Legislation Loves the Numbers Game But Nature Doesn’t Really Work Like That
Where does one begin to tackle the problems residing in the draft regulations of the Cannabis Act? They just don’t come from a practical starting point argues Charl Botha, who wonders if anybody who drafted the new rules has ever grown a cannabis plant.
The Presidency: SONA 2026 Stuck on Repeat, But There’s Movement Behind the Scenes
Last year the President said in his SONA: “We want South Africa to be leading in the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.”. This year in his SONA, he said: “We want South Africa to be leading in the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.” Kinda sums up cannabis policy being stuck on repeat..
Mystery of the Missing Mpondoland Millions: R11 m of Funding “Wasn’t Ring-Fenced’
Mystery surrounds R11 million of funding allocated to the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association but was never received. The funds were apparently released in 2024 by the Department of Small Business Development, which cannot account for exactly where the money has gone.
Private Club Model Addresses the Key Flaw in the Cannabis Act
Private cannabis clubs provide a solution to the glaring contradiction in the Cannabis Act which has made possession legal but criminalizes access to a constitutional right. Although private clubs have been excluded in the draft regulations, there are positive signs that Government sees their merit.
Stumbling About in a Morass of its Own Making: Govt’s Cannabis ‘Solutions’ Just Create More Problems
After seven ‘final’ cannabis regulatory frameworks, South Africa is still no closer to implementing its National Cannabis Master Plan that was launched over four years ago. These are the six stumbling blocks holding back the potential of cannabis to be an economic driver for South Africa.
West Rand Cannabis Farm Owner Arrested for Illegal Eskom Connection
Eskom reports that an unnamed cannabis and strawberry farmer in the Randfontein area was disconnected on 9 February 2026 for owing R2,3 million in arrears. The man, who owns two farms, was arrested for illegally connecting to the state utility’s grid.
SA Human Rights Commission Renews Plea for SAPS to Halt Cannabis Arrests
The SAHRC says there should be no further cannabis arrests while the regulations for the Cannabis Act are being finalized. It has again urged SAPS to respect the National Commissioner’s August 2023 directive calling for a halt to cannabis arrests.
Dirt Poor Malawi Torches 5 Tons of Cannabis, Prompting Debate on Whether it’s ‘Better to Earn Than Burn’
Malawi is promoting cannabis exports to reduce its reliance on tobacco. At the same time it is clamping down on the thriving local illegal market, and the recent torching of five tons of sativa has reignited the debate as to whether Malawi could have a different approach and allow domestic trade.
Morocco: Bad Weather Postpones Baldiya Planting Window, But Regulated Sector Gaining Momentum
Weather disturbances in northern Morocco have postponed the launch of “baldiya” cannabis planting, originally scheduled for late January. Despite this delay, the regulated sector is showing strong momentum with a massive increase in memberships.
Understanding the New Plant Improvement Act and How it Affects You
The revised Plant Improvement Act has significantly raised the THC limit in hemp to 2%, but the Act goes much further than empowering the industrial cannabis industry, it creates an updated compliance system across the plant/propagation-material value chain.