South Africa has taken a major step forward in mainstreaming cannabis retail with a government agency’s launch of a specialist cannabis dispensery training programme. The South African Services Sector Education Authority (SSETA) anticipates the sector to grow by 20% in the next year and has launched a comprehensive training programme which will offer a national certificate for dispensary professionals. South Africa has taken a major step forward in mainstreaming cannabis retail with a government agency’s launch of a specialist cannabis dispensery training programme. The South African Services Sector Education Authority (SSETA) anticipates the sector to grow by 20% in the next year and has launched a comprehensive training programme which will offer a national certificate for dispensary professionals. 15 July 2025 at 08:00:00 South African Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) The South African Services Sector Education Authority (SSETA) says the cannabis sector is entering a “transformative era” and that “with growing clarity around regulations and an expanding market, the need for skilled dispensary professionals is at an all-time high”. It has announced the launch of the 2025 Dispensary Training Programme which it says is designed to meet a growing demand among existing dispensary workers and those new to the business by offering essential knowledge, practical skills, and official certification to those eager to grow with the industry. Graduates will receive a nationally recognized certificate, opening doors in both employment and entrepreneurship. SSETA says the programme focuses on building a competent, informed workforce. “By training dispensary staff to navigate legal, medical, and customer-facing responsibilities, it aims to foster public trust and ensure industry-wide consistency. Participants learn to uphold best practices in safety, compliance, and service—helping to create a cannabis retail environment that’s both ethical and efficient.” SSETA says there are three motivations behind the introduction of the course: The Following Information is Provided by SETA Setting a Higher Bar for the Industry: Training ensures that dispensaries operate legally and responsibly, earning the trust of consumers and regulators alike. With better-trained staff, South Africa moves toward a more credible and secure cannabis sector. Career Growth and Opportunity Certification can lead to better job prospects, higher pay, and even leadership opportunities. For some, it’s the first step toward owning and operating a dispensary. Supporting National Development Well-run cannabis businesses contribute to economic growth by creating employment opportunities and attracting local and international investment. The programme plays a role in building a sustainable, inclusive economy. The Key learning areas are: Cannabis Law & Compliance: Learn about licensing, legal limits, and safe record-keeping under South African law. Product Knowledge: Understand strains, concentrates, edibles, and more—plus how to evaluate quality. Customer Interaction: Build professional communication skills tailored to the cannabis space. Health & Safety Practices: Master hygiene standards and safe handling procedures. Retail & Business Skills: Explore inventory control, marketing, and day-to-day dispensary operations. It says the programme is suited for the following individuals: Aspiring dispensary staff seeking entry-level positions Current cannabis retail workers wanting to upgrade their qualifications Healthcare or wellness professionals exploring cannabis education Entrepreneurs and small business owners preparing to launch dispensaries How to Apply NB. Use the links given below to Apply Location: Bloemfontein, Free State Closing Date: 01 August 2025 Apply Online for the Dis-Chem: Dispensary Support Learnership Location: Paarl, Western Cape Closing Date: 21 July 2025 Apply Online for the Dis-Chem: Dispensary Support Learnership Location: Cape Town, Western Cape Closing Date: 24 July 2025 Apply Online for the Dis-Chem: Dispensary Support Learnership Course Format Training is offered in flexible formats: Online modules for remote learners In-person classes in select cities Blended options for hands-on and digital learning Fees and Financial Support Course fees vary depending on the format. Payment plans and financial aid options, such as scholarships or government assistance, may be available for eligible applicants. Trusted by Experts, Backed by the Industry The curriculum is developed with input from industry leaders, educational institutions, and regulatory bodies. Early participants report strong outcomes, including job placements before course completion. These endorsements underscore the programme’s value—not just as a training initiative, but as a cornerstone of industry professionalism in South Africa. Looking Ahead: What the Future Holds As the cannabis retail space grows—projected to expand by 20% annually—the demand for certified professionals will rise. South Africa has the potential to become a model for regulated cannabis markets globally, and trained dispensary staff will be at the center of that transformation. Final Thoughts The 2025 Dispensary Training Programme isn’t just about learning how to sell cannabis—it’s about setting a foundation for a responsible, prosperous, and respected industry. If you’re ready to take your place in this evolving field, now is the time to invest in your future. Enrollment opens soon—don’t miss your chance to become a leader in South Africa’s legal cannabis revolution. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service SSETA Launches Training and Certification Programme for Cannabis Dispensary Professionals

HYDROBIZ TOP SELLING PRODUCTS HYDROBIZ in the News Dep Lights at the End of the Tunnel! How Hydrobiz Bucked the Consolidation Trend in Home Grow Retail Location 26 Losack Ave, Goodwood, Cape Town, 7475, South Africa Hydrobiz Sea Point, Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa Hydrobiz Woodstock, Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa Hydrobiz Table View, 5 Marine Circle, Table View, Cape Town, South Africa Hydrobiz We have everything a Home Grower needs. We supply both local and international high-quality products. What People Say About Us Awesome store, great service and the had everything I was looking for with all the product knowledge I could hope for. - Darryn Patel 5/5 Brilliant shop, helpful & experienced assistance and a massive range of products. I'll be back sooner than later! - Craig Stack 5/5 We've helped do this, now let us help you! GET IN TOUCH http://info@hydrobiz.co.za View Website What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

Discover and explore a curated cannabis Business Directory. Coming soon. Welcome to Cannabiz Africa’s MarketPlace The Business of Cannabis. Keep up with the latest commercial news affecting the rapidly developing African cannabis sector and a ‘Meet the Team’ Business Directory to build your network. Get brand exposure, advertise your services or promote your product in Cannabiz Africa’s MarketPlace Contact Us THE CANNABIZ CLASSIFIEDS Cannabiz Africa is the continent's premier B2B news platform. We reach the main industry stakeholders with over 4000+ unique users per month and 1500 Newsline subscribers - and growing. Check back soon Once posts are published, you’ll see them here. Classifieds: Business Opportunities Reach the decision-makers Classified Listings Cannabiz Africa is the continent's premier B2B news platform. We reach the main industry stakeholders with over 4000+ unique users per month and 1500 Newsline subscribers - and growing. Reach the decision-makers in the African Cannabis industry by selling your products or services in Cannabiz Africa's classifieds. Rates are R 1000 (ex VAT) for one month's placement. Click Here to complete the form to list your brand, product and or services. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Medical Cannabis Investment Opportunities in W Cape Cape Town is your ideal SA location to invest in the fast-growing South African medicinal cannabis market. The Wesgro Trade Unit provides a free and confidential service to help you establish and grow your business in Cape Town and the Western Cape. Contact us through the Wesgro One Stop Investment Shop here to find out why you should be investing in the Western Cape pharmaceutical hub. EXPORTS Top Quality SA Flower Available for Export SafriCanna is a SAHPRA-registered cultivation and processing facility whose efforts are focused on the growth, cultivation, processing, and export of Medicinal EU-GMP Cannabis products to international markets. See our catalogue of flower products here , Phone: + 27 (0) 10 880 6269; Email: info@safricanna.com, or contact us here GROW EQUIPMENT CapeCanna LED Lights Sale Now On CapeCanna is your hydroponic cannabis cultivation specialist. We offer the complete range of high quality equipment to set you up. Right now there's a sale on LED grow lights. Click here to buy. We deliver nationwide. LEGAL SERVICES Schindlers Dedicated Cannabis Law Department For All Legal Requirements Schindlers is South Africa’s first law firm to have a department dedicated to ‘M&R’ (‘medicinal’ & ‘recreational’) cannabis law, advising both international and local clients. We have been experts in the Cannabis field for years, and were instrumental in cases leading to the Constitutional Court ruling that legalized the personal consumption of cannabis in a private space. Click here to get connected with us . CULTIVATION EQUIPMENT RockandRolled: Your One-Stop Shop for Cannabis Cultivation Gear Specialists in AC Infinity grow equipment and much more - from homegrow to commercial set-ups. All your pre- to -post harvesting requirements under one roof at www.rockandrolled.co.za . You won't be disappointed in our range and quality. Easy, secure payments, delivery nationwide. PRIVATE CLUBS Setting Up a Private Cannabis Club? GrowOneAfrica Gets You There Our self-regulatory grow club model supports the non-commercial, responsible sharing of cannabis within private social clubs with full tracking available on all cannabis products shared. Our model encourages good business practices, ultimately supporting sustainable small business growth within this new industry. To start your club journey contact Kirsten now: compliance@growone.africa " CANNABIS CONSULTANTS Thinking of Investing in SA Cannabis Cultivation? Call Us First White Lion Consulting has been a pioneer in the South African cannabis industry, specializing in helping internatonal and local investors find opportunities, draw up business plans, design facilities and obtain SAHPRA approval. Check out our website, www.whitelionholdings.co.za and out our feature in MMJ.Daily For more information contact Cornel van de Watt cornel@whitelionholdings.co.za . CANNABIS EXPO Gauteng Cannabis Expo 2025: Book Your Space The Gauteng Cannabis Expo returns bigger and better next year. It will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 30 and 31 May 2025. Get in early for sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor bookings. Contact Sarah for more details at sarah@thecannabisexpo.co.za . OFFTAKE AGREEMENTS Struggling with Offtake Agreements, Call Nexus Nexus is an agri-pharma company offering value addd services to the South African Cannabis Industry. We specialize in exporting final packaged products and cannabis flower to international markets, including the UK, Australia, UAE, Europe, and the USA. Read our Cannabiz Africa story here and then Contact us here FULL SERVICES Cheeba Gets Your Cannabis Project Going Cheeba Africa is a pioneering company providing Cannabis & hemp services across the supply chain. Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy - Africa's leading & only Higher Education accredited national education and training offering. Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Consulting - Offering services from medical farm builds to offtakes. www.cheebaafrica.com www.cheebacannabisconsulting.com JOBS OFFERED Budtenders wanted in Limpopo Experienced budtenders sought for private clubs in Polokwane, Hoedspruit, Tzaneen and Haenertsberg. Ideally people who already live in those areas and have a Cheeba or comparable certification. People without experience should not reply. For more details contact Liz at lizviv7@gmail.com Classified Advertising Form Complete the following form field fields to list your brand, product and or business in our classified section. Company name First name Last name Email Phone Category Sector Headline Actual Advertising Copy Website URL Product* CannaBiz Classified ZAR 1000 Submit What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

Find out more about the CHEEBA AFRICA Academy, what courses are availbe, academy reviews and the latest Cheeba News. This is a curated summary of what you can expect to find on the CHEEBA AFRICA website. Load More Get in Touch with Us Reach us on our business Whatsapp line on 073 384 3721. All media enquiries must please be directed to Liquid Lingo: jackie@liquidlingo.co.za Or view our website to find out more about us, who we are and how we contribute to the cannabis society. Cheeba Website STUDY CANNABIS COURSES IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH CHEEBA CANNABIS ACADEMY; AFRICA'S FIRST DEDICATED CANNABIS ACADEMY Enrol now and join this exciting industry! OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS Location Nevada Eden Park, 4th Avenue, Edenburg, Sandton, South Africa Cheeba Cannabis Consulting brings together a network of experts to offer a broad range of services across the cannabis and hemp value chains as the cannabis economy starts picking up a head of steam. CHEEBA AFRICA in the News CHEEBA AFRICA Get educated, get involved, and get ahead in the cannabis industry at Africa’s leading cannabis educator. As our industry grows, so will the need for skilled people to help keep pace with consumer demands. We offer cannabis courses in South Africa and online for those starting out in the cannabis industry, those who are looking to add cannabis skills to an existing role and people who are curious about how cannabis can help with their personal health and wellness. Choose from a range of our online self study and blended learning cannabis courses where you can study at your own pace and join online classes. If you want to get more hands on join us at our Rivonia (Johannesburg) flagship campus or our Plettenberg Bay satellite campus for full and part time study opportunities or check out our workshops, short courses and master classes that we hold in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Alternatively gain hands-on experience in the Cannabis industry through the Cheeba Cannabis Academy Internship Program. Our Cannabis internship program runs for 4 weeks at our Plettenberg Bay Campus and is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself into a working Cannabis Social Club growing onsite in line with the ENCOD model while also having access to the wide array of outdoor activities and experiences that the world renowned Garden Route has to offer. We also offer consulting services through our partner company Cheeba Cannabis Consulting where we have partnered with industry experts to delivery excellent service. We do not claim to know everything, but where we might not have the knowledge or expertise, through our collective network of experts we sure know someone who does. Our approach is that of partnership with our clients so we work closely on any project to ensure that risks are managed, targets and deadlines are met and ROI is front of mind every step of the way. Find out more about us on our website! PRAYERS ANSWERED - lmsdias@yahoo.com on Dec 14, 2021 " I'm loving this course, I have had Multiple Sclerosis since 94 (primary progressive), and cannabis since 05 has been in my daily treatment. I have lost everything with this illness (work, friends, self respect) and MS is a bitch in alot of ways because the dibalitating pain/symptons can't be seen by others. The Neuropathic pain is real and there are alot of times I feel like dying. I am so happy that all my research since my diagnosis has not been lost. I have hope now to get a job and to be able to help people with chronic pain ailments like MS, Cancer, auto immune etc. Having MS I can't walk for long periods of time however I am still walking. I know Cannabis has kept me out of a wheelchair. I have Faith that I will work in a dispensary for Cheeba and will be able to help other patients with great advice and using myself as a testimony of what God's healing plant has done for me. Thank you for your comprehensive course, i am enjoying so much. This is the best Christmas gift I could have bought myself. I wish all employees of Cheeba a Beautiful Christmas season with loads of laughter and love. Kind regards Miguel " YOU NEED THIS COURSE IF YOU ARE STARTING OUT IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY - Ananda on May 28, 2021 " I can highly recommend this course to anyone starting out in the Cannabis Industry as it covers all the important fundamentals and the online format is really user-friendly. I found the video clips from medical experts in the field, that help back up info presented in the course, especially valuable. This course provided me with a real science-based knowledge on cannabis and got me excited about the future of the Industry. It also cleared up a number of misconceptions I had about cannabis. This course furthermore empowered me to help others by being able to share my knowledge, to help them make informed choices about CBD products - Founder of Healthy and Happy Online " WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND - Zander on May 19, 2021 " A very well set out course that I have found extremely beneficial. Not only did this course build on my knowledge of cannabis but also put me in touch with a network of like minded individuals. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of going through the course work. In my opinion, this is the best place to start if you are looking at entering the Cannabis industry." What People Say About Us

