The adoption of a commercial cannabis framework is to be put through the Nedlac process before a new law comes into force in 2027. That's the DTIC's time-frame for a complete overhaul of current cannabis laws which it's laid out in its draft commercialization policy that is now out for stakeholder comment.
5 July 2025 at 09:30:00
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is preparing to resubmit the National Cannabis Master Plan to Nedlac which will includes provision for the legal trade in cannabis. The NCMP was last put to Nedlac five years ago by the Department of Agriculture, but it was rejected because of a lack of consultation outside of Government and the absence of a clear commercial framework. The DTIC has remedied that in its draft proposal to rebuild the NCMP into a workable strategy and has laid out the steps below as a guideline to getting a new over-arching cannabis law onto the statue books by early 2027.
The new law is intended to reflect Government policy of cannabis being a driver for economic upliftment rather than a response to a court decision, ala the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act of 2024 (which is yet to be gazetted into law). The DTIC envisages extensive stakeholder consultation before the anticipated law comes into effect.
This is the DTIC’s timeline:
ACTION STEPS | TIMELINE |
Draft policy discussion document is prepared and submitted to DG for approval | 2025 |
Presentation of the policy discussion document to EXBO | 2025 |
Presentation of the policy discussion document to EXBO | 2025 |
Presentation of the draft policy to different clusters, Nedlac for comments, inputs and review | 2025 |
Draft policy discussion document is finalised and presented to the Minister for approval. | 2025 |
Preparation of a Cabinet Memo for Minister for the presentation of the draft policy document to Cabinet for approval | 2025 |
Introduce policy to Parliamentary Committees. | 2026 |
Publication of the approved policy document for stakeholder comments including workshops and other public consultations. | 2026 |
Development of a draft Bill in terms of the policy. | 2026 |
Seek Cabinet approval of Draft Bill. | 2026 |
Publication of Bill for public comments including public hearings, workshops and other consultations. | 2026 |
Evaluation, consolidation and incorporation of the comments received from stakeholders | 2026 |
Preparation of revision instructions to legislative drafters. | 2026 |
Revision of the policy document and the draft Bill | 2026 |
Certification by State Law Advisors | 2026 |
Produce revised policy document and the draft Bill and submitted to Minister for presentation before Cabinet for approval | 2026 |
Introduction of the draft Bill into Parliament | 2026 |
Parliamentary processes, involving presentation before portfolio committees, NCOP and other committees of Parliament including conducting of parliamentary hearings. | 2026 |
Adoption of the draft Bill and submission to the President to be assented into law | 2027 |
Publication of the Law in the Government Gazette. | 2027 |
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