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Cannabiz Africa brings you the hottest breaking business cannabis news right here! From crucial developments in laws and reform to socio-economic changes in the industry. Find your latest dose of breaking news right here and stay onto of the earliest developments!
Synergy to Give Away a Million Rands Worth of Medibles at the Cannabis Expo!
Synergy Wellness will be celebrating its fifth birthday at the Cannabis Expo and spreading the joy with a mass hand out of its new 'medibles' range. Sponsorship of the Expo is a milestone for the group which is now one of the largest medical cannabis distribution networks in the world, with a network of over 250 outlets and a healthy flow of product to market.
Postcard from Berlin: SA Viewed as a ‘Sleeping Giant’ on the Cusp of Something Significant says Nexus' Johann Slabber
Nexus Pharma’s Johann Slabber (pictured here) was at the International Cannabis Conference in Berlin at the end of April and sent us his key take-outs on Europe’s biggest annual cannabis indaba. In the old days, he says, compliance with international standards was a differentiator for South African exporters. Nowdays, it’s a prerequisite if the country is to realise its potential as a world player.
Okhahlamba Hopes Planned ‘Shared Cannabis Processing Facility’ Will Create Jobs as KZN Now Has Highest Unemployment Rate in SA
16 May 2025 at 08:00:00
Okhahlamba (Bergville) Municipality in the Kwazulu Natal Drakensberg his pinning its hopes to bring down crippling unemployment in the area with the development of a cannabis processing facility. The pilot project is being funded by the province but the Municipality hopes to raise an additional R10 million to bring it to fruition.
Infrastructure Snags Slow Down Rwanda’s Flagship Cannabis Development Project
15 May 2025 at 10:15:00
Rwanda’s Development Board has put up US$1,5 million of the US$3 million needed to complete a major project in partnership with US company KKOG which has already sunk US$10 million into its Musanze facility. The project, already delayed by a year, is now ‘83%’ complete according to the RDB.
Synergy to Give Away a Million Rands Worth of Medibles at the Cannabis Expo!
14 May 2025 at 19:15:00
Synergy Wellness will be celebrating its fifth birthday at the Cannabis Expo and spreading the joy with a mass hand out of its new 'medibles' range. Sponsorship of the Expo is a milestone for the group which is now one of the largest medical cannabis distribution networks in the world, with a network of over 250 outlets and a healthy flow of product to market.
Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Summit at the Expo: Major Networking Event Comes at Key Moment in Cannabis Reform
14 May 2025 at 19:15:00
South Africa’s premier cannabis industry networking event will be held alongside the Cannabis Expo taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 30 and 31 May 2025. The Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Industry Summit will bring together cannabis and hemp sector leaders with senior advisor Garth Strachan (pictured above) delivering the keynote address.
The CannaClub : South Africa’s Oldest Private Cannabis Club 10 Years On and Still Going Strong!
14 May 2025 at 17:30:00
The CannaClub (TCC) is South Africa’s oldest private cannabis club and had its roots in an informal cannabis ‘stokvel’ in the Western Cape’s Garden Route founded by Herman and Heidi van der Watt way back in 2015. Since then they’ve turned that vision into a leading ‘best business practice' not-for-profit organization with over 4 000 members and firm ties with local legacy cannabis communities and officialdom.
Postcard from Berlin: SA Viewed as a ‘Sleeping Giant’ on the Cusp of Something Significant says Nexus' Johann Slabber
14 May 2025 at 13:00:00
Nexus Pharma’s Johann Slabber (pictured here) was at the International Cannabis Conference in Berlin at the end of April and sent us his key take-outs on Europe’s biggest annual cannabis indaba. In the old days, he says, compliance with international standards was a differentiator for South African exporters. Nowdays, it’s a prerequisite if the country is to realise its potential as a world player.
‘Crisis of Illegality’ Getting Worse: Grey Zone Sees More Cops on the Take and Consumers Increasingly Vulnerable
11 May 2025 at 10:30:00
Government’s lack of regulations for South Africa’s cannabis sector is perpetuating a ‘crisis of illegality’ that is spinning out of control. The unregulated explosion of the retail ‘grey zone’ has led to mass corruption in the police, employee abuse and lack of consumer protection and a critical intervention is urgently required.
One Year On: Why is the Cannabis Act Still Gathering Dust in the Legislative Parking Bay?
11 May 2025 at 09:30:00
Two stakeholder organizations have asked the Justice Department why it's taking so long to publish the draft regulations that would allow the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act 2024 to finally come into law.
Health Minister Says Public Consultations on Regulations for Cannabis and Foodstuffs 'Coming Soon’
11 May 2025 at 09:00:00
The Health Ministry’s draft regulations around cannabis and foodstuffs will be put out for public comment ‘soon’. That’s according to Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who has yet to explain to stakeholders why he chose a to ban substances that were already illegal and in the process wreaked havoc on the hemp industry.