Harambe Solutions is a professional legal and compliance business in the Cannabis and controlled substances markets. #We are Here to Help Harambe Solutions is a professional legal and compliance business in the Cannabis and controlled substances markets. Impassioned by the plant’s capacity to accelerate the healing history of South Africa, we work in a continuous feedback loop, designing and harmonising our clients’ systems and operations with a creative yet cautious interpretation of the legal and regulatory frameworks across the medicinal, industrial, food and cosmetics, and adult-use Cannabis sectors and spaces. Inspired to deliver robust and fit-for-purpose solutions to its clients, Harambe Solutions strives to become a household name as an inclusive and professional legal advisory and systems services provider in the South African Cannabis, and controlled substances markets. Private Cannabis Clubs Training of Club Employees Design of PCC Management System Model blueprinting & design Compilation of Legal Documents Ongoing Advice & Support Consulting, Feasibility & Legal Advice #Who We Are Systems designer and lawyer, Harambe Solutions founders Marleen Theunissen and Brett Pollack established a synergistic working relationship towards the end of the divided and predominantly prohibitionist era of the South African Cannabis industries. In early 2022 their consistent efforts and commitments culminated in the publication of their Private Cannabis Club: Framework Manual for Set-up & Management , a tool used for the independent set-up and management of a Private Cannabis Club, according to carefully formulated arguments. Naturally, they decided to pull together and galvanise their complementary expertise and in 2023 founded Harambe Solutions at an exciting moment : when, for the first time, the death knells of the prohibitionist era started ringing and the hopes for properly liberated and inclusive Cannabis economies in South Africa became realistic. Approaching a decade of combined, synergistic experience in the Cannabis markets, Harambe Solutions is determined to interactively contribute fit-for-purpose and highly professionalised legal and systems services in the Cannabis and controlled substance markets. Our Management Team Systems designer and lawyer, Harambe Solutions founders Marleen Theunissen and Brett Pollack established a synergistic working relationship towards the end of the divided and predominantly prohibitionist era of the South African Cannabis industries. Learn More Medicinal Cannabis Consulting, Feasibility & Legal Advice SAHPRA License Applications Master File Design & Compilation GACP / GMP System Design Training of Facility Employees Processing Site Inspections

Discover and explore a curated cannabis Business Directory. Coming soon. CANNABIZ AFRICA’S CLUBS ZONE Private Cannabis Clubs (PCC’s) have become a feature of the South African cannabis landscape. They have proliferated in the past few years and offer a safe, legal environment for cannabis consumers. However, although PCC’s fit the constitutional bill in that they allow use in a private space, the zone remains in a legal grey area pending finalization of coherent cannabis legislation. Stay abreast of all the news affecting private cannabis clubs here at Cannabiz Africa. Kobus Schoeman Says Goodbye to Grow One Africa as Organization Streamlines its Club Offering Read More Kobus Schoeman’s name has been synonymous with Grow One Africa for the past eight years, but the cannabis club service provider founder has decided to leave to focus his energy on the industrial hemp sector. Vanessa de Sousa takes over the reins to steer a streamlined organization forward. Five Red Flags That Should Alert Cannabis Investors to Scams Read More Despite the lack of guiding regulations, the South African cannabis retail sector is booming – and attracting millions of rands of investment. Investors have climbed into the ‘grey zone’, despite the sale of cannabis being illegal – and many have been taken for a ride. If you’re looking to invest in any cannabis business, these are the five red flags you should look out for. Join the Dixie Jane Private Cannabis Club from anywhere in South Africa. FREE membership for over 21's Cannabiz Africa offers you the chance to become a member of the Dixie Jane private cannabis club, a curated top-shelf experience. Membership is FREE and easy. Become a member anywhere in South Africa and enjoy the benefits of club membership from your own home. Delivery for members nationwide. Dixie Jane Craft Cannabis is more than just a provider of premium cannabis flower, pre-rolls, and edibles. We’re a South African private cannabis club that prioritizes community, quality, and convenience. Dixie Jane, is committed to providing a safe, legal, and enjoyable experience for our members. Ready to begin? Get started in three easy steps. Once you have joined you will receive direct confirmation, for further information contact hello@dixiejane.co.za 01. Create your account Simply create your new membership account with your own unique username and password. We’ll send you an email explaining all the details and the next steps. Sign Up 02. Verify you’re over 21 To ensure a secure and compliant experience, we’ll ask you to quickly verify your age by scanning your ID after signing up. This helps protect both you and Dixie Jane. Sign Up 03. Withdraw your stash Welcome to the collective. Prepare to indulge in premium products meticulously curated for your enjoyment. Delivered discreetly to your doorstep. Sign Up CLUB ZONE BREAKING NEWS CLUBS The CannaClub : South Africa’s Oldest Private Cannabis Club 10 Years On and Still Going Strong! Read More ACTIVISM Cannabis King Khoisan’s Protest Palace at the Union Buildings Demolished Read More LEGALITY Presidency’s Control of Cannabis Reform Threatened by the Growing ‘Crisis of Illegality’ Read More SA OUTLOOK 2025: A Year for Removing the Rocks on the Road to Cannabis Reform Read More THE LAW Leaked NPA Guide on ‘Dagga Dealing Shops’ is Confusing But Appears to Endorse Private Cannabis Club Model Read More NEW CANNABIS LAWS Just When You Thought You Were No Longer a Criminal, Take a Look at the New Cannabis Transgression Laws Coming Your Way Read More LEGALITY The Law Seems Certain About One Thing: Private Cannabis Clubs Are Neither Illegal Or Legal Read More THC CASE THC Settles Appeal Bid Out of Court, Status of Private Clubs Remains Uncertain Read More MODELS Driving the Private Club Revolution: GrowOneAfrica’s Self-Regulatory Model Makes Both Cannabis Consumers and the Taxman Happy Read More THE CANNABIZ CLASSIFIEDS Cannabiz Africa is the continent's premier B2B news platform. We reach the main industry stakeholders with over 4000+ unique users per month and 1500 Newsline subscribers - and growing. Click Here to advertise. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Medical Cannabis Investment Opportunities in W Cape Cape Town is your ideal SA location to invest in the fast-growing South African medicinal cannabis market. The Wesgro Trade Unit provides a free and confidential service to help you establish and grow your business in Cape Town and the Western Cape. Contact us through the Wesgro One Stop Investment Shop here to find out why you should be investing in the Western Cape pharmaceutical hub. EXPORTS Top Quality SA Flower Available for Export SafriCanna is a SAHPRA-registered cultivation and processing facility whose efforts are focused on the growth, cultivation, processing, and export of Medicinal EU-GMP Cannabis products to international markets. See our catalogue of flower products here , Phone: + 27 (0) 10 880 6269; Email: info@safricanna.com, or contact us here GROW EQUIPMENT CapeCanna LED Lights Sale Now On CapeCanna is your hydroponic cannabis cultivation specialist. We offer the complete range of high quality equipment to set you up. Right now there's a sale on LED grow lights. Click here to buy. We deliver nationwide. LEGAL SERVICES Schindlers Dedicated Cannabis Law Department For All Legal Requirements Schindlers is South Africa’s first law firm to have a department dedicated to ‘M&R’ (‘medicinal’ & ‘recreational’) cannabis law, advising both international and local clients. We have been experts in the Cannabis field for years, and were instrumental in cases leading to the Constitutional Court ruling that legalized the personal consumption of cannabis in a private space. Click here to get connected with us . What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

Cannabiz-Africa is your hub for all cannabis news and resources. Everything from breaking news, cannabis politics, business investments, legal policies and a marketplace network where we connect you with local businesses. Be in the know with the hottest, freshest and most up-to date hemp movements. BREAKING Medical News Cannabiz Africa brings you the hottest breaking Medical cannabis news right here! From crucial developments in laws and reform to socio-economic changes in the industry. Find your latest dose of breaking news right here and stay onto of the earliest developments! Australia Clamps Down on Medical Cannabis After 1 Doctor Exposed for Issuing Over 17 000 Prescriptions in Just 6 Months! 14 July 2025 at 08:00:00 Australia’s health regulators have announced new official guidelines for medical cannabis prescriptions following widespread abuse of the system. It’s been revealed that some practitioners have issued over 10 000 prescriptions in just six months. Read More SAHPRA Refining Cannabis Regulations in Light of Evolving Landscape 8 July 2025 at 09:45:00 SAHPRA says its refining its regulatory framework as the South African cannabis landscape evolves. That’s according to its 2025/26 Performance Plan (undated) in which it wants to improve its systems and technology, address patient access issues and regulate product standardization.. Read More Rise in Medical Cannabis Patients Poses New Challenges for Employers 8 July 2025 at 08:30:00 Cannabis in the workplace will increasingly become an issue with the rising number of medical cannabis patients in South Africa. One of the potential dilemmas is the balancing the rights of an employee to privacy around their ailments and medication against the obligations of the employer to provide a safe working environment for all workers. Read More Worldwide Problem: Doctors Still Leave Medical School Without Knowing About the Endocannabinoid System 6 July 2025 at 09:15:00 Can Europe scale up to 5 million medical cannabis patients? That was one of the main discussion points at the recent Cannabis Europa Conference in London (pictured above) which found the medical cannabis industry in Europe is thriving but science and medical training is lagging far behind. Read More DTIC Unveils its Route Markers to Navigate SA Towards the Legal Trade in Cannabis 4 July 2025 at 12:00:00 The DTIC has finally put the missing piece in the National Cannabis Master Plan jigsaw puzzle and has completed the picture of what South Africa can expect by way of a commercial cannabis framework. The DTIC has now put out for public comment its draft recommendations on the way forward and the framework it envisages. Read More Thailand Restricts Cannabis to Medical Use Only 2 July 2025 at 18:30:00 In a significant shift, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has officially restricted cannabis use exclusively to medical purposes, rolling out new regulations aimed at preventing misuse and ensuring its benefits are channeled solely for health. Read More SA Dealing With ‘Complex and Evolving Drug Landscape’ as Substance Abuse On the Rise Worldwide. 29 June 2025 at 07:30:00 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has praised South Africa for its efforts in addressing a ‘complex and evolving drug landscape’. The UN says SA’s development of a Drug Master Plan was one its notable achievements in harms reduction and treatment initiatives. Read More UN Drugs Report 2025: 1 in 10 Cannabis Users Risk Developing Psychological Disorders 28 June 2025 at 12:30:00 Around 1 in every 10 people who use cannabis develop a cannabis use disorder. That’s one of the findings of the recently-released UN World Drug Report 2025, which says that heavy consumption at adolescence can have a bad effect later in life. Read More Psychiatry Association Warns ‘Ketamine Craze’ Coming to SA - Along with its Breakthrough Benefits and Associated Dangers 25 June 2025 at 13:00:00 The anaesthetic ketamine has evolved into a so-called game-changing treatment for depression and its use in South Africa is on the rise. More and more ‘ketamine clinics’ are appearing online offering treatments and cashing in on the lack of guidelines, while recreational use of the drug appears is gaining popularity. Read More SAHPRA Upgrading Systems to Deal with Surge in ‘Fake Licenses’, Bigger Regulatory Review Underway 14 June 2025 at 10:00:00 SAHPRA says it is sourcing a barcoding system to authenticate Section 21 medical cannabis service providers. This comes amidst a surge of new businesses signing up medical cannabis patients to supply them with their ‘prescriptions’, and this is ringing the regulator’s alarm bells loudly. Read More SAHPRA Warns Public Over Fake Medical Cannabis Licenses 14 June 2025 at 07:45:00 The regulator says its concerned about the increase in the use of fake SAHPRA licenses by unethical businesses as the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ continues to expand rapidly. It has urged the public to be cautious when dealing with service providers as many are illegal. Read More Synergy Post the Expo: The Future is Compliance, and Retailers Are Catching on Quick 4 June 2025 at 20:00:00 Cannabis Expo headline sponsor Synergy Wellness capitalized on the exposure generated by the event, saying it had an overwhelming response from retailers and prospective patients interested in its medical cannabis services. Brett Hilton-Barber caught up with Synergy Wellness’s CEO John Hodes (pictured here) and COO Gareth Williams to see what the event generated for them. Read More Need Evidence of Medical Cannabis Misuse? Say Hi to Professor Herb 4 June 2025 at 06:00:00 Among the many new medical cannabis service providers entering the fray is UK-based Professor Herb, which through its local franchise, Dr Kush, is offering an online cannabis buying service. Professor Herb’s main product line is distributing CBD products in Europe, but as of April, it has started selling ‘medical’ cannabis in South Africa outside the regulatory channels. Read More South Korean Scientists Discover New Cannabinoid – Cannabielsoxa Appears to Have 'Anti-Tumour' Effect 18 May 2025 at 07:00:00 The new compound was discovered during cancer research and revealed ‘strong inhibitory activity’ in combating tumours. Researchers say the discovery of Cannabielsoxa is an initial step towards combating cancer in children. Read More Essential Reading: Current Cannabis Regulations in South Africa 2025 9 May 2025 at 09:45:00 The global CBD industry continues to grow rapidly, and South Africa has positioned itself as one of the most progressive CBD markets in Africa. While CBD products are legally available to consumers, there is still a degree of uncertainty around the regulations—especially concerning dosage limits, THC content, and product categories. Read More THCV Looks to be the Magic ‘Weight Loss’ Cannabis Compound 4 May 2025 at 17:00:00 Research on the use of cannabis components to aid weight loss found that use of a combined product containing the cannabinoids THCV and CBD “was associated with statistically significant weight loss” as well as a slimmer waistline, lower blood pressure and decreased cholesterol. Read More Global Medical Cannabis Market Experiencing Healthy, Double Digit Growth Despite Regulatory Challenges 2 May 2025 at 14:00:00 The ‘Medical Marijuana Global Strategic Business Report 2025’ projects over 14% compound growth in the international market with key growth drivers including increased legalization, technological advancements in cultivation and extraction, and rising chronic disease prevalence. Among the challenges are regulatory hurdles and social stigma. Read More Synergy Medibles' Robin Grobelaar: Making Plant Alchemy Work Within the Rules 30 April 2025 at 16:15:00 Robin Grobelaar (pictured here) is the man behind Synergy Medibles, the innovative business concept that has navigated the hazards of the current regulatory regime to produce SAH|PRA compliant ‘medibles. He explains to Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber how these edibles are not foodstuffs at all, but are complementary medicines in line with the regulator’s consumer safety guidelines. Read More Edibles Game Changer: Synergy to Launch ‘Medibles' Concept at Expo 30 April 2025 at 15:45:00 South Africa’s largest medical cannabis service provider, Synergy Wellness, has taken advantage of the whole furore over cannabis edibles to launch a new product concept – ‘medibles’. In a classic case of guerrilla marketing, Synergy has used the publicity around the recently rescinded cannabis in foodstuffs ban to bring to market a completely compliant over-the-counter cannabis edibles range with health benefits. Read More Cannabis Expo: Health and Wellness is Trending, Is it Replacing the Novelty of ‘Rec’? 