Govt Misses All its Own Deadlines to Put New Cannabis Laws into Place
The National Cannabis Master Plan is coming off the rails – again. The DTIC’s promise to prioritize cannabis reform has run out of momentum with no sign of the draft cannabis commercialization policy that was meant to be put to Parliament this session.
Expo’s Howarth: Message is Clear: Consumers Are In Charge and What They Want is Driving the Market
The Cannabis Expo has put paid to any doubt as to who’s in control of cannabis in the country says CEO Silas Howarth. It’s not the government or big business – it’s the consumer! This is the real force shaping the industry because of its insatiable demand and sheer spending power.
Prince Report Back: Thousands Face SAPS Victimization While High Court Dithers Over April’s Urgent Application to Halt Cannabis Arrests
Gareth Prince’s urgent application to halt cannabis arrests has become enmeshed by the slow wheels of justice. While the legal activist says he’ll use the delay to bolster his case, he warns that ‘illegal’ cannabis arrests will continue until the next court date of 31 July. This is Prince’s report back to Cannabiz Africa.
Prince Urgent Application to Halt Cannabis Arrests Delayed on Procedural Grounds
Gareth Prince’s urgent High Court application to halt cannabis arrests has been delayed on procedural grounds and will only be heard again on 31 July 2026. The Western Cape Judge President acknowledged the urgency of the action, but said no space could be found on the court role for six weeks.
ICS 2026 to Challenge the American and European Muscle Power in Determining the Rules of the Regulatory Game for Everybody Else
International cannabis thought leaders from across the world are to descend on Cape Town at the end of the month for ICS 2026. Organizer Sean Hocking tells Cannabiz Africa that the Back to Basics theme is aimed at breaking North American and European dominance in determining the world’s cannabis regulatory systems.
CTAA Launches Portal to Link Cannabis Growers and Retailers to Open up the Market for Marginalized Communities
The Cannabis Trade Association of Africa (CTAA) has launched a compliance platform that provides a route to market for legacy cannabis growers. It’s new portal aims to link growers to retailers in a framework that ticks all government’s compliance boxes and provides a market for landraces.
Looking Ahead, Zimbabwe and Zambia Are Africa’s Best Bets for Becoming Hemp Powerhouses
Zimbabwe and Zambia are best-placed African countries for ramped-up hemp production because they have plenty of available land and water. Zimbabwe has the edge because of it has an international distribution hub. That’s the view of Cobasa founder and chairperson Henri de Villeneuve, speaking at the Cheeba Summit.
Katerere Calls for an African-GMP Certification to Unlock African Cannabis Self-Reliance
The cannabis ‘gold standard’ is EU-GMP certification, an expensive exercise vital to get a foothold into Europe. However, this is beyond reach of most African producers, TUT’s Prof David Katerere told the Cheeba Summit, and proposed an African-GMP certification as a foundation for the continent’s cannabis industry.
Canadian Cannabis Retailers Hope for High Scoring Fifa World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time that part of the tournament will be held in a locale where cannabis is legal. Although fans can’t light up at the matches hosted in Canada, the potential for increased foot traffic has cannabis dispensaries excited and lawyers advising shops on how to avoid a legal red card.
Slip Sliding Away, Govt Doesn’t Miss the Opportunity to Miss the Opportunity – Again
South Africa did not need to reinvent cannabis commercialisation from scratch. It could have adapted proven licensing models, opened a lawful market quickly and built from there. Instead, delay, complexity and weak implementation have left the country watching a major industry slip through its fingers.