act were published on 7 March 2025, prohibiting the sale, importation and manufacturing of foodstuffs containing ingredients derived from cannabis, hemp, hemp seed oil or hemp seed flour. Now the legal challenges to the ban are beginning to take shape, with at least two interdicts being prepared, one by Hennie Venter on behalf of a number of growers, and secondly by the Cannabis Trade Association Africa. Business Times reported on 23 March 2025 that the CTAA, along with other organisations, had decided to file an urgent interdict against the ban, citing gross regulatory overreach and economic harm. CTAA chair Tebogo Tlhopane said the CTAA firmly believed government officials responsible for such flawed policy decisions should be held personally liable. “We are pursuing legal action to impose punitive costs on these individuals in their personal capacity to prevent the continued waste of government and taxpayer money on fighting nonsensical and economically destructive laws” he said. “The reasons given by department heads for this ban lack any credible scientific basis and reflect a complete disregard for global regulatory standards. Such reckless and irrational decision-making cannot be left unchallenged,” CTAA founder Anthony Cohen, said the ban would put thousands of jobs on the line. “There is a huge industry push to push back on the Minister, and there are a few organisations, of which the CTAA is just one. He is going to have his hands full. It could be construed as criminally negligent what the minister has done, and he needs to be charged or fired,” he said. The CTAA said the ban was a major setback for South Africa’s emerging hemp industry, which has been steadily aligning itself with global best practices in regulation and commercialisation. During his SONA i n February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa could significantly expand the agricultural sector to position itself as a leader in the commercial production of hemp and cannabis. Cohen said the ban went against all this, while ignoring scientific evidence, limiting consumer choice, and undermining economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses. While the rest of the world moves towards regulation, South Africa is moving backwards, he said “It’s 100% against what the president, the department of trade, industry and competition, the department of agriculture, and other ministers have been trying to achieve. So, I think it is either [Motsoaledi] has bitten off more than he can chew, or he does not understand what he’s doing in the first place.” The government’s work concerning cannabis has been transferred to the department of agriculture and the department of trade, industry and competition. However, neither of these departments were aware of the upcoming ban, Cohen said. The CTAA has urged the health department to engage with stakeholders to develop a modern, science-backed regulatory framework, instead of “imposing outdated and prohibitive measures that stifle progress”. At the time of going to press, 18 days after the ban was gazetted, the Minister of Health is still to make an official statement explaining the reasons for the ban and how he is going to respond to the stakeholder outrage he has unleashed. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service ‘He Needs to be Charged or Fired!’ CTAA Prepares Interdict, Says Health Minister has been ‘Criminally Negligent’

The DoH issued a research permit to Druids Garden to investigate nutrition in hemp. The project got traction and was funded by government entities and developed in collaboration with the CSIR and seven years later there’s an amazing hemp-based porridge perfect for school feeding schemes. What a great story…..except the self-same DoH has now banned it! The DoH issued a research permit to Druids Garden to investigate nutrition in hemp. The project got traction and was funded by government entities and developed in collaboration with the CSIR and seven years later there’s an amazing hemp-based porridge perfect for school feeding schemes. What a great story…..except the self-same DoH has now banned it! 24 March 2025 at 13:30:00 Brett Hilton-Barber, Cannabiz Africa Just how healthy does the man leading the charge to get the National Health Insurance Scheme off the ground, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi ( pictured above, courtesy the Sowetan) want South Africans to be? It’s indisputable that hemp is a superfood and that official Government (and ANC) policy is to uplift rural communities. So why would the Minister of Health unilaterally make a decision that is so damaging to his own government and party without any consultation either within Government or to the stakeholders affected by it? That is a question many people would like answered, never mind whether the ban is rescinded or not. Whatever comes to pass, the damage wrought so far by the ban, cannot be undone. One of the most glaring absurdities of the Minister’s ban is how he has undermined a long-running, world-first project to develop hemp-based culturally appropriate ‘superfood’ for school feeding schemes – that was funded his own government! The SAHPRA-licensed Druid’s Garden project, which received backing from the state’s research entity, the CSIR and Gauteng’s Department of Agriculture, has just been dealt a critical blow by the DoH, just as it is coming to fruition. Druid’s Garden director Cian McClelland told the Cheeba What the Hemp 2.0? webinar last week that the company received a research permit from the Department of Health (DoH) in 2019 to investigate the potential hemp may have as a nutritional foodstuff. This was at a time when the 2019 Indigo Wellness Index, shared in the presentation, ranked SA as the unhealthiest country globally with high obesity rates, elevated blood pressure and excessive alcohol consumption. Druids then entered into a partnership with the CSIR in 2019 to explore hemp