30 April 2025 at 13:00:00 With Gauteng’s Cannabis Expo just a month away, it’s clear that there is a growing consumer interest in the health and wellness benefits of cannabis and that the novelty of unfettered access to recreational THC products is not what it used to be. Nonetheless there will be plenty of both at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025 Read More Namibian Activists Call for Legalization of Medical Cannabis on 420 Day 22 April 2025 at 10:00:00 Namibian cannabis activists marched in Windhoek on 20 April 2025 to mark 420 Day and to call for the legalization of medical cannabis. The march, led by advocate Borro Ndungula (pictured here) of the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), was aimed at highlighting an upcoming court case challenging the Government’s prohibitionist stance.. Read More Largest Ever Cannabis Cancer Study Shows ‘Overwhelming’ Scientific Consensus on its Benefits 20 April 2025 at 13:00:00 A major new study shows mainstream medicine is firmly onboard in acknowledging the therapeutic role cannabis can play in treating cancer-related symptoms. The researchers say they were expecting controversy in canvassing doctors and scientists on the issue, but instead found overwhelming consensus on the benefits of cannabis. Read More Synergy’s Hodes: There’s No Regulatory Uncertainty Around Medical Cannabis and the Market is Growing 9 April 2025 at 20:00:00 Fast-growing Synergy Wellness is the headline sponsor for this year’s Cannabis Expo and will be using the event as a major drive to make people aware of the medical benefits of cannabis. Synergy director Jon Hodes (pictured here) believes health and wellness will be one of the most sustainable sectors of the new cannabis market and has structured the company’s business plan around this. Read More Main Networking Event of the Year: Cheeba Africa’s Industry Summit at Cannabis Expo 9 April 2025 at 18:30:00 Cheeba Africa has announced it will hold a two day ‘Cannabis and Hemp Summit’ at the Cannabis Expo to bring stakeholders together to network, upskill and develop their business concepts. It will also provide a forum for the industry to discuss how best to deal with Government in the imminent ‘stakeholder discussons’ on cannabis policy. Read More Cannabis Expo’s Howarth: ‘We’re Building the Highway Even if the Road Signs Aren’t Up Yet’ 9 April 2025 at 13:30:00 This year’s Cannabis Expo comes at a crucial time for the cannabis industry as the ‘grey zone’ consumer market explodes and Government says its ‘really willing’ to engage stakeholders on policy. It’s also been a tough time for players wanting to be legitimate, but that could all be changing. Expo CEO Silas Howarth (pictured here) shares his thoughts on putting together Africa’s biggest cannabis event and where the market is at. Read More Cannabis Expo Signs Up Synergy as Headline Sponsor, Gets Ready to Rock Sandton at the End of May 9 April 2025 at 13:15:00 Africa’s grandest cannabis show comes to town next month in the form of the Cannabis Expo. The three day celebration of cannabis culture and essential business networking will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025. Thousands of people are expected to attend the Expo which will also see a ‘summit’ of industry stakeholders take place to discuss how to push cannabis reform forward. Read More Medical Research Council: Standardize THC Dosage Limits and Labelling Guidelines 8 April 2025 at 13:30:00 The SAMRC has called for standardized dosage regulations for THC edible products and appropriate labelling guidelines. It says legalization of cannabis carries risks for youngsters and with edibles consumption on the rise, authorities need to be increasingly conscious of consumer safety. Read More Druids Taps Into Ancient Wisdom: Launches Biotika, Plant Medicine Booster Range 7 April 2025 at 14:15:00 Druids Garden, the SAHPRA-licensed Gauteng facility has been at the forefront of much of the innovation in South Africa’s cannabis industry. The latest fruit from its garden is Biotika, a range of plant-based energy boosters and health supplements that it bought to market last month. Cannabis Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber got the lowdown on the worldwide return to ancient medicines with Druids’ CEO Cian McLelland, who also shared his thoughts on the sorry state of SA cannabis reform. Read More Eight SAHPRA Cannabis Cultivators Lose Their Licenses 4 April 2025 at 08:45:00 Eight cannabis farming companies have lost their Section 22 cultivation licenses. This has been confirmed by SAHPRA, which says two were due to permanent facility closures, three were revoked and four were cancelled. Read More UN Bans HHC or ‘Synthetic Cannabis’ for Worldwide Non-Medical Use 27 March 2025 at 07:00:00 South Africa voted along with 49 other nations to ban hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) at the UN Commission on Psychotropic Substances (CND) in Vienna earlier this month. HHC, which is synthetically derived and similar in effect to THC, has been widely available legally in many parts of the US and Europe. Read More President Ramaphosa Orders Cannabis Foodstuff Ban to Be Lifted Immediately 25 March 2025 at 18:00:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to withdraw the controversial ban on cannabis in foodstuffs with immediate effect. He’s also ordered the Minister to begin consultations with stakeholders before issuing any further notice on the matter. This is a statement from the Presidency. Read More Health Minster Had Already Decided on the Hemp Foodstuff Ban Before SONA, so Why Didn’t He Tell the President? 19 March 2025 at 08:00:00 Over 1 000 businesses and 400 SMME’s have been affected by the Health Minister’s ‘inexplicable’ ban on hemp foodstuffs and are bleeding millions of rand. The shock announcement has derailed the President’s cannabis vision and laid bare the policy rot at the core of the Cannabis Master Plan Read More DTIC: ‘Stop Dealing in Cannabis-Related Foodstuff Until Such Time as the Ban May Be Lifted’ 18 March 2025 at 18:30:00 The DTIC says although the ban on hemp foodstuffs does not fit in with the Cannabis Master Plan, the law is the law, and dealing in all such products “must cease”. It said it would engage with the Department of Health to relook at the ban but offered little solace to stakeholders who stand to lose millions of rand in the meantime. Read More Minister a ‘No Show’ for Hemp Webinar But Senior Health Official Says Stakeholder Concerns ‘Will Be Addressed’ 18 March 2025 at 15:00:00 Senior Health officials have started ‘walking back’ the controversial ban on hemp foodstuffs saying it’s part of a ‘regulatory process’ and that the Minister will ‘address the concerns raised’ by the hemp industry. Read More Cannabis Terpenes May Relieve Chronic Pain without THC’s Psychoactive Effects. 17 March 2025 at 12:30:00 Researchers in Arizona found that certain terpenes significantly reduced fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain in animal studies, with geraniol showing the most promise. Read More ‘Suspend the Ban, Let’s Talk Guidelines for Cannabis in Foodstuff’ 17 March 2025 at 06:30:00 Top Government officials are being drawn into the Health Department's ban on cannabis in foodstuffs. Lawyer Charl Botha has written to the President saying the ban is unconstitutional and should be suspended while proper regulatory guidelines are put in place. Read More Cannabis-Infused Foods on the Rise Worldwide, Highlighting Need for International Guidelines 15 March 2025 at 10:00:00 There are undisputed therapeutic and nutritional benefits associated with cannabis-infused foodstuff and around the world consumer demand is rising for such products. However, there are no international guidelines protecting consumers and a framework needs to be put in place. Read More Health Dept Moves to Calm Industry Nerves: ‘Cannabis Food Ban is Start of Regulatory Process’ 15 March 2025 at 07:00:00 Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale says the recent sudden ban of cannabis in foodstuffs was done in the name of consumer safety. He hinted that the ban would not be permanent but the start of a regulatory process to assess cannabis products before they appear on shelves. Read More Health Minister's Cannabis Foods Ban Unleashes a Chorus of Condemnation 12 March 2025 at 13:00:00 Health Minister Aaron Mostoaledi’s decision to ban cannabis in foodstuffs has revealed the deep policy faultlines running through Government and widespread condemnation from industry stakeholders. The ban threatens to derail the National Cannabis Masterplan and undermines the President’s commitment to developing the hemp industry. Read More Shock Announcement! Health Minister Suddenly Bans Cannabis in All Foods and Beverages! 11 March 2025 at 08:45:00 In an astounding regulatory development, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, has issued a notice banning the use of cannabis in foodstuffs. The announcement in the Government Gazette of 7 March 2025, has left cannabis stakeholders stunned, as this flies in the face of the Presidency’s cannabis vision and undermines the National Cannabis Master Plan. Read More UCT Study Reveals About 5% of High School Kids Use Cannabis Regularly and Warns of Alarming Rise in Vaping 10 March 2025 at 11:30:00 About five percent of South African high school students use cannabis on a monthly basis. That’s according to a recent UCT study on vaping, which highlighted the health dangers of adolescents using e-cigarettes and encouraged parents to discourage the habit. Read More Hawks Hail Prosecution of Pensioner Producing Cannabis Therapeutic Products as a ‘Significant Win’ in the Fight Against Drugs 9 March 2025 at 09:30:00 Random prosecutions continue against ‘grey zone’ operators with the Hawks hailing the conviction of an elderly Somerset West woman for dealing in R50 000 worth of cannabis-related products as a ‘significant win’ in efforts to curb the ‘illegal drug trade’. Read More Durban Medical Cannabis Expert Encourages Mainstream Doctors to Make More Use of Section 21 But Warns Against Being “Led Astray” By the Illicit Market 5 March 2025 at 20:30:00 Durban medical cannabis expert Dr Yernush Naidoo says more mainstream doctors are becoming aware of the healing qualities of cannabis, but that most practioners are ignorant of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Read More Cannabis is the Gateway Drug to the World’s New Plant-based Medicine Revolution 1 March 2025 at 08:30:00 Plant-based therapies are becoming all the rage as more scientists unlock nature’s secrets to find new healing and wellness benefits. Africa is well-poised to take advantage of the new global plant-based product revolution that is integrating cosmetics and healing. Read More CBD Shots Prove There’s Life Left in the Old Nag as Israel Develops New Pain Treatment Product for Animals 20 February 2025 at 12:30:00 Israeli company Innocann, has developed a single shot CBD injection treatment for osteoarthritis that could have wide application in the international veterinary world. The Liposomal CBD treatment was administered to Ariel the elderly donkey with positive results and there could be future application for humans. Read More Dr Gallow in Demand: SA’s ‘Medical Cannabis Ambassador’ Hits the World Stage After Concluding Ground-breaking SA Research 19 February 2025 at 12:30:00 Dr Shiksha Gallow recently wrapped up SA’s first Pharma-ethics and DOH approved clinical trials involving cannabis and has now become a highly sought after presenter in the international medical cannabis arena. She is presenting two papers in Brisbane this week at the CIU Australian Medical Cannabis Conference. This follows her whirlwind tour of USA, Costa Rica, Thailand and the Philippines in the past few months Read More Welcome to the World of ‘Cosmeceuticals’: CBD Cosmetics Can Blend Beauty and Healing 14 February 2025 at 07:15:00 CBD is set to play an increasing role in cosmetic and beauty products such as skin and hair care as research highlights the cannabis compound’s anti-aging and antioxidant effects. It’s also been found to accelerate the healing of wounds. Read More Qure’s Brenda Marx: “Market Will Be Boosted By Govt Recognition of the Importance of Cannabis Testing 12 February 2025 at 15:00:00 The quiet announcement by the DTICC that product testing will be compulsory in funding applications is hugely significant says Qure's Brenda Marx. She says this requirement signals the start of a standardization process across the industry and will encourage laboratories to work more closely together. Read More DTIC Appoints Four Labs for Testing Cannabis Products as it Issues New Funding Guidelines 12 February 2025 at 11:00:00 The DTIC has issued new guidelines for entities seeking funding and has appointed Afriplex, NAFS, Qure and Vinlab as its official cannabis testing labs. The Department says funding applications for product development has to be accompanied by product test results from one of these four service providers. Read More ‘TeleHealth’ Services Drive Rapidly Growing Australian Medical Cannabis Market 4 February 2025 at 07:00:00 Australia’s medical cannabis boom is being driven by an explosion of ‘telehealth’ clinics that have eliminated procedural bottlenecks and driven up prescription volumes. But they are also coming under scrutiny by authorities for ‘fronting’ for recreational use. Read More New Partnerships, New Paradigms: Eco Green Becomes SCIPP’s Satellite Lab To Research Indigenous Psychedelics 26 January 2025 at 08:30:00 Cape Town cannabis lab Eco Green Analytics has entered the traditional medicine research field by partnering with the Pretoria-based Southern Centre for Indigenous Psycho Pharma (SCIPP). It will offer its services to analyse medicines used by traditional healers and psylocibin mushrooms in a quest to unlock the therepeutic benefits of indigenous plants. Read More SA’s Medical Cannabis Expertise Spreads its Wings: Dr Gallow Invited to Philippines to Support Legalization Bid 15 January 2025 at 06:30:00 South Africa’s ‘Medical Cannabis Ambassador’, Dr Shiksha Gallow, recently trained and certified 40 doctors in medical cannabis in the Philippines where the practice is generally outlawed. She was keynote speaker at a conference pushing to legalize medical cannabis and urged the Manilla government to accept the legitimacy of cannabis as a healing plant. Read More Poland’s Medical Cannabis Shake-Up: Drastic Drop in Patients as Authorities Halt the “Prescription Machine’. 