Unapologetic Health Minister Won’t Acknowledge Damage Done by Cannabis Foodstuff Ban, Which He Says Was “To Protect Children”
11 May 2025 at 07:30:00
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi (pictured here) says he didn’t seek public comment on his shock cannabis in foodstuffs ban because legally he didn’t have to. Answering a question in the National Assembly, the Minister said the ban was issued as a prohibition notice which meant he could take an executive decision without consultation, and he did so to protect youngsters from harm.
CASP Cannabis Funding: Forget About Applying if You’re White and Afrikaans But it's OK if You're Chinese
10 May 2025 at 18:45:00
If you’re Chinese and holding South African citizenship you may qualify for cannabis funding under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, but forget about it if you’re white and Afrikaans. That’s according to the eligibility criteria for grants from the controversial state funding entity.
Govt-Funded Silver Tree Cannabis Project: No Training, No SAHPRA License and BTW the Director Used to Work for the Land Bank
10 May 2025 at 13:30:00
Silver Tree cannabis farm's director is a former Land Bank manager specialising in BEE transactions who conceptualized his cannabis ‘vision’ during his last year at the Bank in 2019. Simphiwe Yako is the man behind Silver Tree which is accused of misappropriating R20 million in government funding for cannabis training.
Essential Reading: Current Cannabis Regulations in South Africa 2025
9 May 2025 at 09:45:00
The global CBD industry continues to grow rapidly, and South Africa has positioned itself as one of the most progressive CBD markets in Africa. While CBD products are legally available to consumers, there is still a degree of uncertainty around the regulations—especially concerning dosage limits, THC content, and product categories.
CASP: The Rot at the Core of Government’s Plans to Fund Cannabis Training
7 May 2025 at 16:45:00
It beggars belief that the state entity involved in funding the fraudulent Gupta-linked Free State dairy scheme, is now disbursing cannabis funding on behalf of the Agriculture Department. But, yup, it’s true, and there should be no surprise that the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is behind the missing R20 million earmarked for West Rand cannabis training
The Tier-Drop Solution: Here’s How to Rein In the Cannabis Cowboys and Regulate the ‘Grey Zone’
5 May 2025 at 09:30:00
South Arica is in urgent need of a cannabis retail licensing system as the so-called ‘grey zone’ expands beyond regulatory reach. Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has put forward a cannabis retail model that could address the absurdity of a system that criminalizes legitimate entrepreneurs and mainstreams drug dealers - and all the while emasculating officialdom.
Cheeba’s Trenton Birch: R20 million Govt Cannabis Training Shambles is ‘Sadly, Typical’
4 May 2025 at 16:45:00
The founder and CEO of South Africa’s leading cannabis skills and training academy says he’s not surprised that Gauteng Government has mismanaged a West Rand training scheme in which R20 million appears to have been misappropriated. Cheeba Africa’s Trenton Birch says this is a “sadly, typical government project”.
Agriculture Dept Says It’s Ready to Roll-Out its New Hemp Support Programme Across the Country
4 May 2025 at 08:45:00
The Agriculture Department says it’s to embark on a nationwide ‘multiplication drive’ for the two local hemp varietals it has registered, and will provide permit holders with training and support with the assistance of the Agricultural Research Council.
Global Medical Cannabis Market Experiencing Healthy, Double Digit Growth Despite Regulatory Challenges
2 May 2025 at 14:00:00
The ‘Medical Marijuana Global Strategic Business Report 2025’ projects over 14% compound growth in the international market with key growth drivers including increased legalization, technological advancements in cultivation and extraction, and rising chronic disease prevalence. Among the challenges are regulatory hurdles and social stigma.
DA Accuses Gauteng Govt of Blowing R20 Million on West Rand Cannabis Project ‘That Has Nothing To Show For It’
2 May 2025 at 11:30:00
The Democratic Alliance is taking on Gauteng’s Agriculture Department for wasting money on an ill-advised cannabis project at Tarlton near Mogale City. The Silver Tree project received R20 million funding to train cannabis farmers, but the money appears to have vanished without being spent on its intended purpose.
Synergy Medibles' Robin Grobelaar: Making Plant Alchemy Work Within the Rules
30 April 2025 at 16:15:00
Robin Grobelaar (pictured here) is the man behind Synergy Medibles, the innovative business concept that has navigated the hazards of the current regulatory regime to produce SAH|PRA compliant ‘medibles. He explains to Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber how these edibles are not foodstuffs at all, but are complementary medicines in line with the regulator’s consumer safety guidelines.
Edibles Game Changer: Synergy to Launch ‘Medibles' Concept at Expo
30 April 2025 at 15:45:00
South Africa’s largest medical cannabis service provider, Synergy Wellness, has taken advantage of the whole furore over cannabis edibles to launch a new product concept – ‘medibles’. In a classic case of guerrilla marketing, Synergy has used the publicity around the recently rescinded cannabis in foodstuffs ban to bring to market a completely compliant over-the-counter cannabis edibles range with health benefits.
