SAHPRA Warns ‘Traditional Healers Cannabis Licenses’ Are Illegal
SAHPRA and SAPS have warned that there is no such thing as a ‘Traditional Healers’ Cannabis License’ and that all businesses selling cannabis either through shops or online are operating illegally.
Retailers Will Be Included in New Cannabis Tax Regime; All Licensees Will Cough Up an Annual Development Fund Levy
The DTIC is consulting Treasury on a new cannabis tax regime once the licensing net is expanded to include retail. Already an annual levy for ‘development’ and taxes for harms reduction are on the cards as the shadows behind cannabis commercialization emerge.
Govt Still Struggling With Problems of its Own Making: Cannabis is Legal But Criminalized in Practice
There are hundreds of thousands of South Africans engaged in the illicit, but highly visible cannabis economy that has become an accepted reality. While the DTIC is still deciding on the rules of the game, the market has gained a momentum of its own. Seth of the Daily Investor provides this snapshot of the state of play.
USA: ‘High January’ Riding on ‘Dry January’s’ Rationale for Intentional Self-Reflection
‘Dry January’ is about intentional self-reflection which explains why ‘High January’ in the US is taking off. As 2026 rolls in cannabis is intruding increasingly on alcohol’s turf as an ‘alternative intoxicant’, a trend highlighted in a month often earmarked for abstinence.
Consumer Safety Act Will Govern Cannabis Harm Prevention and Product Labelling
The Consumer Safety Act will be the umbrella law protecting consumers against harmful cannabis-related products. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says the Act covers all aspects of consumer safety and labelling and will need no amendments to cater specifically for cannabis users.
National Consumer Council Has No Plans to Tackle the Cannabis ‘Grey Zone’ Until New Regulations Are Published
No complaints relating to cannabis have yet been lodged with the National Consumer Council and until such time as new regulations are issued, the NCC will not conduct any investigation into the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ that is largely operating illegally. That’s according to DTIC Minister Parks Tau in a written response to a DA parliamentary question.
Morocco Breaks the Muslim Mould in Embracing the Power of Cannabis
King Mohammed IV (pictured here) has broken ranks with other Muslim countries in choosing to see no contradiction between the partial legalization of cannabis and the teachings of the Quran. The Moroccan leader has put the Kingdom on a course of leveraging its cannabis history and its black market dominance into the mainstream.
‘Blockbuster’ Cannabis Drug for Chronic Lower Back Pain Set for Release in 2026
The first cannabis-derived product for chronic lower back pain VER-01, is to be launched this year by German pharmaceutical company Vertanical, It claims the new product is twice as effective as existing treatments and opens up a new and uncontroversial pathway for cannabis prescriptions.
Kiwi Hemp Overhaul: THC Limit Will be 1% and Farmers Won’t Need Permits to Grow
New Zealand has announced an overhaul of hemp regulations aimed at cutting red tape and encouraging more planting. The new rules see the THC limit in hemp raised to 1% and the permit system dropped for a looser regulatory regime.
Snapshot Summary of the the World’s Most Significant Cannabis Developments in 2025
The International Business Conference Berlin says South Africa’s cannabis landscape changed significantly in 2025 and was one of 13 major highlights of the year. As the new year dawns, the ICBC looks back on a year that proved to be significant for cannabis policy and industry in many parts of the world. Here are some of the top 2025 international cannabis stories.