13 January 2025 at 09:30:00 Since November 2024, Poland has observed a drastic decrease in the number of prescriptions for medical cannabis. This change is a direct result of the tightening of regulations on ‘prescription machines’ by the Ministry of Health which specifies that prospective patients have to be personally examined by a doctor. Read More Feeling the Squeeze: Over 25% SAHPRA Growers Deregistered in Last 3 Months 10 January 2025 at 08:00:00 A quarter of South Africa’s SAHPRA-licensed cannabis growers have been deregistered in the past three months. This reflects the difficulties export cultivators are facing in their struggle to crack international markets, tied-up capital and surplus inventory. Read More 2025: A Year for Removing the Rocks on the Road to Cannabis Reform 8 January 2025 at 13:00:00 The South African cannabis industry has gone through a painful few years, constrained by Government’s slow and shambolic approach to regulatory reform. The irony is that to date the ‘grey zone’ appears to have benefitted the most so far from the Constitutional Courts 2018 decision to legalize private consumption, while other sectors of the cannabis economy have lagged behind. So what lies in store for SA cannabis in the year ahead? Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber has a look ahead. Read More New Study Shows CBD Reduces Craving in Adults Addicted to Alcohol 31 December 2024 at 07:00:00 A recent study found that a simple 800 mg capsule of cannabidiol (CBD) could be effective at reducing alcohol cravings among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Read More Going into 2025, Africa’s Potential to be a Medical Cannabis Powerhouse Remains an Elusive Dream 30 December 2024 at 09:00:00 Africa faces numerous hurdles if it is ever to realize its potential to become a global leader in medical cannabis production. Among those challenges are balancing policy, economic growth and social norms. With lazy, conservative thinking entrenched in post-colonial governments across the continent, Africa is many years away from any hope of being a player in the world medical cannabis arena. Read More Regulating Traditional Healers Will Reshape South Africa’s Medical Certification Landscape. 18 December 2024 at 06:00:00 The NPA says the Traditional Healers Act is being used as a front for cannabis retail and is illegal. This may be the case now, but there’s a whole debate coming about what constitutes medicine as the Government moves to bring traditional healers into the mainstream via a new set of regulations. Read More Searching for Sanity: Scientists Seek Solutions for Modern Mental Health Issues by Understanding Africa’s Ancient Plant Medicines 15 December 2024 at 09:00:00 A ground-breakng new ‘psycho-pharma research centre has been launched at the University of Pretoria to delve into the mysteries of African psychedelics and other medicinal plants to explore their potential to treat modern mental health conditions. Read More Brazil: Medical Cannabis Market Booming as the Pieces Fall into Place 14 December 2024 at 07:00:00 Medical cannabis use has climbed to new peaks in Brazil, with a 56% increase in patients seeking treatment. This in turn has led to a 22% increase in revenue in the sector as the South American giant shows how the healing benefits of the plant are having a knock-on effect on the economy. Read More High Hopes for Zimbabwe’s Medical Cannabis Sector Despite Challenges 14 December 2024 at 05:00:00 Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has noted farmers showing a growing interest in medical cannabis Zimbabwe for medicinal purposes, but production challenges are slowing the growth of the sector. Read More First South Africans Test Positive For Fentanyl as Killer Drug Surfaces in KZN and E Cape 9 December 2024 at 05:00:00 The first signs have emerged that South Africa is heading for a fentanyl crisis. Clinics in KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape report that patients have, for the first time, tested positive for the opioid that has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States. Read More Scratching the Next Surface: Minor Cannabinoids Hold the Key to Major Therapeutic Benefits 4 December 2024 at 06:00:00 From CBN to CBG and THCA, there are more than 100 cannabinoids in the plant with different psychoactive and non-psychoactive components. Indeed, each cannabinoid counts different attributes, with research only beginning to scratch the surface of how we can leverage specific cannabinoids for specific therapies. Read More Synergy Wellness: Building a Medical Cannabis Eco-System from the Ground Up 3 December 2024 at 10:00:00 Section 21 of the Medicines Act is the only way South Africans can buy cannabis legally so there's obviously been a surge of new ‘grey zone’ operators offering this service. Given that Section 21 itself is being so widely interpreted, where does the line of compliance lie? Cannabiz Africa spoke to market leader Synergy Wellness to find out more. Read More New Long-Term Study Busts Stereotypes About Cannabis Use and Mental Decline 22 November 2024 at 07:00:00 Men with a history of cannabis use over 44 years were not any more likely to show mental decline in old age than non-users. The ‘Brain and Behaviour’ Study is the latest report to debunk the myth that cannabis use leads to age-related cognitive decline. Read More Pain Relief is what Most Medical Cannabis Patients Are Looking For 20 November 2024 at 05:00:00 In the United States nearly one-third (32%) of medical cannabis patients cite chronic pain as their primary condition for medical cannabis use, with anxiety the second most common (26.8%) followed by insomnia (18.5%). Read More Zimbabwe's Ivory Medical Launches Therapeutic Product Range Integrating Cannabis and Traditional African Medicine 11 November 2024 at 06:00:00 Zimbabwe has been struggling to develop its medical cannabis value chain but this looks set to change as Ivory Medical brings an innovative product range to market. Its CannaQure range, launched last week, integrates traditional African medicines into cannabis-based therapeutic products. Read More African Pharmacists Need to Take Cannabis Seriously – Or Risk Being Trapped in the ‘Knowledge Gap’ 7 November 2024 at 04:00:00 Only nine countries in Africa have legalized medical cannabis to some degree, but for the rest of the continent the global medical cannabis revolution is passing it by. Nonetheless, African pharmacists should tackle their own knowledge gap in anticipation of cannabis becoming part of integrated public health systems in the future. Read More ‘Understaffed’ SAHPRA ‘Over-Reliant’ on ‘High Risk’ Fee Income from Big Pharma 25 October 2024 at 05:00:00 SAHPRA’s government grant has been declining for years and the regulatory authority is increasingly reliant on fee income, which it says is a “high risk situation”. It has appealed to Treasury for further funding saying that it is understaffed and needs to invest in technical infrastructure. Read More Uganda Issues Medical Cannabis Export Guidelines 22 October 2024 at 12:00:00 Uganda’s cannabis policy is to legalize cannabis only for export. Kampala is currently not considering domestic consumption of industrial, medical or recreational cannabis, but has recently issued guidelines for prospective exporters. Read More SAHPRA Concerned Over Medical Cannabis Prescription 'Misuse': Section 21 Clampdown On Its Way 17 October 2024 at 08:00:00 Sources close to SAHPRA say a clampdown on the ‘misuse’ of medical cannabis prescriptions is on its way. The regulator is concerned that many ‘Section 21’ medical cannabis patients are actually using their prescriptions for ‘recreational’ purposes and intends taking remedial action. Read More Hawks Warn Fentanyl Has Entered Local “Drug Trafficking Conveyer Belts” Yet Two Gauteng Rehab Facilities Close Doors Because of Funding Challenges 14 October 2024 at 09:00:00 The deadly opioid fentanyl is now firmly part of the South African ‘drug conveyer belt’. This is the warning from the head of the Hawks who expects substance abuse levels to increase. This comes at a time when two major Gauteng private rehab centres have closed doors because of Government 'funding challenges', leaving hundreds of patients stranded. Read More Medical Cannabis SA: Here’s What You Need to Know 8 October 2024 at 09:00:00 There has been a huge upsurge of Section 21 medical cannabis patients in the last year, with SAHPRA expressing concern that many ‘dispensaries’ offering this service are actually just a front for ‘recreational’ sales. Just what is the current legal landscape in terms of medical cannabis in South Africa? Bassani Medical Cannabis CEO Mike Stringer lays down the line. Read More UK Study: Many ‘Cannabis Vapes’ Contain a Dangerous ‘Synthetic Cannabinoid” 8 October 2024 at 06:00:00 ‘Synthetic Cannabinoids’ (SC’s) are prevelant in the cannabis vapes sourced from the US being sold in the UK. A University of Bath study has revealed that vaping might not be such a ‘less harmful’ way of ingesting cannabis than previously believed. Read More Cannabis and Sex: Three US States Invite Public Comment About Treating Female Orgasmic Disorder with Medical Cannabis 26 September 2024 at 05:00:00 Over 40% of women worldwide have difficulty in attaining orgasm and this is now being treated as a serious health issue. In the US, the states of Oregon, New Mexico, and Arkansas opened public comment periods regarding adding Female Orgasm Difficulty/Disorder (FOD) as a condition of treatment with medical cannabis. Read More Medicines Act Amended to Pass Control of Non-Medical Cannabis to Agriculture Dept 25 September 2024 at 15:00:00 The Medicines Act has been amended, allowing control over non-medical cannabis to be passed on to the Agriculture Department. This means that future decisions, such as acceptable THC levels for various cannabis products, will ultimately be decided on by Agriculture, and not by the Health Department. Read More Cannabinoid Research: CBD & THC May Not Balance Each Other Out After All 9 September 2024 at 09:00:00 The two most studied compounds in cannabis may not balance each other out like it's commonly claimed. THC and CBD are often pitted against each other, but their effects on the human body may not be in a tug-of-war after all. A new study reveals CBD may not take the edge off THC, but in fact, taken at high doses may enhance the psychoactive effect. Read More SA’s Medical Cannabis Future Lies in Africa and the Local Market – Compliance Makes Europe an Expensive Exercise 29 August 2024 at 14:00:00 South Africa produces some of the cheapest cannabis in the world but high compliance standards make it prohibitively expensive to get into Europe. At a recent Cheeba webinar, panelists suggested that local cultivators forge long-term relationships with jurisdictions that aren’t so fussy until such time as the local medical cannabis market is sorted out. Read More Ukraine Legalizes Medical Cannabis as Russian Invasion Unleashes Widespread Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 19 August 2024 at 06:00:00 Ukraine has legalized medical cannabis as one of the ways of dealing with the Russian invasion which has obviously been deeply stressful to a large number of civilians and soldiers. One of the main reasons behind legalization is the potential healing effect cannabis may play in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Read More UK Concern that Medical Cannabis is Being Overtaken by ‘Pseudo-Recreational Market’ 16 August 2024 at 06:00:00 Cannabis medical prescriptions in the United Kingdom have shot up in the past year, many of them for ‘unlicensed cannabis-based medicines’. A clampdown appears imminent against those doctors who are issuing medical scripts to ‘patients’ who are really wanting just to get stoned. Read More Are Women More Sensitive to THC Than Men? Science Says It Would Appear So 29 July 2024 at 08:00:00 The latest research suggests that women may need a lower dose of THC to get the same “high” as men, and that women develop resistance to the psychoactive effects of the plant more quickly than men do. Read More eSwatini Cautiously Plans to Legalize Medical Cannabis 18 June 2024 at 08:00:00 Eswatini is joining many of its African neighbours in legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, revising a colonial drug law dating back a century. Read More New Study: Drugs are Affecting the Environment, Big Pharma Needs to Make ‘Greener’ Products 8 June 2024 at 08:00:00 A report published by Nature Sustainability shows that human drug usage is becoming a threat to wildlife. Among the findings are that addiction, anxiety and sex reversal have been reported in species by researchers as a range of substances contaminate ecosystems around the world. Read More SA’s Medicinal Cannabis Sector in Trouble as ‘Grey’ Market Flourishes 8 June 2024 at 07:00:00 Can South Africa actually crack the international medicinal cannabis market? Thus far, the signs are not encouraging. The sector is haemorrhaging while the ‘grey’ adult-use market is thriving. Read More CBD Over-Hyped in Pain Treatment, Probably Doesn't Work Says International Review Panel 28 April 2024 at 06:00:00 A review of 16 randomised controlled trials testing the efficacy of CBD products for pain found they did not work. Although CBD may have positive effects in treating other conditions, a group of UK and Canadian researchers have said CBD products are over-hyped in treating pain. Read More Cannabis and Sex: Is Female Orgasmic Disorder a Qualifying Condition For Medical Cannabis? 23 March 2024 at 09:00:00 A new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reports that the potential benefits of the plant include increased orgasm frequency, improved satisfaction and greater ease achieving in achieving orgasm. Read More Afriplex, CRI, Releaf Take the Lead in Ground-Breaking Medical Trial That Proves Cannabis is Safer Alternative to Opioids in Chronic Pain Treatment 1 February 2024 at 10:00:00 Paarl-based Afriplex, the centre-piece of cannabis group Impilovest, has emerged as a leading player in a study that indicates that cannabis is highly effective in the treatment of opioid addiction. Read More UK: CBD Overhyped; Drinks Probably Won't Cure Your Anxiety 5 January 2024 at 09:00:00 There's a big difference between the shop-bought drinks, oils and edibles, and the medicinal products that are backed by science according to UK experts: CBD might not be all it's cracked out to be. Read More UK Expert Advice to Youngsters, Pregnant Women, Drivers and the Mentally Ill: Probably a Good Idea if You Avoid Cannabis 1 November 2023 at 16:00:00 A study published by BJM has found that it’s horses for courses: cannabis compounds can be detrimental for some but can be very beneficial for others. Read More Cannabis Bill: Latest Public Input Warns of Increased Danger Legalization Poses to Kids 18 October 2023 at 12:00:00 The latest round of public input on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill was restricted to comment on new provisions relating to children and the plant. IOL reports that stakeholder opinion was divided. The deadline for comment was 13 October 2023. Read More UCT Lung Institute Study: Rich Kids Increasingly Vaping to Deal With Stress 25 September 2023 at 15:00:00 Research across three provinces shows that vaping is increasingly seen as a stress-reliever amongst wealthier kids, with their preferred substances being tobacco and cannabis. Read More US Study Shows Safe Daily CBD Dose is Up to 13 Times Higher Than What SAHPRA Allows 21 September 2023 at 14:00:00 There’s been a lot of controversy around acceptable daily doses of CBD, with SAHPRA setting a 20 mg limit. Now a US study headed for Congress says safe dosages could be 13 times higher, with up to 160 Mg of CBD/day being safe for most healthy adults. Read More Cannabis and Rugby: Not So Fast With The Red Card! 28 August 2023 at 13:00:00 With the Rugby World Cup about to get underway, we ask the question: is cannabis a performance-enhancing drug? This has become a debating point in New Zealand rugby circles after a player was banned for having THC in his system. Read More Shiksha’s Journey: Cannabis is Real Medicine, It Can Heal! Geddit? 