Cannabis Expo: Health and Wellness is Trending, Is it Replacing the Novelty of ‘Rec’?
30 April 2025 at 13:00:00
With Gauteng’s Cannabis Expo just a month away, it’s clear that there is a growing consumer interest in the health and wellness benefits of cannabis and that the novelty of unfettered access to recreational THC products is not what it used to be. Nonetheless there will be plenty of both at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025
If Govt Taxed the ‘Grey Zone’, There’d Be No VAT Increase Debate
28 April 2025 at 06:30:00
A cannabis 'sin tax' could conceivably remove or reduce the perceived need to raise VAT by 0.5 percentage points. That’s the view of the Daily Maverick’s Ed Stoddard, who says that cannabis remains the missing link in Treasury’s arsenal of taxes.
Standard Bank Interested in Financing the ‘Organic Products’ Sector, Cannabis Just Happens to be Part of That!
27 April 2025 at 10:00:00
Mainstream banks are beginning to nibble at the prospect of financing cannabis businesses as calls mount for the Government to remove the obstacles to funding this sector. Standard Bank is seeking more to business in the ‘organic’ market as a way of tip-toeing into the cannabis space.
Morocco’s Historic Moment as it Exports Landrace to the Pharma Industry for the First Time
23 April 2025 at 17:00:00
Morocco is Africa’s leading cannabis export nation having embarked on an ambitious legalizatio progamme that put small-scale farmers at its core. Now start up Cannaflex has successfully exported for the first time the famed Moroccan landrace, Beldia, to European pharmaceutical buyers
Cannabis Policy Paralysis is Scaring Off Investors and Eroding Consumer Trust
23 April 2025 at 13:30:00
The government’s inability to craft a meaningful framework for the development of a domestic cannabis industry is keeping investors away and eroding consumer trust. That’s the view of the former CE of the Tobacco Institute of SA, who says authorities urgently need to develop an integrated strategy for the industry to keep cannabis reform afloat.
E Cape Looks to ‘Blended’ Finance Model to ‘Derisk’ Legacy Cannabis Growers
23 April 2025 at 10:15:00
The Eastern Cape’s business model for supporting legacy growers is taking shape under the Agri-Blended Finance Scheme, which it has introduced as a general agricultural support mechanism in Mpondoland and other rural areas. Cannabis growers were among the 30 beneficiaries who received over R50 million from the first phase of a pilot project.
Five Red Flags That Should Alert Cannabis Investors to Scams
22 April 2025 at 13:00:00
Despite the lack of guiding regulations, the South African cannabis retail sector is booming – and attracting millions of rands of investment. Investors have climbed into the ‘grey zone’, despite the sale of cannabis being illegal – and many have been taken for a ride. If you’re looking to invest in any cannabis business, these are the five red flags you should look out for.
Tangled Webb of Woe: Detectives After Gauteng Cannabis Scam Artist for Skimming Investors
22 April 2025 at 11:30:00
A disgruntled investor has hired a private security company to try and track down 34 year old Christopher Webb, the man alleged to have scammed hundreds of thousands of rands off many people in a fake cannabis scheme involving South African farmers.
Half-Baked: Prospective Private Club Partnership Falls Apart in Crypto Fundraising Muddle
22 April 2025 at 10:15:00
Iconic Cape Town private cannabis club Baked has to repay a prospective partner R5,7 million after disagreement over a promised crypto-currency fund-raising deal that never materialized. Baked’s appeal against having to repay the funds has been dismissed by the Western Cape High Court.
Medigrow Investors Pause Funding for Eastern Cape Cannabis Project Because of Hemp Foodstuff Ban
16 April 2025 at 10:30:00
Medigrow’s international investors have pressed the pause button on further investment in the company’s R1 billion Eastern Cape cannabis project because of the lack of clarity over South Africa’s hemp policy. The company has been caught up in the aftermath of the now-rescinded hemp foodstuff ban and has halted operations while ‘sensitive negotiations’ are underway to seek resolution.
Major International Cannabis Conference Coming to SA: Overcoming Barriers and Developing Standards
16 April 2025 at 10:30:00
A major international conference on ‘Barriers to Entry’ in the cannabis industry is to take place in South Africa next month. The ASTM conference will also look at refining international standards on cannabis food and beverages. Deadline for registration is next week.
Buffalo Soldiers: Zambian Defence Force’s Cannabis Mission to Malawi
16 April 2025 at 09:00:00
The Zambian Defence Force National Service is the only entity in the country legally permitted to cultivate and sell industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. It recently sent a delegation to Malawi on a cannabis fact-finding mission as it prepares to be a potential player in the African market.
