Removing Cannabis from the Drugs Act Would Be a Good Way to Mark the Sad 5th Anniversary of the Cannabis Master Plan
South Africa is no closer to comprehensive cannabis reform than it was when the National Cannabis Master Plan was launched with great fanfare 5 years ago. It’s priority then was to remove cannabis from the Drugs Act. Could this now finally be happening? Corridor talk has it that a notice to this effect may be gazetted before year end.
Cannabis Flower, Leaves and Stalks Hold Medical Benefits, Now Scientists Say Don’t Discard the Roots
The roots of cannabis plants might be commonly treated as waste, but a new scientific review suggests they may be an underutilized source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications similar to the flower they help nourish.
Route 420 Unveils ‘Smoke Signals’ App to Allow Canna-Tourism Gems to be Uploaded
Route 420, the canna-tourism initiative launched by Rolling Stoner, has soft-launched an interactive app, Smoke Signals. This is to enable people to upload points of interest on the Route 420 map, the country’s first dedicated travel network for the cannabis traveller experience.
No Place for Swazi Gold or General Adult Use in eSwatini’s New Medical and Industrial Cannabis Framework
eSwatini has ruled out legalizing general adult-use cannabis but will allow citizens access to the plant for medical treatments. That’s the word from Agriculture Minister Mandla Tshawuka, who said the Kingdom was in the process of drafting a bill that would allow cultivation for industrial and medical cannabis only.
Hemp is Thirsty. SA is Dry. Leading Water Scientists Warn of Limits in Developing a Hemp Economy
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.
Zimbabwe Slashes Cannabis Licensing Fees Drastically in Bid to Attract Investors
Zimbabwe has slashed registration and licensing fees for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis by as much as 90%, seeking to attract investment, create jobs and accelerate efforts to diversify its agricultural exports beyond tobacco,
Morocco’s New Cannabis Industry Rooted in an Age-Old Quest to Find Religious Solutions to Justify Monopolies
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI broke ranks with the Muslim world by legalizing industrial and medical cannabis in 2021. However, this is not novel for the Kingdom which has long debated how to control cannabis in a conservative society that once had a healthy pharmaceutical trade with Europe before prohibition.
Gareth Prince Steps Back From Lawfare: ‘One Last Chance to Get Around the Table’
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.
New Cannabis Organization Aims to Provide Leadership Skills and Market Access for Township and Rural Entrepreneurs
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.
Canary Islands Authorizes First Medical Cannabis Grow as 1st Step Towards Developing Pharma Hub
The Canary Islands in the Atlantic off the north-western African coastline is the latest jurisdiction to authorize the cultivation of medical cannabis. Nivaria Tech in Tenerife has approval from Spanish authorities who control the territory, and it hopes to become a regional pharma hub.