SACCA: Here’s the Solution to the Regulatory Problems Govt is Grappling With
The South African Cannabis Club Alliance (SACCA) has announced that key cannabis stakeholders have united to present a solution to the legal cannabis conundrum facing South Africa as the country moves towards adopting a commercialisation framework. The Project Indlela plan seeks to incorporate legacy growers, cannabis clubs and government into a regional hub model that allows trade in cannabis while protecting consumer safety.
It’s All About Adding Value! Zimbabwe Looks Beyond Cultivation to Develop Cannabis Sector
The future of Zimbabwean cannabis lies beyond cultivation, it’s about adding value. This is the view of Thathokuhle Farm owner Mike Querl (pictured here), who recently hosted a visit by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Anxious Masuka. Dr Masuka echoed that view saying Zimbabwe was entering a new phase of industrialization and beneficiating raw material was part of the strategy.
Botswana Sets Ambitious Cannabis Targets: Seeks 42 k Ton Output by 2029
Botswana Acting Lands and Agriculture Minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti (pictured here) has announced an ambitious plan targeting an output of 42 000 tons of cannabis by 2029, for both industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis, during a Public Investment Programme (PIP) presentation.
‘SAPS Involvement in Hemp Permits is Administrative Over-Reach and Should be Rescinded’
SAPS has no mandate to be an agricultural inspector and its involvement in the hemp permit process is unconstitutional, impractical and unnecessary. That’s the view of H3 Solutions’ Charl Botha who says this provision should be urgently withdrawn.
DTIC Seeks to Raise US$55 m to Create Eastern Cape Hemp Economy
The DTIC is looking to facilitate international funding for a hemp textile engineering company and two other major infrastructure projects in the Eastern Cape to kickstart the province’s cannabis economy. It’s seeking a total of US$55 million in foreign investment which it says will generate over a billion in value and create 12 000 jobs.
Mpondoland: New Msanzi Magic TV Series Dramatizes Conflict Between Big Pharma and Rural Cannabis Communities
Following the success of the African cultural heritage dramas, Shaka iLembe and Modjadji, Msanzi Magic has launched a TV series, Mpondoland, a tale of identity, power, greed, self-discovery, and responsibility – with cannabis farming at the centre.
SA Cannabis Reform: A Case of Misteps, Missed Steps, Reversed Steps, Ambivalence and Confusion
South African cannabis reform is just not kicking into gear, largely because Government has fumbled the process badly. Nowhere is this more evident than the continued shelf-life of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, which is still on the statute books despite repeated Government promises to amend it and a 2020 Concourt judgement that found sections of it to be unconstitutional.
New Partnership Sees Mainstream Agriculture Joining Drive to Protect and Promote Cannabis Landraces
The African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) has joined forces with the African Heritage Cultural Trust, SACHIDA and other organizations to protect and promote local landrace genetics. This comes as new regulations define indigenous plants as agricultural crops so that small holder farmers can benefit from their economic development.
Labat’s Cannabis Asset Sale is Getting Dizzy: New Buyer Snaps Up Cannafrica for R8 m, All Other Deals Off the Table
Barely a week after Labat announced that it was no longer selling its cannabis assets to Brian van Rooyen’s All Trading Propriety but to initial bidder 64P Investments,, there’s been yet another twist to the tale. A new buyer, African Ntsha Trading Solution, has stepped in and snapped up CannAfrica for R8 million replacing all other offers on the table.
Cannabis Licensing: Crunch Time Coming for Government to Reveal Its True Colours
How Government handles cannabis licensing is one of the single biggest factors that will make or break South African cannabis reform. Currently the only licenses available are for exporting medical cannabis, of which just over 100 have been issued. The way Government accommodates an estimated 900 000 small-scale legacy growers will either level the playing fields or create deep inequality in a future cannabis economy.