CSIR tells President: All our Cannabis Foodstuff Products Have Always Been Legal
14 April 2025 at 09:45:00
The CSIR says it has incubated scores of small businesses to process and trade in cannabis-related foodstuffs and all have been within the guidelines laid down by SAHPRA and the Department of Agriculture. This emerged during the President’s tour of the CSIR’s cannabis research unit last week - which had its lighter moments!
Botswana to Establish ‘Central Cannabis Authority’ to Oversee Policy Implementation and Regulation
12 April 2025 at 12:00:00
Botswana is to establish a central institutional authority to oversee the roll-out of a planned medical and industrial cannabis strategy. This is one of the recommendations by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in a policy document drawn up for the Government and leaked to Cannabiz Africa.
Chic Power: Women Drive the Worldwide ‘Cannabis Wellness Revolution’
11 April 2025 at 11:00:00
‘Cannabis and wellness’ is a growing trend, and internationally, women are driving innovation and shaping this new market. They are seeking out products that fit into a healthier lifestyle and using them with more sophisticated intention.
Synergy’s Hodes: There’s No Regulatory Uncertainty Around Medical Cannabis and the Market is Growing
9 April 2025 at 20:00:00
Fast-growing Synergy Wellness is the headline sponsor for this year’s Cannabis Expo and will be using the event as a major drive to make people aware of the medical benefits of cannabis. Synergy director Jon Hodes (pictured here) believes health and wellness will be one of the most sustainable sectors of the new cannabis market and has structured the company’s business plan around this.
Main Networking Event of the Year: Cheeba Africa’s Industry Summit at Cannabis Expo
9 April 2025 at 18:30:00
Cheeba Africa has announced it will hold a two day ‘Cannabis and Hemp Summit’ at the Cannabis Expo to bring stakeholders together to network, upskill and develop their business concepts. It will also provide a forum for the industry to discuss how best to deal with Government in the imminent ‘stakeholder discussons’ on cannabis policy.
Cannabis Expo’s Howarth: ‘We’re Building the Highway Even if the Road Signs Aren’t Up Yet’
9 April 2025 at 13:30:00
This year’s Cannabis Expo comes at a crucial time for the cannabis industry as the ‘grey zone’ consumer market explodes and Government says its ‘really willing’ to engage stakeholders on policy. It’s also been a tough time for players wanting to be legitimate, but that could all be changing. Expo CEO Silas Howarth (pictured here) shares his thoughts on putting together Africa’s biggest cannabis event and where the market is at.
Cannabis Expo Signs Up Synergy as Headline Sponsor, Gets Ready to Rock Sandton at the End of May
9 April 2025 at 13:15:00
Africa’s grandest cannabis show comes to town next month in the form of the Cannabis Expo. The three day celebration of cannabis culture and essential business networking will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025. Thousands of people are expected to attend the Expo which will also see a ‘summit’ of industry stakeholders take place to discuss how to push cannabis reform forward.
Medical Research Council: Standardize THC Dosage Limits and Labelling Guidelines
8 April 2025 at 13:30:00
The SAMRC has called for standardized dosage regulations for THC edible products and appropriate labelling guidelines. It says legalization of cannabis carries risks for youngsters and with edibles consumption on the rise, authorities need to be increasingly conscious of consumer safety.
Khopotse: Now Ban is Behind Us, Let’s Use Hemp Foods to Tackle Malnutrition
8 April 2025 at 09:45:00
The chairman of the recently formed cannabis and hemp lobby group, SACHIDA says now is the time to develop hemp-based superfoods to tackle malnutrition. Katelga Khopotse says Government’s new attitude opens up the industrial cannabis value and that hemp can help feed the people.
Druids Taps Into Ancient Wisdom: Launches Biotika, Plant Medicine Booster Range
7 April 2025 at 14:15:00
Druids Garden, the SAHPRA-licensed Gauteng facility has been at the forefront of much of the innovation in South Africa’s cannabis industry. The latest fruit from its garden is Biotika, a range of plant-based energy boosters and health supplements that it bought to market last month. Cannabis Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber got the lowdown on the worldwide return to ancient medicines with Druids’ CEO Cian McLelland, who also shared his thoughts on the sorry state of SA cannabis reform.
Big Alcohol Wants to Be Tennessee’s Hemp Regulator: ‘It’s Like Asking the Malboro Man to Run a Yoga Studo’
7 April 2025 at 11:00:00
Big Booze is nervous. Alcohol sales are dropping and cannabis consumption is rising. In the US, Tennessee Alcoholic Hemp Commission wants to be the regulator of the cannabis industry. Columnist Stephen Brown from Nothing But Hemp says this is a bad idea: a cannabinoid is not something you chase with lime and salt, and that maybe scientists should be in charge.
'If SA Gets Cannabis Framework Right, It Could Be a Blueprint for BRICS+'
7 April 2025 at 09:00:00
An unlikely newcomer to the cannabis industry commentariat has just weighed in with the unlikely notion that if South Africa gets its policy framework right, it could serve as a blueprint for the BRICS+ group of nations. Independent media owner Dr Iqbal Surve, says cannabis could be a way of fostering new trade relationships outside traditional cannabis markets.
