The hemp regulation amendments detailed by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen (pictured here) in Parliament on 3 April 2025, are the first major changes to hemp policy since the new hemp permit system was introduced in 2022.

The DA minister in the Government of National Unity confirmed that the THC limit in hemp (industrial cannabis) would be raised to two percent and that  police clearance certificates for hemp permit application would no longer be required.  In other significant moves to encourage mass hemp cultivation, the Department has dropped fencing requirements and size restrictions.

These details were released by Steenhuisen in a written reply to a question by Minister NA Ndalani’s on what progress had been made on the Cannabis Master Plan.

Steenhuisen said that the hemp cultivation guidelines issued in September 2023 had been amended to make the following changes:

• The Plant Improvement Act is to be amended to “redefine the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content limit for Hemp to 2%’

• Fencing is no longer a requirement for hemp farmers which alleviates a major cost;

• The size restriction of hemp cultivation areas of 50 ha has been dropped,

• Police clearance certificate requirements for hemp cultivation permits have been done away with, thereby eliminating potential corruption problems;

• the development of a Cannabis Certification Scheme to regulate propagating materials.

Steenhuisen said the Agriculture Department was extending financial support for the sector through various programmes, including “the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Blended Finance, and the Agri-BEE Framework. Furthermore, different provinces have initiated Cannabis-related activities and support schemes for farmers such as the provision of seed for cultivation.”

He said that the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) would also be responsible for funding: “They have established an incentive scheme to support both emerging small-scale farmers and traditional farmers within the Cannabis sector”.

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