as a foodstuff for both humans and animals. After years of product development, the project came up with a porridge-like product called Tsing, based on a traditional Tswana dish. The results were astounding, said McLelland, with the CSIR reporting that this was “ one of the most nutritional superfoods they had ever seen”. “We have verified evidence and documentation from the CSIR as to how this is a very beneficial superfood that treats both malnutrition and obesity” said McLelland, but there has been a struggle for regulatory acceptance for years. “The objective of this product was to get it into school feeding schemes and programmes around the country” said McClelland. “As you know we have this problem where school kids are not getting enough nutrition and here we have a product that can go a long way to helping government solve it”. He said that it was ironic that the DoH having granted the license to research a product in 2019 was now banning it at a time when it had proved to be succesful beyond expectation and was now ready for market. McClelland said hemp was not only nutritious and protein-rich, but contained all the right amino acids that were building blocks for brain development and reacted with the human endocannabinoid system to balance the body. McLelland, on a previous Cheeba webinar had highlighted the issues of poverty in rural areas and the reliance of schools on government feeding schemes, saying authorities urgently needed to revisit the inhibitors that were preventing the use of hemp porridge for kids. “We are in danger of cultivating a nation of imbeciles unless we give them the proper protein that they need”. McClelland said he believed the stigma around cannabis was the main reason the Department of Health was so reluctant to engage positively. “They are not yet confident enough in the fact that people who consume hemp-based products are not going to get high”. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Minister of Madness: “Absurd” Ban Puts Paid to Govt Funded Project to Develop Hemp-based ‘Superfood’ for School Feeding Schemes

Cannabis is still stuck in research mode in Kenya, despite Government promises to allow an industrial hemp sector to develop. One of the major problems is the stigma attached to cannabis, which stakeholders have suggested be countered with a public education campaign. Cannabis is still stuck in research mode in Kenya, despite Government promises to allow an industrial hemp sector to develop. One of the major problems is the stigma attached to cannabis, which stakeholders have suggested be countered with a public education campaign. 24 March 2025 at 09:00:00 John Makoni, Cannabiz Africa The public stigma associated with cannabis generally, is preventing the hemp industry gaining any form of traction in Kenya . This is one of the main reasons contributing to the legislative inaction in passing enabling legislation for the commercial trade in industrial hemp. The legislative vacuum is causing immense frustration amongst potential hemp entrepreneurs who have watched the legalization of industrial cannabis sweep through eleven other African states, yet passed them by. Although there has been the promise of a roll-out of mass hemp production with the passing of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2022 which legalised cannabis for medical and scientific use, the commercial trade in the plant, or recreational use thereof, remains prohibited. Stakeholders have complained that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1994 has not been amended despite earlier assurances and continues to operate alongside the new legislation which approved scientific and medicinal cannabis use under license. “We have not moved since 2021,” said industrial hemp campaigner, Victoria Mwanzia, speaking on the webinar Rise 4 Africa earlier this year. She described the policy inertia as “heartbreaking”. Cannabiz Africa discovered that there is a culture of reticence that tends to shroud open discussion of cannabis in Kenya. Even apparently influential people tended to self-censor or withhold commentary, with some sources refusing to volunteer information despite being promised anonymity. For instance, more than three weeks after acknowledging receipt and despite numerous follow-ups, an academic, lawyer and author did not furnish answers to a questionnaire that he had requested we forward. The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada), a semi-statutory body with a mandate that includes policy leadership, education, regulation and research coordination, also chose to not comment and only offered a terse response, stating that “in Kenya cannabis is illegal in line with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act”. Avoidance and doublespeak appear to form part of cannabis lore in Kenya. In 2019, GoIP Global, a New York-based company, announced it had procured a licence to grow cannabis on a 500-acre plot, only for the Kenyan government to strenuously deny the development. Even KeHeCon 2025 , the Kenya Hemp Conference held earlier this year in Nairobi did not assuage local observers’ concerns that the country was not yet ready to open up and democratise the cannabis market. Although well-attended, it was by invitation and held at an exclusive hotel. In view of this climate, one understands the frustration that Mwanzia and others have articulated, along with their claim that attempts to get industrial hemp production fully legalised in Kenya have been met with a ‘roadblock’. She has suggested a massive informative and awareness-raising campaign to familiarise the populace on the difference between industrial hemp, which possesses lots of industrial-use properties, and THC cannabis, which is grown for medicinal and health purposes. Even so, medicinal cannabis can be dispensed under prescription but doctors are reportedly hesitant to prescribe it out of suspected concerns of possible repercussions. However in 2022, the pervasive conservatism was challenged by Roots Party of Kenya outlier presidential candidate, George Wajackoyah, who ran on a ticket to legalise cannabis for industrial and medicinal benefits. And despite prevalent anti-cannabis attitudes, traditional medicinal use is common in areas around Kisumu. As authorities dither on finalising enabling legislation, a cannabis black market continues to thrive, with extensive illegal cultivation around Mount Kenya and the coastal regions. Meanwhile, investors wait on the sidelines for the government to greenlight mass industrial hemp production so that Kenya can move beyond current research and scientific hemp trials. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service ‘Heartbreaking’ Policy Inertia and Public Stigma Holding Back Kenyan Hemp Sector