30 July 2023 at 12:00:00 The Durban Cannabis Expo has concluded with one of the highlights being an address by acclaimed cannabis clinician Dr Shiksha Gallow. The ‘poster girl’ of the South African cannabis industry (and we say this with respect) opened up in a panel discussion how the plant had helped heal her and her partner, Wayne, heal after a motorcycle accident in 2020. Read More Unpacking Psychedelic Therapies: Basically They Enable the Brain to Make New Neural Connections and Break Past Patterns 19 May 2023 at 14:00:00 There’s been an explosion of interest in the potential healing power of psychedelics with more and more research coming onto the market. This is an excerpt from a paper by Edel Hyland of Queen’s University, Belfast, that sums up what psychedelic medicine is all about. Read More AI and Biotech: Developing New Drugs Faster 18 May 2023 at 09:00:00 The way drugs are developed is being rewritten as we speak. Discovering and approving new drugs is a lengthy process that requires years of development and a dismal success rate, but artificial intelligence (AI) could rev up the process in a major way. Read More Danish Study of 7 Million Health Records Highlights Risk of Cannabis Use Disorder – Especially Amongst Young Men 14 May 2023 at 10:00:00 As many as 30% of cases of schizophrenia among men aged 21-30 could have been prevented had they avoided cannabis use disorder, according to the study published on 11 May 2023 in Psychological Medicine. Read More Is the Tide Turning? SA Medical Cannabis Industry May Be Shaking Off the Blues as Over a Billion Rand of Investment Comes Knocking on the Door 11 May 2023 at 05:00:00 There are few players in the southern African cannabis industry that don’t have scars to show from the past few years as the sector has struggled to get off the ground. But those who’ve had deep pockets and have managed to stay the way are set to benefit from a new momentum in the medical cannabis export sector as new investments come in and international demand rises. Read More Oh No! SAHPRA Still Determined to Upset Everybody! Regulator Classifies Non-Psychoactive Cannabis Compound CBG as a Schedule 6 Substance 14 February 2023 at 10:00:00 In an astounding development, the South African Health Regulatory Authority has classified CBG as a Schedule 6 substance! This is a complete setback for commercialisation and undermines the President’s intentions to develop a cannabis and hemp economy. Read More Cannabis and Adolescents: Increasing Potency May Trigger Psychosis and Depression 9 February 2023 at 08:00:00 Cannabis has been touted as one of the safest psychoactive substances in the world, but that is not to say consumption is risk free. What are the effects of marijuana use on teenage brain development? Are there some people who should not use cannabis even if it’s legal? Dr Richard Friedman of Cornell University provides some cautionary advice. Read More What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

Cannabiz-Africa is your hub for all cannabis news and resources. Everything from breaking news, cannabis politics, business investments, legal policies and a marketplace network where we connect you with local businesses. Be in the know with the hottest, freshest and most up-to date hemp movements. LEGAL NEWS FEATURE DTIC: SA Cannabis Licensing System to be Completely Overhauled and Placed Under Control of a Central Cannabis Authority ASAP Read More The DTIC’s draft cannabis commercialization policy envisages the centralization of all licensing issues under one roof – that of a ‘central authority’ that will establish and oversee a completely new cannabis and hemp licensing regime in which retailers will be accommodated. 24 Hour bail hotline call 0631740938 CANNABIZ AFRICA LEGAL DESK Your guide to the latest news and views on legal developments in the African Cannabis Industry. Keep up to date with policy changes, court cases, corporate activity, activism and news from the legislature. Commercializing Cannabis: CDH Suggests Tiered Tax System Based on THC Potency 16 July 2025 at 18:15:00 Leading law firm CDH has published its own road map towards cannabis commercialisation and one of its suggestions is that high THC products should be taxed at a higher rate than other cannabis products. It says this would incentivize the development of the CBD market and discourage consumers from buying potent – and potentially dangerous – products. Read More KZN Police Arrest 14 After Raiding 5 ha Illegal Cannabis Farm Near Babanango 16 July 2025 at 22:30:00 A large contingent of KZN law enforcement officers descended on a ‘vegetable farm’ on Wednesday and discovered a five hectare field of cannabis. They seized a large amount of cannabis, and arrested 14 people linked to the farm, among them foreign nationals. Read More Correctional Services in Crisis: Jailed Gangsters Run Criminal Networks from the Safety of Their Cells 16 July 2025 at 11:30:00 It’s not only SAPS that’s in crisis. Correctional Services is also facing its own major dilemma: that criminal networks have turned South Africa’s jails into their branch offices. This has emerged after a week of surprise prison raids in the Pretoria area recently, in which its clear that a lot of crime in the outside world is being masterminded from behind bars. Read More SAPS Legitimacy Crumbles to an All Time Low with Only 22% of South Africans Saying They Trust the Police 15 July 2025 at 13:15:00 Public trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) is at an all-time low - and that isn’t even taking into account the recent ‘corruption war’ that’s broken out in the upper echelons of the service. A new study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has found that only 22% of South Africans ‘strongly trust’ the police. Read More California Cannabis Farms Hit in Anti-Immigration Raids, One Worker Dies 15 July 2025 at 09:00:00 A cannabis worker has died after falling off a greenhouse roof during an anti-immigration raid in California. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents accompanied by National Guard troops in military-style vehicles turned up at two locations operated by Glass House Farms near Los Angeles as part of the Trump administration’s drive to deport illegal migrant workers. Read More SSETA Launches Training and Certification Programme for Cannabis Dispensary Professionals 15 July 2025 at 08:00:00 South Africa has taken a major step forward in mainstreaming cannabis retail with a government agency’s launch of a specialist cannabis dispensery training programme. The South African Services Sector Education Authority (SSETA) anticipates the sector to grow by 20% in the next year and has launched a comprehensive training programme which will offer a national certificate for dispensary professionals. Read More Australia Clamps Down on Medical Cannabis After 1 Doctor Exposed for Issuing Over 17 000 Prescriptions in Just 6 Months! 14 July 2025 at 08:00:00 Australia’s health regulators have announced new official guidelines for medical cannabis prescriptions following widespread abuse of the system. It’s been revealed that some practitioners have issued over 10 000 prescriptions in just six months. Read More Justice Minister: Regulations for Cannabis Act Only to be Finalized by End-Feb 2026 10 July 2025 at 08:45:00 The Justice Ministry has finalized the regulations for the Cannabis Act, but still needs feedback from six other departments – and the Presidency – before they can be published for public comment. This emerged in a written response to a Parliamentary question in which the Justice Minister said the regulations would be finalized within seven months but did not specify when the Act would come into force. Read More SAPS Leadership Crisis: Senior Security Ranks Rocked by Allegations of Corruption and Cocaine Cartel Cover Ups 9 July 2025 at 18:30:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived back from his travels abroad to confront the most serious crisis in the police force since the then Police Commissioner Jacky Selebi’s conviction on corruption charges two decades ago. Among the allegations he must resolve is the accusation that senior officials are involved in transfrontier drug smuggling. Read More Johann Slabber: Developing a Compliance Model for the Grey Zone is the Way to Mainstream the Marginalized 9 July 2025 at 13:00:00 Most participants in the cannabis industry don’t have the capital to mainstream themselves according to current rules and regulations which favour those with deep pockets. Nexus CEO Johan Slabber says he’s developing a compliance model to integrate smaller growers, informal operators, and emerging dispensaries into a formal, sustainable value chain that leaves no one behind. Read More Charl Botha: Policy Train Smash Coming as Cannabis Master Plan and SA Drug Plan Contradict Each Other 9 July 2025 at 12:15:00 South Africa is heading for a policy collision in trying to balance the Cannabis Master Plan against the country’s Drug Master Plan, each of which view cannabis from very different perspectives. Unless the policy contradictions within these two plans is resolved,, cannabis reform will be fundamentally undermined. Read More Juicy Feeling: The Bigger Net is Closing on Dr Green Following Disastrous SA Launch 9 July 2025 at 11:30:00 Dr Green attempted to launch its medical cannabis service and ‘token’ investment scheme in South Africa earlier this year, but that fell apart when the company’s CFO, Ricardo Capone (pictured here), fled the country under mysterious circumstances. Now it seems Dr Green’s international operations are coming under scrutiny from several quarters, and it could all unravel further. Read More Namibian Survey Finds Significant Support for Legalization, Especially in the North 9 July 2025 at 07:00:00 Namibia’s Government has long maintained that the ban on cannabis reflects the will of the people, but a recent Afrobarometer survey shows the opposite is true – Nambians broadly support full-adult use legalization, especially in Caprivi and the north. Read More SAHPRA Refining Cannabis Regulations in Light of Evolving Landscape 8 July 2025 at 09:45:00 SAHPRA says its refining its regulatory framework as the South African cannabis landscape evolves. That’s according to its 2025/26 Performance Plan (undated) in which it wants to improve its systems and technology, address patient access issues and regulate product standardization.. Read More Rise in Medical Cannabis Patients Poses New Challenges for Employers 8 July 2025 at 08:30:00 Cannabis in the workplace will increasingly become an issue with the rising number of medical cannabis patients in South Africa. One of the potential dilemmas is the balancing the rights of an employee to privacy around their ailments and medication against the obligations of the employer to provide a safe working environment for all workers. Read More Top KZN Cop Drops Bombshell Allegations About Senior Police Involvement in Drug Cartels 7 July 2025 at 06:30:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is gravely concerned about the allegations made by KwaZulu Natal police commissioner that senior police and politicians are involved in drug dealing cartels. This comes after Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mhwanazi (pictured here) accused the Minister of Police of protecting criminal elements by dismantling a specialized investigative team. Read More Namibia High Court Ruling on Constitutionality of Cannabis Prohibition Set for 12 August 2025 5 July 2025 at 14:00:00 The State has asked for more time to adjust its case in opposition to the legal challenge by cannabis activists to have Namibia’s prohibitionist laws to be overturned. A ruling on the matter has been postponed for over five weeks, prompting an accusation that the State is using delaying tactics to wear down the plaintiffs. Read More DTIC DG Simphiwe Hamilton: Cannabis is All About Re-Imagining Our Industrial Policy for Economic Growth 5 July 2025 at 13:45:00 DTIC Director General Simphiwe Hamilton (pictured here) is guiding cannabis policy development within the department which is the lead institution driving the National Cannabis Master Plan. He says cannabis is part of the Government’s ‘re-imagining’ of industrial policy and provides an executive summary of the draft policy document put out for comment. Read More Trade Minister Tau: Legalizing ‘Recreational’ Use of Cannabis Will Have a Net Positive Social Impact’ 5 July 2025 at 13:30:00 Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) is the first cabinet minister to fully back the legalization of general adult-use cannabis consumption since the days of Tito Mboweni. He says ‘recreational use’ is less harmful than alcohol and minors can be protected through regulation and wants your input on the draft cannabis commercial guidelines his Department has put out for public comment. Read More DTIC Puts Commercial Cannabis Law Timeframe on the Table 5 July 2025 at 09:30:00 The adoption of a commercial cannabis framework is to be put through the Nedlac process before a new law comes into force in 2027. That's the DTIC's time-frame for a complete overhaul of current cannabis laws which it's laid out in its draft commercialization policy that is now out for stakeholder comment. Read More DTIC Unveils its Route Markers to Navigate SA Towards the Legal Trade in Cannabis 4 July 2025 at 12:00:00 The DTIC has finally put the missing piece in the National Cannabis Master Plan jigsaw puzzle and has completed the picture of what South Africa can expect by way of a commercial cannabis framework. The DTIC has now put out for public comment its draft recommendations on the way forward and the framework it envisages. Read More So, What’s Stopping the Commercial Trade in Cannabis? These Are the Challenges Facing the Master Plan 4 July 2025 at 10:30:00 The DTIC has identified the major challenges it faces in commercialising cannabis. The main one by far is the law. Until such time as crucial legislative changes are made, the trade in cannabis and related products is prohibited. But there are also nine other significant obstacles that need to be faced in implementing the National Cannabis Master Plan. Read More Northern Namibian Cannabis Dealing Accused Remanded in Custody 2 July 2025 at 20:15:00 The four men arrested after last month’s major cannabis bust in Northern Namibia will remain behind bars while further investigations continue. Police say the haul (pictured above) in the Hochfield area was one of the biggest seizures in the country’s history. Read More Namibia’s Prohibitionist Cannabis Laws Come Under Constitutional Scrutiny in the Windhoek High Court 2 July 2025 at 19:45:00 Namibia’s legalization debate has come before the Windhoek High Court which has been called on to decide whether the ban on cannabis is consititutional. An application has been brought by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) following months of intense campaigning against prohibition by the country’s cannabis activists. Read More Thailand Restricts Cannabis to Medical Use Only 2 July 2025 at 18:30:00 In a significant shift, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has officially restricted cannabis use exclusively to medical purposes, rolling out new regulations aimed at preventing misuse and ensuring its benefits are channeled solely for health. Read More DTIC to Build ‘Cannabis Finance Eco System’ to Accelerate Funding for the Master Plan 2 July 2025 at 18:00:00 The DTIC wants to fast-track the creation of financial instruments to support the National Cannabis Master Plan. It wants Treasury to come up with tax incentives for private investors and is to get Government to focus on funding legacy farmers and SMME's across the value chain. Read More DTIC: SA Cannabis Licensing System to be Completely Overhauled and Placed Under Control of a Central Cannabis Authority ASAP 2 July 2025 at 17:00:00 The DTIC’s draft cannabis commercialization policy envisages the centralization of all licensing issues under one roof – that of a ‘central authority’ that will establish and oversee a completely new cannabis and hemp licensing regime in which retailers will be accommodated. Read More SAHPRA ‘Fake Certificates’ Allegedly Used For Growing Cannabis, Never Mind Selling the Stuff! 