EMPD: ‘Without a Section 22C License, You Will be Arrested!’
Police have closed down an East Rand ‘dagga den’, seizing cannabis flower, edibles and scales, and arresting two men for operating without a SAHPRA Section 22c license which would authorize them to possess and manufacture large quantities of cannabis.
Morocccan Smugglers Upgrade From Drones to Choppers to Fly Hash Into Spain
Morocco’s illegal cannabis industry appears to be growing despite the development of the Kingdom’s legal market. Spanish police say the Moroccan hash smuggling networks into Europe are getting more sophisticated, with helicopters now being used to transport contraband across the Mediterranean.
“Botswana License Fee Outrage: You Owe Us an Explanation!’
A leading player in the fledgling Botswana industrial cannabis industry, Oratile Masala, has called on the Government to explain the rationale behind the exorbitant hemp license fees gazetted this month. Masala, who is the Hemp Business Summit CEO, says the fees are “unrealistic, unfair and exclusionary’, as Africa Editor John Makoni reports.
Medical Cannabis Market Growth Fuelled by Success in Treating Pain, Anxiety, Epilepsy and Cancer-Related Conditions
The pharmacy industry occupies 61% of the international medical cannabis market is investing heavily in the development of new drugs, particularly for chronic pain, epilepsy and cancer-related conditions. That’s according to the World Cannabis Report 2026.
Marginalized by Society, Harassed by Cops, Cochoqua Blue Downs Royal House Turns to Cannabis and Quail for Upliftment
The Cochoqua Blue Downs Royal House in the Western Cape has linked up with Green Mammoth private cannabis club and Nutriquail Foods to launch an integrated farming co-operative that has food security and cannabis at its core.
Botswana’s New Industrial Cannabis License Fees: Only Players with Deep Pockets Need Apply
Botswana’s recently released its industrial cannabis license fees which will be well beyond the affordabiity of the local farming and small business community. There are seven license categories with different fees for citizens, non-citizens and joint ventures.
Africa’s Evolving Cannabis Policies: It’s All About the Money, Forget About the People
The evolution of cannabis policy in Africa bears a striking resemblance to the colonial expansion of the 19th century. Without exception, every African state that has partially legalized cannabis is doing so to earn foreign exchange at the expense of using the plant’s potential in public healthcare or job creation.
SAPS Cannabis Arrest Policy in Disarray and the Poor Pay the Price
SAPS has been unable or unwilling to update its cannabis arrest guidelines and is contributing to Government’s policy confusion. In the absence of new national guidelines, provincial police are a law unto themselves, hence the absurdity of SAPS Northern Cape hailing the arrest of a township man for cultivating 28 cannabis plants as a success in the fight against crime.
Botswana Gazettes Cannabis Regulations – All Focus on Exports, Strict Prohibition Back Home
Botswana’s new cannabis framework has been described as ‘the most detailed cannabis control regime’ in Africa. The Cannabis Act of 2025, published on 12 January 2026, favours big business in that it’s export-orientated, prohibits adult-use and does not allow for the developmet of a domestic cannabis economy.
European Cannabis Prices Will be Under Pressure This Year as Surplus Stock Reaches Market
The global cannabis trade underwent significant changes in 2025, especially in the European market, where price compression and potentially strict regulatory changes are adding to an already complex market. This means exporters to Europe can expect lower cannabis prices in 2026.