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Imagine a ‘Cannabis SADEC’ in which the member countries harmonized their regulatory criteria and worked as a solid bloc to market southern African medical and industrial cannabis to the world. That’s the vision of Zimbabwe’s leading cannabis change-maker, Dr Zorodzai Maroveke who says that would make a real difference Africa’s prospects of becoming a real player in the global game. Imagine a ‘Cannabis SADEC’ in which the member countries harmonized their regulatory criteria and worked as a solid bloc to market southern African medical and industrial cannabis to the world. That’s the vision of Zimbabwe’s leading cannabis change-maker, Dr Zorodzai Maroveke who says that would make a real difference Africa’s prospects of becoming a real player in the global game. 22 March 2025 at 13:15:00 John Makoni, Cannabiz Africa Southern Africa should form a common cannabis market to position itself as a key player on the world stage. That’s the view of Zimbabwean Hemp Industrial Trust (ZHIT) head Dr Zorodzai Maroveke who says that the region is becoming the most active cannabis and hemp hub in Africa. The ZHIT is Zimbabwe’s major lobby and advocacy organisation for the legal inclusion of cannabis in the mainstream economy. Dr Maroveke has been personally instrumental in swinging many political heavyweights into backing the fledgling hemp sector. Although the Zimbabwean hemp industry is in its infancy, Harare hopes that in time it will generate meaningful export revenue to lessen the country’s economic dependence on tobacco. ' Build a regional cannabis bloc' In an exclusive interview with Cannabiz Africa’s John Makoni, ‘Dr Zoey’, as Dr Maroveke is affectionately known in the industry, said there was a strong case to be made for a ‘harmonized approach not only for southern Africa but for the continent as a whole”. A constant fixture on the African cannabis conference circuit, Dr Zoey believes the harmonisation of regulations should form part of measures that can pave the way for a sustainable and economically beneficial hemp industry across the continent. “The biggest challenge is to overhaul regulations” she said. “While the African hemp industry shows promising growth and investment potential, it faces hurdles related to regulatory frameworks, public perception, and infrastructural development,” she said this week, speaking from Gaborone, ahead of the Inaugural Hemp Business Summit (IHBS) Conference on 5 April 2025 in the Botswana capital. Regulations Impede Harmonization She singles out regulatory inconsistencies and lack of harmonisation as the main culprits in deterring investment and market stability. The most obvious partnerships are between Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho and South Africa as they are the most mature markets in a young industry – other than Morocco which is the continent’s leading exporter. “Africa's industrial hemp industry is projected to possess a market potential of $2.4-billion [R43.6-billion], excluding the cannabidiol (CBD) sector. This projection underscores the continent's favourable climate and vast land, positioning it to become a leading producer and exporter of industrial hemp” said Dr Maroveke. “Such growth could bring substantial socio-economic benefits and create at least 100 000 jobs in the initial stages of the industry”. Botswana, a late starter, could potentially take the lead in exporting industrial hemp in the region. Zambia and eSwatini are too beset by internal political squabbles to attract international interest, even though they both have enabling legislation in place. Rwanda and the DRC dominate the central African market with Kenya and Ghana looking hopeful. Currently there are no formal inter-government communication between African countries and they are all developing their cannabis policies in silos. However, there are cross-border initiatives in non-government organizations, for instance Dr Maroveke's appointment to the Cheeba advisory panel. The key document for developing a cohesive African cannabis policy lies in the outcomes of the now-dormant Phakisa initiative that emerged from the Presidency’s interaction with non-government stakeholders in June 2023 which formulated a ‘whole plant’ approach. However, South Africa has not been able to even introduce this ground-breaking document into its own regulatory process, so there is little chance of it being adapted by other African countries in the foreseeable future. Hemp Policy Alignment is the Obvious Starting Point Industrial cannabis, or hemp, is the most obvious starting point for cross-border cannabis collaboration, but there is no standard agreement on acceptable THC levels: South Africa is a a 0,02% THC limit, to be lifted to 2% at some point in the future, Zimbabwe is at 1%, while the most environmentally appropriate percentage limit would be 4 – 5%, which would allow almost all landraces to be classified as industrial cannabis or hemp. As it is, the situation is completely fragmented with all African governments still seemingly stuck in a colonial