Remember the National Cannabis Master Plan (NCMP)? 

This was the Department of Agriculture-led initiative to provide a framework for the development of a domestic cannabis sector.

The visionless document was thrown out of Nedlac four years ago because it was full of holes and had not consulted the public. Business Unity South Africa rode to the rescue and helped put together the Private Sector Working Group to interact with relevant government departments.  This initiative dissipated because private stakeholders found that they were doing all the hard work gratis and government would not come to the party with budget.  

But as Anine Kriegler, a researcher with the SA Institute for Security Studies, reports, there may also have been more sinister reasons why the initiative collapsed.

In background notes to a report on maritime drug smuggling, Kriegler unpacks what happened.

She wrote that Government had set up a solid foundation for cannabis reform in conjunction with the private sector working groups. Nine "pillars" had been identified around which 10 government departments were to coelesce to develop a coherent policy for the sector – obviously, with participation from the private sector, community organizations, activists and researchers.

Uneven and Inappropriate Interference by Government in Policy Formulation

“But in early 2023, many of the participants withdrew from the process in frustration at the lack of progress, citing the ‘uneven and irregular participation by government officials’, ‘territorial battles by senior bureaucrats’ and the failure of the government departments involved to find a cohesive policy stance”.

Kriegler reported:  “There are also concerns that the benefits of the policy would primarily accrue to large corporations, to the exclusion of the small-scale operations that currently participate in the sector and have historically suffered under its prohibition”.

She hinted that certain Government officials were using their positions to establish businesses in the private sector: “Some activists suspect that the delay (in formatting a coherent cannabis policy) is motivated by senior officials’ efforts to establish their own commercial interests in the market.”

There was a short-lived attempt by the Presidency to re-invigorate the National Cannabis Master Plan through The Phakisa, but to dar that has turned out to be largely talk with very little walk. Blame it on the elections and ANC turf-wars diverting everyone’s attention.

However, this could change with the incoming seventh administration, the new Government of National Unity (GNU). The fresh faces in charge of cannabis policy are likely pick up on the structures envisaged in The Phakisa.

From a government perspective, its participation in the National Cannabis Master Plan involved 10 different government departments which were expected to drive “Nine Pillars” to develop the cannabis industry. 

These nine pillars are:

1. Effective regulatory systems:

Putting in place a coherent cannabis development framework that allows for the commercial trade in cannabis and related products (while at the same time including SAHPRA regulations) and creating a non-exclusionary licensing system;

2. Sustainable seed supply systems

Primarily to assist small-scale farmers to grow indigenous hemp varietals; the creation of a national genetic cannabis seed bank;

3. Research and technology development

Further research into the potential of a “whole plant” approach, particularly where SA landraces are concerned, and incubating small-scale cannabis businesses to a point of market-readiness;

4. Producer support systems

Assisting new hemp farmers with agricultural field services and quality control, providing fencing, fertilizer and irrigation systems;

5. Market development

Helping cannabis farmers get offtake agreements and to broaden the market, particularly in adding value to industrial cannabis sector;

6. Supplier development systems

Assisting small-businesses to become compliant and to help develop long-term supply chains;

7. Manufacturing and product development

Assisting private sector manufacturers and supporting the creation of new cannabis-related products;

8. Education and training

Developing a skills base for the fledgling cannabis industry across the value chain;

9. Communication and awareness

Public awareness of the benefits of cannabis through a destigmatization campaign

It is interesting that aside from the Department of Justice, no other security cluster departments will now be up to the GNU’s new policymakers to build a coherent regulatory framework for developing the cannabis industry. It is also interesting to note that, under the GNU, the former Justice and Correctional Services Parliamentary Portfolio Committee has been dissolved, so public input into future cannabis legislation will have to be channelled through another parliamentary committee.

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