Acting Minister in The Presidency, Maropene Ramokgopa told a media briefing on 5 September 2024 that Cabinet had been briefed the day before on progress being made in developing the cannabis sector.

According to a statement from Ramokgopa, the following actions have been taken by government departments in support of the National Cannabis Master Plan:

• The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has initiated the process of drafting the regulations in support of Cannabis for Private Purposes Act.

• The Department of Health, through the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), has concluded consultations on changes to the Schedules of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act 101 of 1965).

• The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) concluded situational and value chain analysis on the Hemp and Cannabis sector in South Africa. She said the DTIC “will soon commence consultations on the Cannabis Commercialisation Policy,”

• The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has also developed two hemp varieties and with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), is currently undergoing a second season of seed multiplication to make it available for the 2025 planting season.

• DALRRD has issued a total of 1 110 permits have been issued for hemp cultivation since the declaration of hemp as an agricultural crop in 2022.

Ramakgopa said that in May 2024, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development approved the Hemp Certification Scheme to regulate the varietal integrity and quality of hemp propagation material towards supporting the sustainable seed system of hemp.

She said DALRRD has commissioned research to the value of R124 million with ARC, which focuses on Cannabis breeding for medicinal, fibre and other uses; Cannabis plant disease surveillance, indigenous germplasm collection and Cannabis seed system development.

“To improve the capacity of the department to monitor the cultivation of hemp by permit holders, the ARC developed a detailed training programme for inspection services,” said the Minister.

“In Gauteng, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 10 small, medium and micro enterprises were supported for product development. The DALRRD continues to consult provinces on commitments thus far.

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