mindset and reluctant to develop their own domestic medical cannabis markets for fear of allowing ‘recreational’ usage to slip through the back door. Currently South Africa is the only African country to allow recreational cannabis for private consumption, but its policy is in disarray with a legislative vacuum in this arena and an increasingly chaotic hemp environment with the recent ban on hemp being used as a foodstuff. Stigmas Still Require Breaking The negative stigma attached to cannabis is another hindrance to developing the industry in Africa. Both Dr Makavere and Dr Zoey and Nana Kwaku Agyemang, head of Ghana’s hemp advocacy body, Hempire Association of Ghana (HAG), have singled out stigma as the source of inconsistent regulations. “Public perception of cannabis in Africa varies, often influenced by historical, social, and legal contexts. The general public often conflates hemp with medicinal cannabis, leading to misconceptions that hinder the industry's development,” says Dr Maroveke. The upcoming Botswana hemp conference will be the biggest regional gathering of industrial cannabis stakeholders in recent times. It will afford policy-makers to begin discussing some form of regional co-operation around cannabis that in time may realise Dr Zoey’s vision. PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Zimbabwe’s 'Dr Zoey': The Region Should Harmonize Regulations And Market Itself as a Solid Bloc on World Markets

Hemp businessman Hennie Venter is leading the legal charge against the Health Minister with a court application to have the cannabis foodstuff ban overturned. He says he is bringing the action on behalf of all entrepreneurs who have seen their investments “go down in flames” because of the ban. Hemp businessman Hennie Venter is leading the legal charge against the Health Minister with a court application to have the cannabis foodstuff ban overturned. He says he is bringing the action on behalf of all entrepreneurs who have seen their investments “go down in flames” because of the ban. 23 March 2025 at 08:30:00 Cannabiz Africa Gauteng based Hennie Venter ( pictured above) says he wrote to the Minster straight after the ban and gave him seven days to nullify the proclamation or he would take legal action on behalf of the industry. That seven days expired seven days ago, and the Venter, who is CEO of Cannabisness and MD of HempCare - and has a long and committed history of r esearch involvement in cannabis - said that the matter was now heading for the courts and that damages would be sought. He told The Citizen on 20 March 2025 legal proceedings would challenge the validity of the regulations published and claims would be instituted for financial losses incurred as a result of it. “Everyone who invested and done research and development in this industry stand with their hands in their pockets looking at their investments coming down in flames.” Friends of Hemp South Africa is also believed to be preparing to litigate. FOHSA co-founder M Ayanda Bam said damages from the Minister’s sudden ban amounted to tens of millions of rands which could be quantified. He told last week’s Cheeba What the Hemp 2.0 ? webinar: “It’s a complete obfuscation of the fact that they made a major blunder that has consequences beyond the cannabis industry because these are products that have been legally traded in SA for decades without any challenges, Now they’re affecting folks the likes of Woolworths, Shoprite, Dischem, Faithful by Nature. We are talking tens of millions of rand in terms of damages from this. It’s wholly unjustifiable. ” Cannabis Trade Association Africa chairperson Tebogo Thlapene has called for those involved in the making the decision to be forced to put their hands in their own pockets to recompense for the financial devastation caused by the ban be held personally liable for damages. He told the same webinar that officials should be held personally liable for the financial havoc that they had caused as a result of the ban. “Instead of using government money to protect themselves, we need to remove all of that and go at them personally; personally after the Minister of Health, personally after Anban Pillay and anyone else in that department”. The ban has been roundly criticized as being constitutionally flawed, but as leading cannabis lawer PM Keichel reminds us, an absurd law is a law nonetheless , and needs to be obeyed. The point was reinforced by the DTIC who’s first response was not to challenge the ban but to order any company involved in the sale or production of any kind of cannabis-related foodstuff to ‘cease’ operations immediately. “It’s a complete obfuscation of the fact that they made a major blunder that has consequences beyond the cannabis industry because these are products that have been legally traded in SA for decades without any challenges, Now they’re affecting folks the likes of Woolworths, Shoprite, Dischem, Faithful by Nature. We are talking tens of millions of rand in terms of damages from this. It’s wholly unjustifiable." Business Day reports that over 1 600 licensed companies have been directly affected by the ban, as well as over 400 SMME’s. Ruvekh Singh, director of BakedPMB, said the government action was unconstitutional. “Instead of banning the substance, the government was supposed to regulate the market.” Fields of Green for All CEO, Myrtle Clarke, said the ban was only going to create room for the black market. "The ban is going to create a vacuum for the 'cowboys' to operate in the dark especially because it is not clear how enforcement is going to work. If there was better regulation there would be a body that puts checks and balances in place and hold establishment responsible for what they sell. We have been calling for regulations for years." # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service The Ban: Here Comes the First Legal Challenge Along With Claims for Millions in Damages