Botswana Gazettes Cannabis Regulations – All Focus on Exports, Strict Prohibition Back Home
Botswana’s new cannabis framework has been described as ‘the most detailed cannabis control regime’ in Africa. The Cannabis Act of 2025, published on 12 January 2026, favours big business in that it’s export-orientated, prohibits adult-use and does not allow for the developmet of a domestic cannabis economy.
Kenyan Rastas Face Pushback as Cannabis Prohibition Challenge Goes to High Court
The Rastafarian quest to have their cannabis rights recognized is becoming a pan-African phenomenon. Rastas in Kenya are challenging the country’s cannabis prohibition laws, following a strategy of activism developed in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. However, as Africa Editor John Makoni reports, they are facing organized resistance.
If Traditional Healers Are Empowered to Write Sick Notes, Prescribing Cannabis is Just A Step Away
Traditional healers will be legally empowered to write sick notes for their patients that employers will be legally bound to recognize them. This is once they have been registered in terms of draft regulations, and accept levels of compliance. This may just be a mechanism to allow healers to ‘prescribe’ cannabis as well.
SA Cannabis Club Scene Exploding, Over 2 000 Operators Hustling Under the Legal Radar
There may be over 2 000 private cannabis clubs operating under the legal radar in South Africa creating a cultural community vibrancy that rivals those in Barcelona and Amsterdam. That’s the view of international magazine High Times which reports that the evolution of a dynamic club culture has outpaced government’s chaotic attempts to regulate the sector.
High Times Magazine: Legal Weed Didn’t Fix South Africa’s Cannabis Problem
South Africa is struggling to reconcile human rights, economic opportunity and effective reform, according to an in-depth dive by the iconic High Times Magazine into South African cannabis activism and the ambiguously shifting legal landscape. Reporter John Veit writes about the human cost of contradictory laws, police chaos, and an export-first legalization model that sidelines legacy growers.
Iron Mike Squares Up for a US$50m Legal Fight With Pro-Wrestler Shareholder in Tyson 2.0 Brand
Mike Tyson (pictured second from left, and that’s not a punchbag he’s holding) has filed a $50 million lawsuit against former executives of Carma HoldCo, including major shareholder Ric Flair, a professional wrestler. Carma is the parent company behind the multi-million dollar Tyson 2.0 cannabis brand, which Iron Mike believes has been ripping him off.
SAHPRA Warns ‘Traditional Healers Cannabis Licenses’ Are Illegal
SAHPRA and SAPS have warned that there is no such thing as a ‘Traditional Healers’ Cannabis License’ and that all businesses selling cannabis either through shops or online are operating illegally.
Retailers Will Be Included in New Cannabis Tax Regime; All Licensees Will Cough Up an Annual Development Fund Levy
The DTIC is consulting Treasury on a new cannabis tax regime once the licensing net is expanded to include retail. Already an annual levy for ‘development’ and taxes for harms reduction are on the cards as the shadows behind cannabis commercialization emerge.
Govt Still Struggling With Problems of its Own Making: Cannabis is Legal But Criminalized in Practice
There are hundreds of thousands of South Africans engaged in the illicit, but highly visible cannabis economy that has become an accepted reality. While the DTIC is still deciding on the rules of the game, the market has gained a momentum of its own. Seth of the Daily Investor provides this snapshot of the state of play.
Consumer Safety Act Will Govern Cannabis Harm Prevention and Product Labelling
The Consumer Safety Act will be the umbrella law protecting consumers against harmful cannabis-related products. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says the Act covers all aspects of consumer safety and labelling and will need no amendments to cater specifically for cannabis users.