This legal brief from Zimbabwe Legal Resources, law.co.za on 9 July 2026.
Image: Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa (pictured on the right) visiting a Swiss cannabis medical facility in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe government has published Statutory Instrument 108 of 2026 which contains the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 2).
Issued by the Minister of Health and Child Care under the Dangerous Drugs Act [Chapter 15:02], this amendment introduces significant administrative and security structural updates for the commercial cultivation of medicinal cannabis and scientific research in Zimbabwe.
Key Regulations and Highlights:
· Administrative Shift to MCAZ: The administration and enforcement of cannabis licensing are officially designated to the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), acting in consultation with the Minister. MCAZ will manage applications, establish an oversight Committee, and run a dedicated compliance inspectorate team.
· Redefined “Cannabis Plant”: The updated definition specifically excludes industrial fibres, crushed non-germinable seeds, fixed seed oils, and Cannabis sativa variants carrying a Delta-9 THC concentration of less than 1% on a dry weight basis.
· Strict Outdoor Cultivation Conditions: Cultivation must occur in a controlled greenhouse or indoor facility. MCAZ may only grant outdoor exemptions if the site maintains a minimum 15km radius buffer zone from the nearest cannabis or industrial hemp farm to prevent cross-pollination.
· High-Security Infrastructure Fencing: Outdoor cultivation areas must be surrounded by a specialized high-security perimeter barrier that is at least 2.1 meters high, electrified, high-strength, anti-climb, anti-crawl, and anti-cut.
· Mandatory Post-Harvest Destruction: To curb local black-market leakage, licensed producers must export harvested cannabis within 12 months. Failure to export within this window requires mandatory notification to MCAZ, which will order the immediate destruction of the finished product.
· 5-Year License Validity: Producer licenses are valid for 5 years. If a producer fails to commence operations during the license period, MCAZ reserves the right to refuse renewal. Expired licenses cannot be casually renewed and must be processed as entirely new applications.
Revised Official Fee Structure (First Schedule):
Item / Process
Prescribed Fee (USD)
Application and Issuance of an Additional Site
$10,000
Annual Return Fees
$1,500
Inspection Fee
$400 (plus cost of inspection)
Application for Variation of License
$250
Application for Import / Export License
$75
Import / Export of Samples
$75
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