Stakeholder Pressure: Foodstuff Ban Sorted, Now Scrap the Drugs Act!
7 April 2025 at 07:00:00
Cannabis reform cannot proceed while cannabis is still defined as an illicit substance. That’s the view of activist lawyer, Charl Botha, who has written to President Ramaphosa, saying that his proposed stakeholder engagement will be hollow as long as the Drugs Act is in force.
Stellenbosch Researchers Squeeze Value Out of Waste in New Cannabis Extraction Breakthrough
5 April 2025 at 13:30:00
Stellenbosch University chemical engineers have developed a unique wax-based method of extraction that recovers valuable compounds that would otherwise be wasted. They say their methodology could make African cannabis exporters far more competitive on the global stage.
Enua Riding Green Wave in Germany, Seeks SA Flower as Demand Surges
4 April 2025 at 10:00:00
Leading German cannabis company Enua is seeking South African cultivators to feed growing demand for medical cannabis in Europe. Enua’s managing partner , Albert Schwarzmeier was in the Cape recently cementing a supplier relationship with local partner Nexus. He’s told MJBiz how the German market has exceeded expectations.
Stakeholder Input Meaningless Until Govt Sorts Out the ‘Three Ministry Muddle’
2 April 2025 at 15:30:00
President Ramphosa’s bold move to shift stakeholder engagement to the centre of the cannabis policy debate has assuaged an industry injured by the flip-flop of the cannabis foodstuff. But unless Government sorts out its ‘three ministry muddle’ ahead of industry consultation, any good advice it receives will remain out in the vortex
Last Mover Advantage: Botswana Better Placed Than SA to Become Regional Hemp Powerhouse
2 April 2025 at 14:30:00
Botswana looks set to bypass the regulatory nightmare that has beset South Africa's industrial cannabis industry by putting in a set of rules for the game before it opens up the market. Neighbouring South Africa, by comparison, has found itself in a quandary where permits are being issued with no clear market guidelines yet in place.
Is Labat Starting to Exit the Cannabis Space?
31 March 2025 at 10:00:00
Labat Africa is moving rapidly into the IT space with a distribution deal with Ubits Technology, while it reviews the risks associated with its cannabis operations. The JSE listed group was one of the first movers in the South African cannabis space but now it appears to be on an exit strategy from the sector.
Minister’s Unbanning of Illegal Edibles Creates Wrong Impression That They’re Now Legal
30 March 2025 at 09:45:00
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s clumsy attempt to protect consumers by banning cannabis-related foodstuffs continues to create market confusion even though the ban has been rescinded. There is a widespread perception among cannabis consumers that with the lifting of the ban, edibles are legal. They’re not, warns FGFA’s Myrtle Clarke (pictured here).
Health Minister ‘Not Disappointed’ That His Ban Was Lifted, Says President Understands His Safety Concerns
29 March 2025 at 10:00:00
The Health Minister was one of thousands of stakeholders who was ‘not disappointed’ by the lifting of his ban on cannabis-related foodstuffs. Dr Motsoaledi made this bizarre remark in an interview with News24, in which he emphasized that there was still an urgent need for regulation of such products in order to protect consumers.
Big Shape-Shift Underway: Justice Dept Now to Get Public Input Before Deciding on Regulations Governing Cannabis Act
28 March 2025 at 09:00:00
The public will be able to have its say on the long-awaited regulations governing the Cannabis Act before they are formalized by the Justice Department. This major shift in government’s approach to the private sector was almost thrown in an as an after-thought in Wednesday’s post-cabinet briefing, but, people, this is a bigger deal than it seems.
Cabinet Privately Reprimands Health Minister, Nips Department’s 'Grand Plan’ in the Bud
28 March 2025 at 07:45:00
It’s not clear exactly what the Health Department’s unilateral ‘grand plan’ for cannabis and foodstuffs was, but it has come crashing down before it got out the starting blocks. Cabinet is understood to have chastised the Health Minister for trying to go it alone and told him that stakeholder consultation is critical going forward.
UN Bans HHC or ‘Synthetic Cannabis’ for Worldwide Non-Medical Use
27 March 2025 at 07:00:00
South Africa voted along with 49 other nations to ban hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) at the UN Commission on Psychotropic Substances (CND) in Vienna earlier this month. HHC, which is synthetically derived and similar in effect to THC, has been widely available legally in many parts of the US and Europe.
Vayej: ‘The President’s Call to Lift ‘The Ban’ Is Pivotal to Moving Towards Industry Transparency’
26 March 2025 at 20:00:00
Open Farms chairman Shaad Vayej says the President’s move to lift ‘The Ban’ signals a much needed shift towards as transparency and stakeholder engagement in formulating future policy.
