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.
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.
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.
It’s All About Business: Legacy Communities Want an Immediate Halt to Police Harassment and the Freedom to Trade Cannabis Legally
From Western Mpondoland to the West Coast, from the Cape Flats to rural Limpopo, representatives of legacy cannabis communities are in strong agreement on one point: stop the police harassment immediately and allow the commercial trade in cannabis products. This came out of the Project Indlela stakeholder webinar held earlier this week on inclusivity in cannabis reform.
Hemp Now Officially an Agricultural Crop, So Why is SAPS Still Involved in Permit Process?
The requirement that SAPS be part of the hemp permit approval process is constitutionally unsound and should not be part of the amended Plant Improvement Act. The Act defines cannabis for non-medical purposes as an agricultural crop under the control of the Department of Agriculture. So why, then is SAPS still involved?
SACHIDA: New Hemp Regulations are Great, But Grassroots Challenges Still Have to be Addressed
Raising of THC limits in hemp to 2% will make exports more difficult but will spur the development of the local market. This is the view of SACHIDA founding member Cian McLelland, who provides the lowdown on the positives and negatives facing SA industrial cannabis now the new regulations are in place.
The Health and Wellness Consumer Revolution is Dismantling Cannabis Stigma in South Africa
Cannabis is mainstreaming itself through the growing consumer health and wellness market. More people are turning to nature for solutions to the stress of everyday life and cannabis is one component in a broad consumer movement that is turning to non-pharmaceutical and organic alternatives for mental and physical health.