1 July 2025 at 08:45:00 Legal cannabis strategist Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) over a new form of ‘fake licence’ on the market, this one apparently authorized by the DTIC as well as the regulator. Read his letter to SAHPRA here. Read More Released Cannabis Leader to Sue Namibian Govt for N$1,25 Million for Human Rights Abuse 1 July 2025 at 07:00:00 Ganja Users of Namibia President Brian Jaftha spent nearly two years in jail for possessing 100 gm of cannabis and forfeited assets to the state of N$160 000. He was released early as a gesture of goodwill by the Government, but tells Africa Editor John Makoni in his first interview since his release, that this is not justice enough and is to sue for N$1,25 million in damages in his personal capacity. Read More UN Drugs Report 2025: North Americans Now Consuming More Cannabis Than Anyone Else, Anywhere 29 June 2025 at 10:45:00 Over 20% of North Americans have consumed cannabis over the past year. The comparable figure in West Africa is 10% and in South Africa 5%! The latest UN figures show that cannabis use has increased 34% worldwide over the past decade. Read More SA Dealing With ‘Complex and Evolving Drug Landscape’ as Substance Abuse On the Rise Worldwide. 29 June 2025 at 07:30:00 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has praised South Africa for its efforts in addressing a ‘complex and evolving drug landscape’. The UN says SA’s development of a Drug Master Plan was one its notable achievements in harms reduction and treatment initiatives. Read More Tanzania: Don’t Go Wearing Your Rasta Gear Downtown Any Time Soon 25 June 2025 at 18:00:00 Tanzania’s drug enforcement authorities have warned that anyone wearing clothes with a cannabis insignia could be liable for arrest. As the rest of the continent adopts a more relaxed approach to the plant, Tanzania is veering in the opposite direction taking a hard line ahead of the general elections scheduled for October 2025. Read More Psychiatry Association Warns ‘Ketamine Craze’ Coming to SA - Along with its Breakthrough Benefits and Associated Dangers 25 June 2025 at 13:00:00 The anaesthetic ketamine has evolved into a so-called game-changing treatment for depression and its use in South Africa is on the rise. More and more ‘ketamine clinics’ are appearing online offering treatments and cashing in on the lack of guidelines, while recreational use of the drug appears is gaining popularity. Read More SAPS Busts Indicate Extent of eSwatini Cannabis Smuggling in Southern Africa 20 June 2025 at 07:30:00 Police have stepped up the arrests of illicit cannabis dealers over the past month as eSwatini outdoor floods the local black market. In the latest developments a 43 year old man was arrested in Letsitele, Limpopo for allegedly ferrying eSwatini flower to Zimbabwe, while police are searching for a man in Tonga who abandoned a car full of cannabis after a high speed chase. Read More DTIC Says New 'Omnibus Bill' Will Cut Red Tape for Cannabis and Other Sectors 18 June 2025 at 16:15:00 The DTIC is working on a ‘Omnibus Bill” aimed at making it easier to do business in South Africa. DG Simphiwe Hamilton (pictured here) says the proposed law will tidy up the red tape across a range of sectors, including cannabis, and one of its aims is to ease regulatory hurdles. Read More Reform Momentum Builds in Namibia With Jailed Cannabis Leader's Early Release 18 June 2025 at 16:00:00 Leading Nanibian cannabis activist Brian Jaftha, convicted on cannabis possession charges two years ago, has been released on parole just short of serving his full sentence. The Justice Ministry’s decision is another indication of a groundswell change of attitude under way. Read More Retired ConCourt Judge Cameron: War on Drugs Was the Biggest Mistake of the Century 18 June 2025 at 05:00:00 Retired Constitutional Court Judge, Edwin Cameron (pictured here) says the criminalization of drugs was one of the biggest public policy mistakes of the past 125 years. He says prohibition has created overcrowding in prisons, has come at a high social cost and provided no sustainable solutions. Read More Trade Minister’s Questionable Grip on Cannabis Reality Exposed in Parliament 17 June 2025 at 09:30:00 DTIC Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) seems to think there’s a moratorium on cannabis arrests and is out of touch with the reality of the fast-evolving cannabis economy. He doesn’t see the basic contradictions within the Master Plan, and everybody except Government is paying the price. Read More Justice Minister Failing in Her Legal Cannabis Obligations as ‘Crisis of Illegality’ Grows 17 June 2025 at 08:45:00 The Justice Department’s inability to fulfil its constitutional obligations is leading to increased lawlessness in the cannabis sector. It is 12 months behind publishing the regulations governing the Cannabis Act, has not yet removed cannabis from the Drugs Act and has failed to provide SAPS with clear guidelines on how to deal with cannabis offences. What’s going on with Minister Kubayi (pictured here)? Read More Tau’s Time-Frame: New Cannabis Law Must Be Passed by end February 2026 16 June 2025 at 08:30:00 Trade Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) says the Agriculture Department is working on a cannabis zoning plan to support legacy farmers and safeguard local cannabis landraces. He says at the same time the DTIC is working on an overall cannabis commercialization policy which it wants to be in law in nine months time. Read More DTIC Minister Tau: ‘Justice Dept Must Scrap Drugs Act Before Commercialization is Put on the Table’ 15 June 2025 at 11:00:00 The DTIC is waiting for the Department of Justice to scrap the Drugs Act before it can implement a commercial framework for cannabis. DTIC Minister Parks Tau has told Parliament that a draft cannabis commercialization policy is under internal discussion and will be released for comment once it is ‘finalized’. Read More SAHPRA Upgrading Systems to Deal with Surge in ‘Fake Licenses’, Bigger Regulatory Review Underway 14 June 2025 at 10:00:00 SAHPRA says it is sourcing a barcoding system to authenticate Section 21 medical cannabis service providers. This comes amidst a surge of new businesses signing up medical cannabis patients to supply them with their ‘prescriptions’, and this is ringing the regulator’s alarm bells loudly. Read More SAHPRA Warns Public Over Fake Medical Cannabis Licenses 14 June 2025 at 07:45:00 The regulator says its concerned about the increase in the use of fake SAHPRA licenses by unethical businesses as the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ continues to expand rapidly. It has urged the public to be cautious when dealing with service providers as many are illegal. Read More Three SAPS Officers Charged for Dagga Dealing After N4 ‘Convoy Bust’ 13 June 2025 at 08:45:00 Three officers from the White River Flying Squad have appeared in the Volksrust District Court to face ‘dagga dealing’ charges and have been remanded in custody. This follows their arrest on Wednesday for allegedly providing safe escort to a Toyotal Corolla packed to the brim with illicit cannabis. Read More Joint Submission by Namibia's Main Cannabis Organizations to the Ministry of Justice 13 June 2025 at 07:45:00 This is the joint submission to the Namibian Government by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia (CHAN), Medical Marijuana Association of Namibia (MMAN) and Rasta United Front (RUF) of Namibia ahead of today's deadline for public comment on cannabis laws. They specifically criticize the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act 41 of 1971 (RSA), also known as “the Impugned Act”) and the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 (“the Medicines Act”). Read More Namibian Justice Officials Attend Colorado Conference on International Cannabis Regulations 13 June 2025 at 07:00:00 Namibia may be in for a complete overhaul of its cannabis laws in the strongest indications yet from the Government of a change in its prohibitionist attitude. It has called for public input on current legislation and proposals on the way forward, and senior Justice Department officials this month attended the Cannabis Regulators Association meeting in Denver, Colarado. Read More Namibia: Friday the 13th is Deadline for Public Input on Cannabis Laws 11 June 2025 at 19:30:00 The Namibian government has indicated a willingness to revisit the country’s prohibitionist cannabis laws following months of stakeholder pressure. The four manor Namibian advocacy groups have submitted their proposals and other interested parties, who haven’t yet done so, have until close of business, 13 June 2025, to have their say, Read More White River Flying Squad Officers Bust for Allegedly Escorting Multi-Million Rand Cannabis Haul 11 June 2025 at 16:30:00 SAPS collusion with the cannabis underworld came into sharp focus at 3 pm on a blisteringly cold day on the N4 highway in Mpumulanga when three policemen – in full uniform, on duty, and in a marked car - were pulled over by fellow officers for escorting a vehicle loaded with illicit cannabis! Read More Windhoek Police Clamp Down on Cannabis Users as Namibian Government Calls for Suggested Changes to the Law 10 June 2025 at 11:30:00 The campaign for cannabis legalization in Namibia has ramped up significantly this year, while at the same time police harassment of cannabis users has turned into a human rights issue. This week police arrested six people were arrested in Windhoek for possession, while the Government received submissions on cannabis law reform. Read More Going Green? Trademark Experts Warn of Branding Risks 10 June 2025 at 08:30:00 Registering trademarks that rely on the word ‘Green’ are high risk because their general descriptive nature. Specialist trademark law firm Adams and Adams suggests that cannabis businesses – and others – should consider suggestive rather than descriptive terms in registering a brand. Read More South African Arrested in Major Northern Namibian Cannabis Bust 9 June 2025 at 08:15:00 Namibian police say the bust was one of the largest ever in Namibia’s history and believe the large-scale illicit cannabis network was one of the main suppliers to the Windhoek black market. Read More Ghana on the Go! Hemp Licensing Applications to Open Soon! 7 June 2025 at 12:30:00 Ghana is to open up its industrial cannabis licensing process soon. An estimated 600 farmers from across the West African country are hoping to 'get in on the ground', and are anxiously waiting to find out how much licenses will cost and other T's and C's. Read More SAHRC: Lack of Cannabis Arrest Guidelines Only Encourages SAPS to Victimize Rastas 7 June 2025 at 11:30:00 The South African Human Rights Commission is to step up its campaign to support the Rastafarian community in the face of ongoing police persecution. It says the systematic victimization of Rastas around the country is a continuing constitutional violation of their human rights. Read More Synergy Post the Expo: The Future is Compliance, and Retailers Are Catching on Quick 4 June 2025 at 20:00:00 Cannabis Expo headline sponsor Synergy Wellness capitalized on the exposure generated by the event, saying it had an overwhelming response from retailers and prospective patients interested in its medical cannabis services. Brett Hilton-Barber caught up with Synergy Wellness’s CEO John Hodes (pictured here) and COO Gareth Williams to see what the event generated for them. Read More The Capone Connection: Joining the Dots Between Dr Green and Professor Herb 4 June 2025 at 16:45:00 Ricardo Capone appears to have successfully eluded his pressing creditor issues and is alive and well and in an unknown location. The Dr Green executive abandoned his digital cannabis marketing campaign ahead of the Cannabis Expo and fled South Africa, where he had also been setting up a dodgy medical cannabis scheme under the Professor Herb brand. Read More Charl Botha: Cannabis Expo A Showcase for Opportunists With Little Regard to Public Safety 4 June 2025 at 13:15:00 Cannabis legal strategist Charl Botha says the Cannabis Expo has become an extension of the ‘Grey Zone’ where unregulated cannabis products are on sale without regard for consumer safety. He says the current policy vacuum has led to the Expo being a showground for opportunism. Read More Need Evidence of Medical Cannabis Misuse? Say Hi to Professor Herb 4 June 2025 at 06:00:00 Among the many new medical cannabis service providers entering the fray is UK-based Professor Herb, which through its local franchise, Dr Kush, is offering an online cannabis buying service. Professor Herb’s main product line is distributing CBD products in Europe, but as of April, it has started selling ‘medical’ cannabis in South Africa outside the regulatory channels. Read More Namibia May Be Easing Prohibitionist Stance as Government Calls for Public Input on Cannabis Laws 4 June 2025 at 03:45:00 Namibian cannabis stakeholders have until Friday 13 June 2025 to have their say on cannabis reform. The Namibian government has invited public comment on current cannabis legislation, and its new-found openness to engagement could result in an easing of its prohibitionist laws. Read More Expo Mystery: ‘Dr Green’ Disappears with Suspicious Looking Men From His Sandton Hotel 3 June 2025 at 10:30:00 Dr Green, a flash Californian cannabis digital token marketing business, was meant to put on a big show at the Expo but the mystery disappearance of one of its senior executives effectively pulled the plug on the US company’s bid to market its new cannabis NFT. The question is: whatever happened to Ricardo Capone, and who took him away? Read More Cannabis Expo Showcases Product Innovation and Highlights Regulatory Vacuum 3 June 2025 at 08:00:00 The cannabis sector continues to drive market innovation despite the regulatory hurdles that continue to dog the industry. This was evident in the offering of over 100 exhibitors, who had thousands of products on display, and a general consensus that the industry is thriving and this was a great networking event charting the future. Read More Health Department Challenges Tobacco Industry Over Safety of Vaping 3 June 2025 at 10:00:00 The Health Department wants to impose greater restrictions on the sale of vapes, accusing the tobacco industry of misrepresenting e-cigarettes as a means of ‘harms reduction’. Vaping is getting out of hand amongst youngsters, say public health advocates, who want the Bill to put severe restrictions on how vaping products are sold and displayed. Read More FGFA and UCT Launch Data-Driven Police Reform Programme to Highlight Where the System is Going Wrong 28 May 2025 at 20:15:00 FGFA will be using its presence at the Cannabis Expo to raise awareness and cash for its new research project. The data-driven exercise, in partnership with UCT, hopes to provide police management with the evidence they need to reform SAPS from within to stop using cannabis arrests to persecute the poor Read More Cannabis Act Signed Off One Year Ago. Today, Nowhere to be Seen 28 May 2025 at 10:00:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa signed off on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act a year ago, but the law has not yet been enacted into law. This is now SEVEN years since the Constitutional Court instructed Government to come up with a law regulating the private use of cannabis by adults. Read More Here in the Wild West, Nature Abhors a Vacuum 28 May 2025 at 11:00:00 The cannabis retail ‘grey zone’ is the anomaly in Government’s cannabis reform programme. In the absence of domestic market regulations, this sector has exploded into a whole new consumer segment of its own, generating billions of rand. That’s all well and good for consumers, says Silverleaf Investments Director Darryl Weisz, but legitimate investors continue to be penalized by officialdom’s inability to come up with rules for the game. Read More Compliant Players Feel the Pain as Losses Rack Up in the Absence of Regulations’ 27 May 2025 at 11:00:00 Government promises have cost private cannabis stakeholders billions of rand, left traditional growers in the lurch, and have created a regulatory vacuum which is penalising legitimate businesses. Cannabis legal activist Charl Botha says it’s time a multi-stakeholder cannabis task team to was set up to get a new overarching cannabis law on the books in 2026. Read More CBD Use Should Not Register Positive in Workplace Drug Tests, But THC is a Different Story 24 May 2025 at 15:30:00 Just because cannabis can be consumed legally in the privacy of your home doesn’t mean you can come to work stoned. That’s the view of substance testing equipment producer Rhys Evans, who says employers and employees need to understand how the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act affects the workplace. Read More Botswana Activists Launch New Advocacy Group to Decriminalize Cannabis and Ensure Govt Policy Benefits the People 24 May 2025 at 10:30:00 CAB head Peo Seed (pictured here) says cannabis legalization should not just be about job creation but entrepreneurial development and technological innovation. CAB wants cannabis decriminalized and to reshape the nation’s approach to the plant as one that could bring prosperity to the people Read More Crackdown on Organized Crime Sends Shockwaves Through Portuguese Medical Cannabis Industry 22 May 2025 at 16:15:00 The massive Portuguese police operation, Operation Weed, targeted several major legal medical cannabis companies for allegedly being part of an international drug trafficking syndicate. The nationwide raids by over 300 Portuguese police officers has resulted so far in the seizure of over seven tons of cannabis and five arrests – and has sent shockwaves through the industry. Read More Deputy President Tells French Trade Conference that SA is Developing an “Investor-Friendly Cannabis Framework” 22 May 2025 at 13:00:00 The Presidency has activated its resources to try and attract international investors for South Africa’s struggling cannabis and hemp sector. Deputy President Paul Mashatile (pictured here) has told a high level trade conference in Paris that South Africa is developing an ‘investor-friendly cannabis framework’ that warrants their attention. Read More DTIC: ‘Setting Up a Commercial Cannabis Framework is Our Priority!’ 