Silverleaf’s Weisz: President’s Rapid Response Lifting The Ban Bodes Well, Let’s Give Enabling Legislation the Same Urgency
26 March 2025 at 17:00:00
The Director of South Africa’s first dedicated cannabis investment fund, Silverleaf Investments, Darryl Weisz (pictured here), says he didn't expect the President’s decisiveness in lifting the controversial cannabis in foodstuffs ban. He says the same urgency should be applied in following this through with enabling legislation to unlock the domestic cannabis market.
Stakeholder Pressure Gets The Ban Lifted, Now The Momentum Shifts to Getting Legislation Sorted
26 March 2025 at 17:00:00
It was overwhelming stakeholder pressure that pushed President Cyril Ramaphosa to act decisively in reversing his Health Minister’s horrific blanket ban on cannabis in foodstuffs. Can this energy be harnessed into getting Government to put a commercial framework on the table?
President Ramaphosa Orders Cannabis Foodstuff Ban to Be Lifted Immediately
25 March 2025 at 18:00:00
President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to withdraw the controversial ban on cannabis in foodstuffs with immediate effect. He’s also ordered the Minister to begin consultations with stakeholders before issuing any further notice on the matter. This is a statement from the Presidency.
Thanks to the Health Minister SA Now Has One of the Most Restrictive Food Policies in the World
25 March 2025 at 10:45:00
South Africa now has one of the most restrictive food policies in the world following the ban on hemp foodstuffs. Open Farms chairman and attorney, Shaad Vayej (pictured here), says government should be aligning with international best practice in developing the hemp sector, but has instead imposed “a backward-looking restriction that harms businesses, limits consumer access, and contradicts prior regulations.”
‘He Needs to be Charged or Fired!’ CTAA Prepares Interdict, Says Health Minister has been ‘Criminally Negligent’
25 March 2025 at 07:00:00
The push-back is gaining momentum as more cannabis stakeholders gear up for lawfare against the hemp foodstuff ban. The CTAA is to preparing to file an interdict against the Health Minister, saying his actions could be construed as criminally negligent, and “he needs to be charged or fired.”
Minister of Madness: “Absurd” Ban Puts Paid to Govt Funded Project to Develop Hemp-based ‘Superfood’ for School Feeding Schemes
24 March 2025 at 13:30:00
The DoH issued a research permit to Druids Garden to investigate nutrition in hemp. The project got traction and was funded by government entities and developed in collaboration with the CSIR and seven years later there’s an amazing hemp-based porridge perfect for school feeding schemes. What a great story…..except the self-same DoH has now banned it!
‘Heartbreaking’ Policy Inertia and Public Stigma Holding Back Kenyan Hemp Sector
24 March 2025 at 09:00:00
Cannabis is still stuck in research mode in Kenya, despite Government promises to allow an industrial hemp sector to develop. One of the major problems is the stigma attached to cannabis, which stakeholders have suggested be countered with a public education campaign.
W Cape Slams 'The Ban' as a ‘Direct Assault on Economic Growth and Job Creation’
24 March 2025 at 06:30:00
The Western Cape’s plan to develop a cannabis and hemp economy has been derailed by the Health Minister’s ‘ill-considered” blanket ban on cannabis in foodstuffs. Ivan Meyer, the province’s Agriculture MEC, says central government must move swiftly to reverse the ban before further damage is done.
The Ban: Here Comes the First Legal Challenge Along With Claims for Millions in Damages
23 March 2025 at 08:30:00
Hemp businessman Hennie Venter is leading the legal charge against the Health Minister with a court application to have the cannabis foodstuff ban overturned. He says he is bringing the action on behalf of all entrepreneurs who have seen their investments “go down in flames” because of the ban.
Zimbabwe’s 'Dr Zoey': The Region Should Harmonize Regulations And Market Itself as a Solid Bloc on World Markets
22 March 2025 at 13:15:00
Imagine a ‘Cannabis SADEC’ in which the member countries harmonized their regulatory criteria and worked as a solid bloc to market southern African medical and industrial cannabis to the world. That’s the vision of Zimbabwe’s leading cannabis change-maker, Dr Zorodzai Maroveke who says that would make a real difference Africa’s prospects of becoming a real player in the global game.
Ministers Run for Cover as Hemp Foodstuff Ban Turns Into a Political Issue and Heads for the Courts
22 March 2025 at 10:00:00
Two weeks after Dr Aaron Motsoaled’s shock ban on cannabis in foodstuff, the Health Minister has yet to make a public statement or explain the intentions behind his actions which have wreaked havoc beyond the hemp industry. Neither has the DTIC nor the Presidency said a word about the major policy blunder that has derailed the Cannabis Master Plan and now become a political issue.
PM Keichel Warns Foodstuff Ban is Binding Even Though It is Legally Flawed
22 March 2025 at 07:30:00
As absurd as the hemp foodstuff ban may be, it is legally binding until such time as the Minister rescinds it or it is set aside by a court. That's just how it is, says leading cannabis lawyer Paul Michael Keichel even though legal commentators have slammed the ban as 'unconstitutional', 'illogical' and 'unenforcable'.
