420 Day in the USA: From Counter-Culture to Across-the-Counter-Culture
420 Day was traditionally about the cannabis community coming together to celebrate underground weed culture. But now in the age of legal cannabis, the 4th of April has become a retail marketing hook with a focus on customer acquisition and retention.
Zimbabwe’s Hemp Mindset Shifts From Promise to Positioning
A mindshift has occurred in Zimbabwe where hemp is no longer seen as a controversial crop, but a strategic one. Mainstream agriculture has committed itself to building structured markets for hemp farmers who are expected to more than double their production this year from 40 ha to 100 ha.
Accra to Host HempTech 2026 as Ghana Taps the African Diaspora to Remit Their Money into Hemp Investments
Ghana is looking to leverage the investment power of its citizens living abroad to boost its fledgling cannabis industry. To this end Accra is hosting the 6th Annual HempTech Conference on June 19th – 20th, 2026 to bring together international investors, policymakers, innovators, and diaspora leaders.
US Reschedules Cannabis as ‘Less Dangerous’ , Expanding Patient Access and Boosting Research
In a major policy announcement, the US Department of Justice has announced the reclassification of cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 3. This has far reaching implications for medical cannabis research and business tax, but does not legalize adult-use consumption at a federal level.
Invegrow Paves Malawi’s Path to Hempcrete Housing: ‘Building Differently, Building for Africa’
Malawi’s leading cannabis company, Invegrow, is building its own offices out of hempcrete. This is part of the company’s drive to find low cost hemp solutions for housing under the theme: Building Differently, Building for Africa’.
African Policy-makers Largely Blind to the Transformative Potential of Hemp
A dedicated focus on industrial hemp could be transformative for Africa, but only 12 of the continent’s 54 countries have grasped its potential. Africa editor John Makoni writes that the plant is there, ready and waiting, he wonders why policy-makers are so slow to come to the party.
Danger that 2026 Could Be Another Wasted Year as Cannabis Reform Momentum Shows Signs of Fragmenting
This year started with renewed government energy on the cannabis reform front, but the challenge of aligning policy between different departments is proving difficult. The DTIC is now beginning to miss its own deadlines with the net effect that a new Cannabis law is unlikely to be passed before 2028.
Clash of the Titans: Bob Marley Estate Sues Tilray for Royalties-Related Fraud
Bob Marley’s estate has accused cannabis multinational Tilray Brands of fraud by deliberately hiding royalties payments due to the commercial heirs of the legendary reggae icon. The estate has filed a lawsuit to recover US$11 million it believes it is due.
Thailand: Mass Cannabis Retail Closure as Model Shifts to ‘Medical Only’
Thailand’s move away from general adult-use towards a ‘medical only’ model has led to the decimation of that country’s ‘Grey Zone’. Of the 18 000 cannabis outlets facing closure, fewer than 15% are likely to continue under new regulations which specify that cannabis sales are for medical use only.
Ninth Wave’s Campher: Cannabis ‘Grey Zone Regulation will Lead to Demand for Marketing and Sales Jobs
As the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ becomes regulated there will be a growing demand for sales and marketing skills sets within the sector. Ninth Wave recruitment specialist Lourie Campher (pictured here) says cultivation and pharmaceutical specialists are currently in demand, but the job pool is steadily expanding into other disciplines.