Learning the Hard Lessons of the American Cannabis Market
Joao Duartte (pictured here), Business Developer at Decibel Engineered Systems in Almada, Portugal says Europe should take note of the hard lessons from the US cannabis industry – namely oversupply kills markets, price dropping bankrupts companies and fragmentation destroys scalability.
Vape Shop Owner Disappears in a Cloud of Smoke After R40 m Investment Goes Missing
East Rand Vape shop House of Clouds owner Mohammed Karolia (pictured here) is reportedly on the run owing over R40 million to a former business partner who obtained a far-reaching court order freezing all his bank accounts on 18 December 2025.
Statement from the White House: Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research.
This is the statement issued by the White House on 18 December 2025, accepting the medical benefits of cannabis and rescheduling its classification as a less dangerous drug. Although this does not allow federal legalization, the executive order is a deeply significant step in US cannabis reform.
The Culture War: Factions, Egos, and the War for the Soul of Cannabis
Ego has become the barricade that prevents cannabis from realizing its full potential. Infighting among growers, scientists, and newcomers only strengthens the architects of exclusion, leaving us fractured from within. Guest columnist Lee Hymers writes that perhaps a dose of humility is needed all round.
Agriculture Dept Open to Engagement Over Regulatory Concerns in New Plant Improvement Act
The DoA has signalled that it is open to engaging with stakeholders who have raised concerns about the recently published hemp regulations under the Plant Improvement Act . The first of such meetings has been scheduled for the end of January 2026 between the Registrar of the Plant Improvement Act and a delegation led by Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions.
Medical Cannabis Marketing Now Positioning Cannabis as a Mainstream Healthcare Product Rather than Alternative Medicine
Leading international cannabis consultancy Prohibition Partners says the European medical cannabis market is maturing at speed, with providers focused on return on investment and a shift in marketing strategies. Cannabis is already well-known as an ‘alternative medicine’, but now marketing departments are looking at repositioning it as part of a cannabis ‘standardized healthcare’ package.
Global Perspective: New Markets, New Restrictions and the Rise of Telemedicine
Internationally, the cannabis industry is likely to see further advances in telemedicine as the main channel to market for medical cannabis in the year ahead, while Canada is likely to assert its leadership on the world stage. But watch out for new restrictrions kicking in in new markets and possible oversupply in 2026 – and keep an eye on Thailand
You’ve Got to be Kidding! Ghana Unveils the Most Expensive Licensing Regime in the World
Local farmers will have to cough up big time if they have hopes of participating in the West African country’s fledgling hemp sector. The licensing structure and proposed fees for the hemp sector are a slap in the face for small-scale farmers as they are heavily geared towards multinationals able to afford the dollar-denominated fees and attendant taxes.
End of an Era: Brian van Rooyen Retires as Labat Says Farewell to Cannabis
Labat has announced the retirement of co-founder and director Brian van Rooyen (pictured here) after 30 years of service. This follows the group’s sale of Cannafrica and the mothballing of its remaining cannabis assets as it moves into the fintech space. Van Rooyen’s retirement marks the end of an era, but not necessarily the end of his cannabis ambitions.
LHCFA Puts Limpopo Firmly on SA’s Hemp Map as ARC’s First Cultivars to Be Tested in Levubu Pilot Project
Limpopo’s ‘farmers first’ cannabis policy has gained rapid traction this year, thanks to the efforts of the Limpopo Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Association, which has wrapped up a year of action by launching its Capricorn branch and a pilot project to test ARC’s first locally developed hemp seeds.