Cannabis Master Plan Descends into ‘Omnishambles’ as Hemp Foodstuff Ban Reveals Serious Faultlines at Cabinet Level
19 March 2025 at 20:30:00
Seven years after Government unveiled the Cannabis Master Plan, the sad truth has been laid bare: “There is no commercialization policy, there is no economic or industrial strategy, there is no plan”. That’s the view of leading private sector cannabis consultant M Ayanda Bam, who says all the stakeholder engagement with government now seems to have been a waste of time.
Enua Signs 10 Ton Offtake Order With Nexus, Opening a New Door for SA Farmers to the Lucrative German Market
19 March 2025 at 16:00:00
Major German medical cannabis distributor Enua has expressed its confidence in the quality of South African export cannabis production and is seeking a long-term relationship with SAHPRA licensees through biomass processor Nexus.
Make Them Pay! Call for Govt Officials Responsible for the Hemp Foodstuff Ban to be Held Personally Liable for Damages
19 March 2025 at 10:00:00
As damages from the hemp foodstuff ban mount with no sign of the Health Ministry backing down, lawyers are being briefed to put together a court challenge. Industry anger is growing as millions of rand are being lost, and now there’s a call for responsible officials to be sued in their personal capacity.
Health Minster Had Already Decided on the Hemp Foodstuff Ban Before SONA, so Why Didn’t He Tell the President?
19 March 2025 at 08:00:00
Over 1 000 businesses and 400 SMME’s have been affected by the Health Minister’s ‘inexplicable’ ban on hemp foodstuffs and are bleeding millions of rand. The shock announcement has derailed the President’s cannabis vision and laid bare the policy rot at the core of the Cannabis Master Plan
DTIC: ‘Stop Dealing in Cannabis-Related Foodstuff Until Such Time as the Ban May Be Lifted’
18 March 2025 at 18:30:00
The DTIC says although the ban on hemp foodstuffs does not fit in with the Cannabis Master Plan, the law is the law, and dealing in all such products “must cease”. It said it would engage with the Department of Health to relook at the ban but offered little solace to stakeholders who stand to lose millions of rand in the meantime.
Minister a ‘No Show’ for Hemp Webinar But Senior Health Official Says Stakeholder Concerns ‘Will Be Addressed’
18 March 2025 at 15:00:00
Senior Health officials have started ‘walking back’ the controversial ban on hemp foodstuffs saying it’s part of a ‘regulatory process’ and that the Minister will ‘address the concerns raised’ by the hemp industry.
‘Suspend the Ban, Let’s Talk Guidelines for Cannabis in Foodstuff’
17 March 2025 at 06:30:00
Top Government officials are being drawn into the Health Department's ban on cannabis in foodstuffs. Lawyer Charl Botha has written to the President saying the ban is unconstitutional and should be suspended while proper regulatory guidelines are put in place.
Hemp Organization Suspicious of Motivation Behind Ban, Threatens Court Action
15 March 2025 at 11:00:00
Hemp activists are mobilizing resources to take on the Minister of Health’s surprise ban on cannabis in all foodstuffs. FOHSA says its prepared to challenge the ban in court as it is unconstitutional and is concerned about what the real reasons behind the restrictions are.
Cannabis-Infused Foods on the Rise Worldwide, Highlighting Need for International Guidelines
15 March 2025 at 10:00:00
There are undisputed therapeutic and nutritional benefits associated with cannabis-infused foodstuff and around the world consumer demand is rising for such products. However, there are no international guidelines protecting consumers and a framework needs to be put in place.
Health Dept Moves to Calm Industry Nerves: ‘Cannabis Food Ban is Start of Regulatory Process’
15 March 2025 at 07:00:00
Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale says the recent sudden ban of cannabis in foodstuffs was done in the name of consumer safety. He hinted that the ban would not be permanent but the start of a regulatory process to assess cannabis products before they appear on shelves.
Health Minister Agrees to Face the Nation on Cannabis Foodstuff Ban
14 March 2025 at 12:45:00
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has agreed to appear on a Cheeba emergency stakeholder webinar on the crisis facing the hemp industry following last week’s cannabis foodstuff ban. To date the Minister has not explained his reasons for the surprise ban but he’s expected to do so next Tuesday, 12h00 along with a range of other guests on the Webinar entitled, What the Hemp. REGISTER HERE
Food, Beverages and The Cannabis Ban: What the Law Says
14 March 2025 at 11:30:00
The cannabis and health food industry is still reeling from last week’s ban on cannabis in all food and beverages. The ban will be a hard hit for legitimate businesses in this sector, while the ‘grey zone’ will do as it always pleases. Brett Pollack from cannabis consultancy Harambe Solutions offers a legal perspective
SA Cannabis Reform Now Seriously Unravelling; Can DTIC’s New Team Fix the Mess Created by Other Departments?