21 May 2025 at 16:45:00 The DTIC is rebooting the Cannabis Master Plan telling key stakeholders that it’s priority is to commercialize cannabis. The Department wants to fast-track changes in the law to allow this and open up the channels of communication within government departments. Read More TCC’s Herman van Der Watt: ‘Legalize Private Cannabis Clubs Already, the Model is There!’ 21 May 2025 at 10:45:00 The co-founder of one of South Africa’s oldest private cannabis clubs, The CannaClub, has called on the Government to urgently introduce a clear legal framework under which cannabis social clubs can operate. The TCC’s Herman van der Watt says the private club movement can play an important role in social development as well as provide a safe environment for consumers, if only Government would let it. Read More Botswana Stakeholder Conference Planned: ‘Cannabis Policy Not Just Up to Govt Alone’ 21 May 2025 at 10:30:00 The private sector must get in on the ground to help shape Botswana’s cannabis and hemp policies. This is the view of IETD director Charity Kennedy (pictured here) who is organizaing a stakeholder conference at the end of August 2025 to help shape Government policy. Read More Namibia is the New Frontline in Southern Africa’s Battle for Cannabis Reform 20 May 2025 at 07:45:00 Namibia’s draconian anti-drug laws are increasingly under the spotlight as cannabis activists mobilise to legally challenge Windhoek’s prohibitiosist stance. Here Cannabiz Africa’s Africa editor, John Makoni takes a deep dive into the Namibian cannabis landscape where the fault lines are opening up like never before. Read More Charl Botha: Our Constitution Upholds the Right to Free Trade, This Should Apply to Cannabis As Well 19 May 2025 at 11:45:00 Section 22 of the Constitution upholds the right to free trade. Cannabis has been freely traded in southern Africa for hundreds of years. Legal activist Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions says there are seven Government departments who have it within their power to enable this trade. This is what he suggests they do. Read More Synergy to Give Away a Million Rands Worth of Medibles at the Cannabis Expo! 14 May 2025 at 19:15:00 Synergy Wellness will be celebrating its fifth birthday at the Cannabis Expo and spreading the joy with a mass hand out of its new 'medibles' range. Sponsorship of the Expo is a milestone for the group which is now one of the largest medical cannabis distribution networks in the world, with a network of over 250 outlets and a healthy flow of product to market. Read More Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Summit at the Expo: Major Networking Event Comes at Key Moment in Cannabis Reform 14 May 2025 at 19:15:00 South Africa’s premier cannabis industry networking event will be held alongside the Cannabis Expo taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 30 and 31 May 2025. The Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Industry Summit will bring together cannabis and hemp sector leaders with senior advisor Garth Strachan (pictured above) delivering the keynote address. Read More The CannaClub : South Africa’s Oldest Private Cannabis Club 10 Years On and Still Going Strong! 14 May 2025 at 17:30:00 The CannaClub (TCC) is South Africa’s oldest private cannabis club and had its roots in an informal cannabis ‘stokvel’ in the Western Cape’s Garden Route founded by Herman and Heidi van der Watt way back in 2015. Since then they’ve turned that vision into a leading ‘best business practice' not-for-profit organization with over 4 000 members and firm ties with local legacy cannabis communities and officialdom. Read More Postcard from Berlin: SA Viewed as a ‘Sleeping Giant’ on the Cusp of Something Significant says Nexus' Johann Slabber 14 May 2025 at 13:00:00 Nexus Pharma’s Johann Slabber (pictured here) was at the International Cannabis Conference in Berlin at the end of April and sent us his key take-outs on Europe’s biggest annual cannabis indaba. In the old days, he says, compliance with international standards was a differentiator for South African exporters. Nowdays, it’s a prerequisite if the country is to realise its potential as a world player. Read More ‘Crisis of Illegality’ Getting Worse: Grey Zone Sees More Cops on the Take and Consumers Increasingly Vulnerable 11 May 2025 at 10:30:00 Government’s lack of regulations for South Africa’s cannabis sector is perpetuating a ‘crisis of illegality’ that is spinning out of control. The unregulated explosion of the retail ‘grey zone’ has led to mass corruption in the police, employee abuse and lack of consumer protection and a critical intervention is urgently required. Read More One Year On: Why is the Cannabis Act Still Gathering Dust in the Legislative Parking Bay? 11 May 2025 at 09:30:00 Two stakeholder organizations have asked the Justice Department why it's taking so long to publish the draft regulations that would allow the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act 2024 to finally come into law. Read More Health Minister Says Public Consultations on Regulations for Cannabis and Foodstuffs 'Coming Soon’ 11 May 2025 at 09:00:00 The Health Ministry’s draft regulations around cannabis and foodstuffs will be put out for public comment ‘soon’. That’s according to Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who has yet to explain to stakeholders why he chose a to ban substances that were already illegal and in the process wreaked havoc on the hemp industry. Read More Unapologetic Health Minister Won’t Acknowledge Damage Done by Cannabis Foodstuff Ban, Which He Says Was “To Protect Children” 11 May 2025 at 07:30:00 Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi (pictured here) says he didn’t seek public comment on his shock cannabis in foodstuffs ban because legally he didn’t have to. Answering a question in the National Assembly, the Minister said the ban was issued as a prohibition notice which meant he could take an executive decision without consultation, and he did so to protect youngsters from harm. Read More CASP Cannabis Funding: Forget About Applying if You’re White and Afrikaans But it's OK if You're Chinese 10 May 2025 at 18:45:00 If you’re Chinese and holding South African citizenship you may qualify for cannabis funding under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, but forget about it if you’re white and Afrikaans. That’s according to the eligibility criteria for grants from the controversial state funding entity. Read More Govt-Funded Silver Tree Cannabis Project: No Training, No SAHPRA License and BTW the Director Used to Work for the Land Bank 10 May 2025 at 13:30:00 Silver Tree cannabis farm's director is a former Land Bank manager specialising in BEE transactions who conceptualized his cannabis ‘vision’ during his last year at the Bank in 2019. Simphiwe Yako is the man behind Silver Tree which is accused of misappropriating R20 million in government funding for cannabis training. Read More Namibia’s Jailed Cannabis Organization President Brian Jaftha Ends Hunger Strike 9 May 2025 at 11:00:00 The jailed Ganja Users of Namibia leader Brian Jaftha (pictured here) ended his hunger strike after five days following the intervention of Namibia’s presidency which says that it will pick up on his human rights complaints. And it looks like he may be out on parole soon. Read More Rastas Lead the Drive for ‘Full Adult-Use' Cannabis Legalization in Botswana 9 May 2025 at 10:30:00 Botswana’s President Duma Boko is to legalize medical and industrial cannabis under his new government, but the nation’s Rastafarian community wants him to go further and legalize cannabis for full adult-use. Read More Essential Reading: Current Cannabis Regulations in South Africa 2025 9 May 2025 at 09:45:00 The global CBD industry continues to grow rapidly, and South Africa has positioned itself as one of the most progressive CBD markets in Africa. While CBD products are legally available to consumers, there is still a degree of uncertainty around the regulations—especially concerning dosage limits, THC content, and product categories. Read More CASP: The Rot at the Core of Government’s Plans to Fund Cannabis Training 7 May 2025 at 16:45:00 It beggars belief that the state entity involved in funding the fraudulent Gupta-linked Free State dairy scheme, is now disbursing cannabis funding on behalf of the Agriculture Department. But, yup, it’s true, and there should be no surprise that the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is behind the missing R20 million earmarked for West Rand cannabis training Read More Cannabis Becoming a Human Rights Issue in Namibia as Jailed Activist Brian Jaftha Embarks on a Hunger Strike 7 May 2025 at 17:30:00 Cannabis has become a human rights issue more than ever in Namibia as the country becomes the new frontline in the push for legalization. Following last week’s protest march in Windhoek, jailed Namibian cannabis leader Brian Jaftha has gone on hunger strike in a call for human rights Read More The Tier-Drop Solution: Here’s How to Rein In the Cannabis Cowboys and Regulate the ‘Grey Zone’ 5 May 2025 at 09:30:00 South Arica is in urgent need of a cannabis retail licensing system as the so-called ‘grey zone’ expands beyond regulatory reach. Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has put forward a cannabis retail model that could address the absurdity of a system that criminalizes legitimate entrepreneurs and mainstreams drug dealers - and all the while emasculating officialdom. Read More Cheeba’s Trenton Birch: R20 million Govt Cannabis Training Shambles is ‘Sadly, Typical’ 4 May 2025 at 16:45:00 The founder and CEO of South Africa’s leading cannabis skills and training academy says he’s not surprised that Gauteng Government has mismanaged a West Rand training scheme in which R20 million appears to have been misappropriated. Cheeba Africa’s Trenton Birch says this is a “sadly, typical government project”. Read More Govt Quietly Overhauls Hemp Regulations in a Major Way, Confirms THC Limit Will Be Raised to 2% 3 May 2025 at 17:00:00 Government has quietly overhauled its hemp farming regulations, confirming the lift in THC limits to 2%, dropping fencing requirements and size restrictions and getting the police out of the picture. This has emerged from a written response by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen to a question in Parliament on the National Cannabis Master Plan. Read More Cannabis Legalization on the Agenda As Tanzania Prepares for October Elections 3 May 2025 at 08:45:00 Activists in Tanzania are calling on the government to legalise cannabis as the country prepares for a general election in October 2025, which the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is expected to win. However, it appears there's still a long road ahead for any softening of prohibitionist attitudes in the East African country. Read More DA Accuses Gauteng Govt of Blowing R20 Million on West Rand Cannabis Project ‘That Has Nothing To Show For It’ 2 May 2025 at 11:30:00 The Democratic Alliance is taking on Gauteng’s Agriculture Department for wasting money on an ill-advised cannabis project at Tarlton near Mogale City. The Silver Tree project received R20 million funding to train cannabis farmers, but the money appears to have vanished without being spent on its intended purpose. Read More Synergy Medibles' Robin Grobelaar: Making Plant Alchemy Work Within the Rules 30 April 2025 at 16:15:00 Robin Grobelaar (pictured here) is the man behind Synergy Medibles, the innovative business concept that has navigated the hazards of the current regulatory regime to produce SAH|PRA compliant ‘medibles. He explains to Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber how these edibles are not foodstuffs at all, but are complementary medicines in line with the regulator’s consumer safety guidelines. Read More Namibian Chiefs: Legalization 'Will Bring Madness to the People' 3 May 2025 at 09:00:00 Former Namibian Justice Minister and Ongandjera Traditional Authority spokesperson, Sakeus Shangula (pictured here), says cannabis legalization runs against the grain of the country’s commitment to prevent substance abuse. He says there is increased alcohol and tobacco consumption amongst Namibia’s youth and any form of legalization will make matters worse. Read More Namibian Cannabis Activists to Take to Windhoek’s Streets This Saturday to Call for Legalization 30 April 2025 at 10:30:00 The cannabis legalization movement in Namibia is gathering momentum as a second protest march is planned for this Saturday in the capital. More protests are planned ahead of a July court hearing challenging the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition. Read More Freedom Day Not: Police Harassment Worse Since Rasta Round Table in February 28 April 2025 at 07:00:00 The Human Rights Commission tried to broker a halt to cannabis arrests during its Rasta Round Table meeting between communities and SAPS in February this year. SAPS played hardball then, and still are – the harassment of Rastafarians around the country is getting worse. Read More If Govt Taxed the ‘Grey Zone’, There’d Be No VAT Increase Debate 28 April 2025 at 06:30:00 A cannabis 'sin tax' could conceivably remove or reduce the perceived need to raise VAT by 0.5 percentage points. That’s the view of the Daily Maverick’s Ed Stoddard, who says that cannabis remains the missing link in Treasury’s arsenal of taxes. Read More Standard Bank Interested in Financing the ‘Organic Products’ Sector, Cannabis Just Happens to be Part of That! 27 April 2025 at 10:00:00 Mainstream banks are beginning to nibble at the prospect of financing cannabis businesses as calls mount for the Government to remove the obstacles to funding this sector. Standard Bank is seeking more to business in the ‘organic’ market as a way of tip-toeing into the cannabis space. Read More Cannabiz Africa MarketPlace Cannabiz Africa MarketPlace is your source of business news focussing on the African cannabis market. Stay up to date with new projects, investments, company news and market developments in this rapidly-growing sector. Explore More Legal services are in high demand, in the rapidly evolving African cannabis market. Expose your brand, and market your services to this target market. For advertising, details call Nicolaas on +27716869332 What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service COMING IN FRESH TOP LEGAL STORIES SAHPRA ‘Fake Certificates’ Allegedly Used For Growing Cannabis, Never Mind Selling the Stuff! Read More Legal cannabis strategist Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) over a new form of ‘fake licence’ on the market, this one apparently authorized by the DTIC as well as the regulator. Read his letter to SAHPRA here.

