Recognizing Bheki Cele: SA Cannabis Inc’s ‘Aloota Continua’ Lifetime Achievement Award
One of South Africa’s unsung heroes is Bhekokwakhe ‘Bheki’ Hamlton Cele, the former Police Minister who pioneered the capture of the country’s cannabis industry. The Cat in the Hat ensured the sector’s remarkable growth through two presidencies, kept the threat of legalization at bay, and established a flourishing empire that will survive the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Corruption and beyond.
Sectional Title Rules Changed to Allow Owners to Use and Grow Cannabis
Updated rules for townhouse complexes now specifically allow one to grow one’s own cannabis at home and consume as much as one wants in private. Complexes that had their own rules forbidding cannabis consumption, now have to comply with the new order.
Private Cannabis Clubs: Compliance Will be the Key to Legal Acceptance
The major private cannabis club stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the South African Cannabis Club Alliance initiative to unify cannabis clubs. SACCA spokesperson says there is a growing awareness that urgent action is needed to ensure cannabis clubs are recognized in future law, and the key to doing this is through self-compliance.
International Organized Crime is Trying to Turn SA into a Drug Factory
International cartels are opening up industrial-scale drug manufacturing facilities in South Africa in what appears to be a new trend in transfrontier organized crime. This is the view of former Interpol ambassador Andy Mashaile in reaction to news that five Mexicans were arrested during the recent bust of a R350 crystal meth lab in Mpumulanga.
Rastas Urged to Report Police Brutality to IPID Following Ras Isa’s Death
The Rastafarian community continues to be victimized by police despite attempts by the Human Rights Commission to persuade law enforcement to respect their constitutional rights. In the wake of the recent death of Ras Isa at the hands of Cape Town SAPS, a community leader has urged people to report instances of police brutality and harassment to the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (Ipid).
Cost is a Barrier for US Medical Cannabis Patients
A US study has shown that almost 80% of medical cannabis patients say that the cost of being part of the state-approved system is an issue. The high costs of being a legal medical patient is keeping the illicit market alive, with 10% of the study group admitting to sourcing their medical cannabis from the street.
Weapons Seized During R30 Million Cannabis Bust in Camperdown, KZN
One man has been arrested and firearms seized during a Kwazulu Natal police raid on an unlicensed grow op (pictured here) in Camperdown in the Midlands. Police say thousands of cannabis plants and 70 buckets of processed cannabis were found during the ‘disruptive operation’.
If Cannabis Possession and Consumption is Legal, What’s The Legal Rationale Behind the Prohibition on Dealing?
Fields of Green for All was admitted as amicus curiae (Friend of the Court) in the prosecution of Neil Lidell, in The Haze Club case back in 2021 and made a submission on behalf of all private cannabis clubs, questioning the legal rationale behind prosecuting dealers. These words hold true today, and the point made is sharper than ever given the ongoing ad-hoc arrests relating to cannabis transactions.
Is SA ‘Cannabis Reform’ the Biggest Con of the Century?
Is this all an exercise in mass deception, up there with Juicy Fields and other big-time scamsters? Guest writer, Lee Hymers puts argues that the Government is perpetuating the biggest con of the century, luring unsuspecting stakeholders into a system set up to extract fees, control access and protect state interests in the name of cannabis reform.
Don’t Hold Your Breath, It’s Only a Matter of Time Before THC Breathalysers Are Here
The Cannabis Act, when implemented will trigger amendments to the Road Safety Act, which specifically makes driving under the influence of cannabis an offence. Although roadside cops cannot identify drug use with their current breathalysers, you can be sure THC-testing for drivers is on its way.