This Open Letter to Rapport is republished from FGFA’s website on 24 June 2024.

Here at Fields of Green for All we are vigilant about misinformation in the mainstream media as we often bear the brunt of the consequences of fake or ill-informed news. The liberalisation of our Cannabis laws has been two decades in the making and journalists have no excuse when it comes to writing ill-informed nonsense.

On Sunday 16 June this year, Rapport, a Media 24 newspaper, published a feature on the recently signed-into-law Cannabis For Private Purposes Act. However, they went into detail about quantities and limits, all based on the wrong version of the bill. 

Together with Ilse Ferreira from our affiliate company and analytical laboratory, Qure, I wrote to them to explain the misleading errors, but received no response. We call on all in our Cannabis communities to help us fight stigmatising misinformation!

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the non-profit organization Fields of Green for ALL regarding the article published on June 16, 2024, titled “Wettige daggadampie kos jou dalk jou werk”. Thank you to Rapport for shedding light on this important issue. My intention is to address a common misconception.

Recently, there was a labor court ruling that was not mentioned in the article and deserves inclusion. You can find details about it here: Therefore, the headline of your article is misleading.

In 2018, when the Constitutional Court made the landmark ruling regarding the right to private cannabis use, Justice Zondo left it to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services to draft the necessary legislation. This process took over five years. Throughout the extensive public participation and debate, several iterations of the bill were presented. It was only after the Cannabis Expo in 2023 that a more informed version emerged and was ultimately signed by the President.

The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act currently does not impose restrictions on the number of plants or dried cannabis, or its products. 

The Minister will determine maximum quantities for cultivation, possession, and transportation, subject to parliamentary processes before publication in the government gazette. It is crucial to note that the legal definition of cannabis now specifically excludes seeds, seedlings, stems, leaves, and branches without any fruits or flowers.

One of our affiliated companies, Qure, has written a blog post that simplifies the new law. You can find it here

Best regards, Ilse Ferreira (Qure) and Charl Henning (administrator at Fields Of Green For All)

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