BHB: How did the Expo go from a Synergy perspective, specifically the launch of your Medibles range?

GW: The Medibles created a lot of excitement and were extremely well received. On the first day alone, we had to take over a second counter at our stand to manage the number of people queueing — and that continued until the end of day three. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive on both taste and effect. It confirmed to us that there’s strong demand for functional, over-the-counter cannabis-based therapeutics.

BHB: How much interest was there among the Expo attendees in accessing medical cannabis?

GW: More than we anticipated! We had 195 people apply directly for consultations with our doctors during the Expo. In addition, 71 new and existing retailers enquired about joining the Synergy Wellness Section 21 platform. It’s clear the public is hungry for legitimate, regulated access — and many operators are ready to take the step into formalisation.

BHB: There was a lot of discussion at the Expo about the misuse of Section 21 of the Medicines Act in that the provision is being used to sell recreational cannabis. To what extent is this a problem, and how does Synergy police itself in prescribing responsibly?

JH: The first thing we need to examine is the source of these complaints — are they coming from patients, or from those promoting alternative agendas and regulatory frameworks? The legitimacy of the concern must always be weighed against its motivation.

At Synergy, patient safety and regulatory integrity are non-negotiable. Every individual is screened by qualified healthcare professionals for eligibility, approved by SAHPRA for a specific therapeutic indication, and granted access to only what is authorised.

We’ve built custom digital infrastructure to track every product to the patient, time, and location of collection. Our new Synergy App V2.0 also includes a regulatory feedback loop that aligns with SAHPRA’s evolving post-market surveillance requirements. We take our responsibility seriously — and we’re actively building the tools to back it up

BHB: Should Section 21 be replaced by another law regulating the medical cannabis sector?

JH: Medical cannabis is, by definition, an unregistered medicine — and therefore must be regulated under the appropriate mechanism in the Medicines and Related Substances Act. That mechanism is Section 21. It provides a controlled access pathway for patients under medical supervision and SAHPRA oversight.

If and when a cannabis-based product becomes a registered medicine in South Africa, it will then be governed by the same scheduling framework as other pharmaceuticals. But until then, Section 21 remains the correct and lawful framework. The real issue is not the law itself, but its consistent and ethical application.

BHB: What were the stand-outs for you from the Expo generally?

GW: The energy and positivity of the attendees. There was a complete absence of conflict or aggression — which, to me, is testament to the nature of the plant and the spirit of the cannabis community. It was also encouraging to see how many conversations were focused on compliance, structure, and long-term viability.

BHB: So where to now?

GW: Our primary goal remains clear: to bring medical cannabis to patients nationwide through a growing network of compliant collection points. What we’d really like to see now is more of the currently unregulated outlets stepping forward, joining our platform, and aligning their operations with South Africa’s current legal framework. The future is compliant — and we’re here to help make that transition possible.

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