SACCA: New Private Club Movement Launched as Pressure Mounts for Legal Recognition
A new initiative to unify private cannabis clubs to lobby for legal recognition has just been launched. The South African Cannabis Clubs Alliance (SACCA) says the time is critical for the private club movement to speak with one voice ahead of the anticipated release of draft regulations that will empower the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act.
TUT Takes Plant Medicine to New Level, Sees Cannabis as a Catalyst for Health Innovation
The Tshwane University of Technology is spearheading breakthrough research on unlocking the value of plant medicine. It has honed in on four product streams for R&D – neutraceuticals, traditional medicine, mushroom cultivation and probiotics, with a view to developing community-based businesses.
Cannabis at the Crossroads: Lessons from the UK for South Africa’s Medical Cannabis Future
The release of the UK Medical Cannabis White Paper 2025 marks a pivotal moment in global cannabis policy, showcasing how evidence-based regulation, private-sector innovation, and patient-centred demand can create a thriving medical cannabis economy valued at over £300 million. In contrast, South Africa’s medical cannabis sector remains mired in regulatory inefficiencies, policy delays, and a lack of infrastructure, despite our immense potential as a global leader in cannabis production.
What if Compliance is Beyond Enforcement and the ‘Grey Zone’ Is the Future Arriving Early?
There has been an unspoken assumption that mainstreaming the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ into a regulated framework is something that could work. What if it can’t? What if the ‘Grey Zone’ is actually the future? Could the concept of ‘regulation’ become memories tinged with nostalgia? This is not far-fetched if you look at the tobacco industry which has left regulatory compliance in the dust.
Namibia’s Biggest Cannabis Bust – Trial Begins Amidst Anti-Cannabis Protests
Community protests took place at the Okahandja Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, where the four men accused in Namibia’s largest ever cannabis bust were refused bail. The case has raised tensions between pro- and anti-cannabis activists in Namibia as the country’s populace remains deeply divided over legalization.
Cannabis and Psychedelics Rated Highly as Treatments for Eating Disorders
The American Medical Association studied a wide range of drugs to research their effects on alleviating symptoms of eating disorder. Cannabis and psychedelics were the most ‘highly rated’ of a small class of drugs found to be effective in this sphere.
European Medical Cannabis Sector Experiencing ‘Unprecedented Growth’
Europe’s medical cannabis landscape has undergone a decade of immense change and is growing like never before. The market is expanding rapidly, driven by progressive legislation, expanding patient access and a maturing supply chain.
GrowOneAfrica: Vital That Private Cannabis Clubs Begin Working Together
The recent formation of the South African Cannabis Club Association has given weight to the idea that clubs should be collaborating more closely to lobby for legal recognition. Grow one Africa (GoA), a service provider to 15 private clubs which have close on 9 000 members, has come out in support of SACCA. GoA CEO Vanessa de Sousa (pictured here) writes for Cannabiz Africa that clubs are stepping stones towards industry regulation and should be working together.
CAB Launches Flagship Cannabis Education Project in Botswana
Batswana citizens are taking it upon themselves to destigmatize cannabis and have launched a public education programme as the country moves towards legalization. The Cannabis Association of Botswana (CAB) took its roadshow to the rural areas to spread the word that cannabis can heal the economic wounds of the past.
Collapse of Okahandja Illicit Cannabis Network Leaves Dust and Destitution
Unpaid workers, abandoned fields and marital distress follow the collapse of the short-lived Okahandja illicit cannabis network. The Namibian newspaper visited Eendrag Farm which is under police guard, to piece together the sorry story of how a cattle farm became a cannabis smuggling crime scene.