This report from The Witness, first published on 2 June 2023.

Cannabis clinics in KwaZulu-Natal are becoming more prevalent, with many of them dispensing cannabis products for medicinal use.

They are also educating people about the responsible use of cannabis products.

Kush Clinic in Umhlanga, Durban, is a cannabis dispensary clinic offering people a safe space to learn about the use of cannabis as an alternative to traditional medication.

Kush Clinic allows people to learn about cannabis and to use it holistically. The use of cannabis involves mind, body and spirit. Cannabis has a far more advantageous effect on the body compared to traditional medicine. Cannabis has a bad reputation and we are trying to change that,” explained Kush Clinic owner Abhishek Hariparsad.

“We provide assistance and support to people with health problems who opt for a more holistic approach to treatment. [Some people who come to us] want to take something to assist with anxiety, everyday stress or just want to try out cannabis. We educate and help them to find a product that they can use.” Hariparsad said some clients have scripts and some don’t.

“Not all doctors will give people a script for cannabis. We have a database of those who come in to purchase products. This helps us to track the products they are using,” said Hariparsad.

He said there are no licences or documents required to operate their clinic but it is the responsibility of the owner of the store to enforce the necessary rules and regulations.

The Cannabis business

Rory Goldin, who has invested in the large-scale licensed agricultural production of cannabis and operates nine retail facilities across KwaZulu-Natal, said developments in cannabis research and production will soon reach the mass market and, according to him, the substance will become less stigmatised.

"We operate nine cannabis lounges throughout KZN that provide facilities for people to purchase and use prescribed cannabis in a safe environment that also provides privacy for those who are unable to use the products at home,” he said, explaining that some patients who have been prescribed cannabis are not comfortable using products at home as they may have children or live in apartments where the use of cannabis is frowned upon".

“Our facilities are private and quiet. People, many of them professionals, book private lounges where they can use the products prescribed while watching television or just unwinding. We don’t allow anyone under 21 years old and we only dispense to patients with a valid doctor’s prescription. Our facilities are entirely permissible in terms of the law,” he said.

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