18 March 2025 at 09:30:00
It’s been six months since the DTIC was given responsibility for the National Cannabis Master Plan and since then cannabis reform has fragmented and turned ugly. The Department is putting together a special team to tackle cannabis commercialization, but without effective leadership at the top, it's being tasked with ‘mission impossible’.
Health Minister's Cannabis Foods Ban Unleashes a Chorus of Condemnation
12 March 2025 at 13:00:00
Health Minister Aaron Mostoaledi’s decision to ban cannabis in foodstuffs has revealed the deep policy faultlines running through Government and widespread condemnation from industry stakeholders. The ban threatens to derail the National Cannabis Masterplan and undermines the President’s commitment to developing the hemp industry.
Appeal to President: 'Retract the Ban on Cannabis in Foodstuff, It Could Kill the Hemp Industry
12 March 2025 at 09:45:00
Hemp seeds have been regularly available on South African shelves for four decades and are now outlawed under the Health Minister's surprise ban on cannabis in foodstuff. The ban is bad news for the hemp industry generally and Cheeba Cannabis Academy has written an open letter to President Ramaphosa urging him to immediately rescind the ban before further harm is done.
Shock Announcement! Health Minister Suddenly Bans Cannabis in All Foods and Beverages!
11 March 2025 at 08:45:00
In an astounding regulatory development, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, has issued a notice banning the use of cannabis in foodstuffs. The announcement in the Government Gazette of 7 March 2025, has left cannabis stakeholders stunned, as this flies in the face of the Presidency’s cannabis vision and undermines the National Cannabis Master Plan.
JuicyFields Saga: Headspinning 'Scams Within Scams' and Now a Shadowy Link to the Russian 'Deep State'
7 March 2025 at 08:00:00
The first Juicyfields cases are likely to come before European courts this year as two new twists emerge in the scam that cost thousands of investors an estimated US$678 million. Journalists have found links to Russian ‘deep state’ involvement, and the lawyer bringing the investor class action against Juicyfields is suspected of being a scammer himself!
Labat Lowers Cannabis Exposure, Raises IT Profile with R25 million Deal to Acquire Software Importer Ahnamu
5 March 2025 at 19:00:00
Labat Africa has spent over R40 million buying into two IT companies in the last few months, signalling its intention to reduce its dependence on its cannabis business. While the board is reviewing the risks associated with Cannafrica, its biggest cannabis business, its pivoting purposefully into the infotech arena.
ECRDA Says its Championing Local Landraces as it gets Caught in the Mpondoland Hemp War Crossfire
5 March 2025 at 13:30:00
The ECRDA says it’s committed to supporting legacy cannabis farmers and is in the process of registering local landrace seeds for commercial use. But it points out that its mandate is also to help hemp permit holders grow imported genetics and that it has to manage these competing dynamics.
Botswana Leverages Gaberone’s Twin City Status with Toronto to its Cannabis Advantage
4 March 2025 at 10:00:00
Botswana is the latest African country to partially legalize cannabis, and South African and Canadian stakeholders are getting in on the regulatory ground floor. Botswana hopes to use South African and Canadian expertise in getting a framework in place that will enable it to use cannabis to reduce its dependence on diamond exports, stimulate business and reduce unemployment.
Medigrow Recalls Hemp Seed Distributed in Mpondoland, Saying ECRDA Should Carry the Can for ‘Misunderstanding’
26 February 2025 at 15:00:00
Medigrow CEO Edgar Adams (pictured here) has moved swiftly to calm rising tensions over hemp in Mpondoland. The company has withdrawn the hemp seeds distributed to a select group of farmers and has met with the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association farmers to allay fears that their landraces were under threat.
Silence of the SOPAs: Not a Word from E Cape and Gauteng Premiers on Any 2025 Plan for Industrial Cannabis to Create Jobs
26 February 2025 at 11:15:00
The Eastern Cape Premier never misses an opportunity to promote cannabis development so why the mysterious silence on the subject during his SOPA? And Gauteng? Not even a SOPA whisper on how the country’s economic powerhouse intends to use industrial cannabis to uplift the poor and create jobs.
Cannabis Mission DRC: Cheeba to the Rescue to Fix Broken Hemp Project
26 February 2025 at 07:00:00
The DRC hasn’t featured much in the African legal cannabis landscape because the industry is going through the teething pains of developing an export market. A major industrial hemp project near Kinshasa ran into trouble with its first harvest and called in South African-based Cheeba Consultancy to help iron out the problems.
Nexus Cements Ties With German Investment Partners as it Brings Two Processing Faciities to Market
26 February 2025 at 06:00:00
Nexus Pharmaceuticals is consolidating its position in the cannabis ‘biomass’ processing space as its Gauteng facility nears completion and German investors jet in to formalize their relationship with the company.
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