Cannabiz-Africa is your hub for all cannabis news and resources. Everything from breaking news, cannabis politics, business investments, legal policies and a marketplace network where we connect you with local businesses. Be in the know with the hottest, freshest and most up-to date hemp movements. BREAKING Business News Cannabiz Africa brings you the hottest breaking business cannabis news right here! From crucial developments in laws and reform to socio-economic changes in the industry. Find your latest dose of breaking news right here and stay onto of the earliest developments! So, What’s Stopping the Commercial Trade in Cannabis? These Are the Challenges Facing the Master Plan Read More The DTIC has identified the major challenges it faces in commercialising cannabis. The main one by far is the law. Until such time as crucial legislative changes are made, the trade in cannabis and related products is prohibited. But there are also nine other significant obstacles that need to be faced in implementing the National Cannabis Master Plan. DTIC Puts Commercial Cannabis Law Timeframe on the Table Read More The adoption of a commercial cannabis framework is to be put through the Nedlac process before a new law comes into force in 2027. That's the DTIC's time-frame for a complete overhaul of current cannabis laws which it's laid out in its draft commercialization policy that is now out for stakeholder comment. Commercializing Cannabis: CDH Suggests Tiered Tax System Based on THC Potency 16 July 2025 at 18:15:00 Leading law firm CDH has published its own road map towards cannabis commercialisation and one of its suggestions is that high THC products should be taxed at a higher rate than other cannabis products. It says this would incentivize the development of the CBD market and discourage consumers from buying potent – and potentially dangerous – products. Read More SSETA Launches Training and Certification Programme for Cannabis Dispensary Professionals 15 July 2025 at 08:00:00 South Africa has taken a major step forward in mainstreaming cannabis retail with a government agency’s launch of a specialist cannabis dispensery training programme. The South African Services Sector Education Authority (SSETA) anticipates the sector to grow by 20% in the next year and has launched a comprehensive training programme which will offer a national certificate for dispensary professionals. Read More Most Hemp Farmers Struggling With ‘Knowledge Gap’ and Seed Supply 10 July 2025 at 10:00:00 South Africa’s hemp industry is fragmented and in dire need of standardized cultivation practices. Over half the country’s hemp farmers say they’re held back by a lack of training and standardization, according to the University of Tshwane, and these issues need to be resolved if the industry is to grow. Read More Johann Slabber: Developing a Compliance Model for the Grey Zone is the Way to Mainstream the Marginalized 9 July 2025 at 13:00:00 Most participants in the cannabis industry don’t have the capital to mainstream themselves according to current rules and regulations which favour those with deep pockets. Nexus CEO Johan Slabber says he’s developing a compliance model to integrate smaller growers, informal operators, and emerging dispensaries into a formal, sustainable value chain that leaves no one behind. Read More Juicy Feeling: The Bigger Net is Closing on Dr Green Following Disastrous SA Launch 9 July 2025 at 11:30:00 Dr Green attempted to launch its medical cannabis service and ‘token’ investment scheme in South Africa earlier this year, but that fell apart when the company’s CFO, Ricardo Capone (pictured here), fled the country under mysterious circumstances. Now it seems Dr Green’s international operations are coming under scrutiny from several quarters, and it could all unravel further. Read More SAHPRA Refining Cannabis Regulations in Light of Evolving Landscape 8 July 2025 at 09:45:00 SAHPRA says its refining its regulatory framework as the South African cannabis landscape evolves. That’s according to its 2025/26 Performance Plan (undated) in which it wants to improve its systems and technology, address patient access issues and regulate product standardization.. Read More Rise in Medical Cannabis Patients Poses New Challenges for Employers 8 July 2025 at 08:30:00 Cannabis in the workplace will increasingly become an issue with the rising number of medical cannabis patients in South Africa. One of the potential dilemmas is the balancing the rights of an employee to privacy around their ailments and medication against the obligations of the employer to provide a safe working environment for all workers. Read More DTIC DG Simphiwe Hamilton: Cannabis is All About Re-Imagining Our Industrial Policy for Economic Growth 5 July 2025 at 13:45:00 DTIC Director General Simphiwe Hamilton (pictured here) is guiding cannabis policy development within the department which is the lead institution driving the National Cannabis Master Plan. He says cannabis is part of the Government’s ‘re-imagining’ of industrial policy and provides an executive summary of the draft policy document put out for comment. Read More Trade Minister Tau: Legalizing ‘Recreational’ Use of Cannabis Will Have a Net Positive Social Impact’ 5 July 2025 at 13:30:00 Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) is the first cabinet minister to fully back the legalization of general adult-use cannabis consumption since the days of Tito Mboweni. He says ‘recreational use’ is less harmful than alcohol and minors can be protected through regulation and wants your input on the draft cannabis commercial guidelines his Department has put out for public comment. Read More DTIC Puts Commercial Cannabis Law Timeframe on the Table 5 July 2025 at 09:30:00 The adoption of a commercial cannabis framework is to be put through the Nedlac process before a new law comes into force in 2027. That's the DTIC's time-frame for a complete overhaul of current cannabis laws which it's laid out in its draft commercialization policy that is now out for stakeholder comment. Read More DTIC Unveils its Route Markers to Navigate SA Towards the Legal Trade in Cannabis 4 July 2025 at 12:00:00 The DTIC has finally put the missing piece in the National Cannabis Master Plan jigsaw puzzle and has completed the picture of what South Africa can expect by way of a commercial cannabis framework. The DTIC has now put out for public comment its draft recommendations on the way forward and the framework it envisages. Read More So, What’s Stopping the Commercial Trade in Cannabis? These Are the Challenges Facing the Master Plan 4 July 2025 at 10:30:00 The DTIC has identified the major challenges it faces in commercialising cannabis. The main one by far is the law. Until such time as crucial legislative changes are made, the trade in cannabis and related products is prohibited. But there are also nine other significant obstacles that need to be faced in implementing the National Cannabis Master Plan. Read More DTIC to Build ‘Cannabis Finance Eco System’ to Accelerate Funding for the Master Plan 2 July 2025 at 18:00:00 The DTIC wants to fast-track the creation of financial instruments to support the National Cannabis Master Plan. It wants Treasury to come up with tax incentives for private investors and is to get Government to focus on funding legacy farmers and SMME's across the value chain. Read More DTIC: SA Cannabis Licensing System to be Completely Overhauled and Placed Under Control of a Central Cannabis Authority ASAP 2 July 2025 at 17:00:00 The DTIC’s draft cannabis commercialization policy envisages the centralization of all licensing issues under one roof – that of a ‘central authority’ that will establish and oversee a completely new cannabis and hemp licensing regime in which retailers will be accommodated. Read More Western Cape’s CanPlan to Focus on Hemp Trials and Knowledge Transfer 2 July 2025 at 10:00:00 The Western Cape’s CanPlan is taking shape with the province aligning itself with the DTIC in the foundational development of the hemp industry. Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer (pictured here) says the focus is on knowledge transfer and farmer support with hemp varietal trials currently underway. Read More SAHPRA ‘Fake Certificates’ Allegedly Used For Growing Cannabis, Never Mind Selling the Stuff! 1 July 2025 at 08:45:00 Legal cannabis strategist Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) over a new form of ‘fake licence’ on the market, this one apparently authorized by the DTIC as well as the regulator. Read his letter to SAHPRA here. Read More TCI Turning Traditional Knowledge Into Market-Friendly Cannabis Products 24 June 2025 at 11:00:00 South Africa is blessed with a centuries-old legacy of cannabis culture and within this traditional knowledge lies the basis for a whole new future generation of cannabis products. This is the vision of the Township Cannabis Incubator’s CEO Dr Ncebakazi Galada (pictured here), who’s mission is to bring Eastern Cape SMME’s capitalizing on this knowledge into being ready for market. Read More Limpopo Rising: Universities Drive Innovative Community Cannabis Collaboration Model 24 June 2025 at 10:00:00 Limpopo academics, municipal representatives and community stakeholders are driving a grassroots initiative to create a sustainable provincial cannabis sector by 2030. This was unveiled at a recent summit at the University of Venda where 120 representatives gathered to create a collaborative community cannabis framework. Read More Kobus Schoeman Says Goodbye to Grow One Africa as Organization Streamlines its Club Offering 22 June 2025 at 13:15:00 Kobus Schoeman’s name has been synonymous with Grow One Africa for the past eight years, but the cannabis club service provider founder has decided to leave to focus his energy on the industrial hemp sector. Vanessa de Sousa takes over the reins to steer a streamlined organization forward. Read More Trade Minister’s Questionable Grip on Cannabis Reality Exposed in Parliament 17 June 2025 at 09:30:00 DTIC Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) seems to think there’s a moratorium on cannabis arrests and is out of touch with the reality of the fast-evolving cannabis economy. He doesn’t see the basic contradictions within the Master Plan, and everybody except Government is paying the price. Read More Justice Minister Failing in Her Legal Cannabis Obligations as ‘Crisis of Illegality’ Grows 17 June 2025 at 08:45:00 The Justice Department’s inability to fulfil its constitutional obligations is leading to increased lawlessness in the cannabis sector. It is 12 months behind publishing the regulations governing the Cannabis Act, has not yet removed cannabis from the Drugs Act and has failed to provide SAPS with clear guidelines on how to deal with cannabis offences. What’s going on with Minister Kubayi (pictured here)? Read More Tau’s Time-Frame: New Cannabis Law Must Be Passed by end February 2026 16 June 2025 at 08:30:00 Trade Minister Parks Tau (pictured here) says the Agriculture Department is working on a cannabis zoning plan to support legacy farmers and safeguard local cannabis landraces. He says at the same time the DTIC is working on an overall cannabis commercialization policy which it wants to be in law in nine months time. Read More DTIC Minister Tau: ‘Justice Dept Must Scrap Drugs Act Before Commercialization is Put on the Table’ 15 June 2025 at 11:00:00 The DTIC is waiting for the Department of Justice to scrap the Drugs Act before it can implement a commercial framework for cannabis. DTIC Minister Parks Tau has told Parliament that a draft cannabis commercialization policy is under internal discussion and will be released for comment once it is ‘finalized’. Read More SAHPRA Upgrading Systems to Deal with Surge in ‘Fake Licenses’, Bigger Regulatory Review Underway 14 June 2025 at 10:00:00 SAHPRA says it is sourcing a barcoding system to authenticate Section 21 medical cannabis service providers. This comes amidst a surge of new businesses signing up medical cannabis patients to supply them with their ‘prescriptions’, and this is ringing the regulator’s alarm bells loudly. Read More SAHPRA Warns Public Over Fake Medical Cannabis Licenses 14 June 2025 at 07:45:00 The regulator says its concerned about the increase in the use of fake SAHPRA licenses by unethical businesses as the cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’ continues to expand rapidly. It has urged the public to be cautious when dealing with service providers as many are illegal. Read More Joint Submission by Namibia's Main Cannabis Organizations to the Ministry of Justice 13 June 2025 at 07:45:00 This is the joint submission to the Namibian Government by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia (CHAN), Medical Marijuana Association of Namibia (MMAN) and Rasta United Front (RUF) of Namibia ahead of today's deadline for public comment on cannabis laws. They specifically criticize the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act 41 of 1971 (RSA), also known as “the Impugned Act”) and the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 (“the Medicines Act”). Read More PotAround’s Green Lady Takes Cannabis Marketing into the Extremely Fast Lane 11 June 2025 at 18:15:00 Cannabis brands are usually associated with peace, calm, love and understanding. Not with high torque extreme car racing and smack-in-your-face martial arts or jumping a Motor x bike 23m into the air, but Hey! There’s no rule book in this game and the guys behind the PotAround franchise are redefining plant marketing – and it’s paying off! Read More Going Green? Trademark Experts Warn of Branding Risks 10 June 2025 at 08:30:00 Registering trademarks that rely on the word ‘Green’ are high risk because their general descriptive nature. Specialist trademark law firm Adams and Adams suggests that cannabis businesses – and others – should consider suggestive rather than descriptive terms in registering a brand. Read More Ghana on the Go! Hemp Licensing Applications to Open Soon! 7 June 2025 at 12:30:00 Ghana is to open up its industrial cannabis licensing process soon. An estimated 600 farmers from across the West African country are hoping to 'get in on the ground', and are anxiously waiting to find out how much licenses will cost and other T's and C's. Read More History in the Making: South Africa and Lesotho To Set Up Cross-Border Cannabis Trade Agreement 6 June 2025 at 10:45:00 South Africa and Lesotho have taken the first concrete steps to establishing a cannabis ‘SADEC’ with trade representatives agreeing to establish a common regulatory framework. The two countries intend to standardize their cannabis guidelines and seek ways to leverage this trade agreement to take advantage of international markets. Read More Synergy Post the Expo: The Future is Compliance, and Retailers Are Catching on Quick 4 June 2025 at 20:00:00 Cannabis Expo headline sponsor Synergy Wellness capitalized on the exposure generated by the event, saying it had an overwhelming response from retailers and prospective patients interested in its medical cannabis services. Brett Hilton-Barber caught up with Synergy Wellness’s CEO John Hodes (pictured here) and COO Gareth Williams to see what the event generated for them. Read More Cheeba’s Trenton Birch: ‘We Must Work Together, The Real Competition is in the International Market' 4 June 2025 at 19:30:00 The Cannabis Expo is a vital matrix in the South African cannabis industry and has a vital role in bringing people together. But there could have been a bit more support from South African cannabis professionals. That’s the view of Trenton Birch (pictured here), convener of the Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Industry Summit which took place alongside the Cannabis Expo last weekend. Read More The Capone Connection: Joining the Dots Between Dr Green and Professor Herb 4 June 2025 at 16:45:00 Ricardo Capone appears to have successfully eluded his pressing creditor issues and is alive and well and in an unknown location. The Dr Green executive abandoned his digital cannabis marketing campaign ahead of the Cannabis Expo and fled South Africa, where he had also been setting up a dodgy medical cannabis scheme under the Professor Herb brand. Read More Charl Botha: Cannabis Expo A Showcase for Opportunists With Little Regard to Public Safety 4 June 2025 at 13:15:00 Cannabis legal strategist Charl Botha says the Cannabis Expo has become an extension of the ‘Grey Zone’ where unregulated cannabis products are on sale without regard for consumer safety. He says the current policy vacuum has led to the Expo being a showground for opportunism. Read More Need Evidence of Medical Cannabis Misuse? Say Hi to Professor Herb 4 June 2025 at 06:00:00 Among the many new medical cannabis service providers entering the fray is UK-based Professor Herb, which through its local franchise, Dr Kush, is offering an online cannabis buying service. Professor Herb’s main product line is distributing CBD products in Europe, but as of April, it has started selling ‘medical’ cannabis in South Africa outside the regulatory channels. Read More Expo Mystery: ‘Dr Green’ Disappears with Suspicious Looking Men From His Sandton Hotel 3 June 2025 at 10:30:00 Dr Green, a flash Californian cannabis digital token marketing business, was meant to put on a big show at the Expo but the mystery disappearance of one of its senior executives effectively pulled the plug on the US company’s bid to market its new cannabis NFT. The question is: whatever happened to Ricardo Capone, and who took him away? Read More Cannabis Expo Showcases Product Innovation and Highlights Regulatory Vacuum 3 June 2025 at 08:00:00 The cannabis sector continues to drive market innovation despite the regulatory hurdles that continue to dog the industry. This was evident in the offering of over 100 exhibitors, who had thousands of products on display, and a general consensus that the industry is thriving and this was a great networking event charting the future. Read More Health Department Challenges Tobacco Industry Over Safety of Vaping 3 June 2025 at 10:00:00 The Health Department wants to impose greater restrictions on the sale of vapes, accusing the tobacco industry of misrepresenting e-cigarettes as a means of ‘harms reduction’. Vaping is getting out of hand amongst youngsters, say public health advocates, who want the Bill to put severe restrictions on how vaping products are sold and displayed. Read More In the Game? In Gauteng? You’d be Crazy to Miss the 2025 Cannabis Expo This Weekend 28 May 2025 at 13:45:00 The Sandton Convention Centre will become the cannabis capital of Africa this weekend as thousands of people are expected to visit the long-awaited Cannabis Expo 2025, presented by Synergy Wellness. Read More Cannabis Act Signed Off One Year Ago. Today, Nowhere to be Seen 28 May 2025 at 10:00:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa signed off on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act a year ago, but the law has not yet been enacted into law. This is now SEVEN years since the Constitutional Court instructed Government to come up with a law regulating the private use of cannabis by adults. Read More Here in the Wild West, Nature Abhors a Vacuum 28 May 2025 at 11:00:00 The cannabis retail ‘grey zone’ is the anomaly in Government’s cannabis reform programme. In the absence of domestic market regulations, this sector has exploded into a whole new consumer segment of its own, generating billions of rand. That’s all well and good for consumers, says Silverleaf Investments Director Darryl Weisz, but legitimate investors continue to be penalized by officialdom’s inability to come up with rules for the game. Read More Trending USA: Guys More Likely to Smoke, Women Prefer Edibles, Drinks and Lotions 27 May 2025 at 12:45:00 A new report from a US federal agency examines modes of cannabis consumption preferred by Americans, finding that while smoking remains the most common method overall, it’s also far more popular among male consumers than female ones. Meanwhile, women are more likely to consume cannabis edibles, beverages and topicals than men are. Read More The Matekwane Sandbox Aims to Empower North West Cannabis Communities 27 May 2025 at 12:45:00 North-West University (NWU) has unveiled its innovative Matekwane Sandbox, a “transformative research and development hub” aimed at integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the legal cannabis industry. University cannabis researcher, Dr Thandeka Kunene (pictured here), says this is a significant milestone in ensuring people are able to access opportunities in the commercialization of cannabis. Read More Compliant Players Feel the Pain as Losses Rack Up in the Absence of Regulations’ 27 May 2025 at 11:00:00 Government promises have cost private cannabis stakeholders billions of rand, left traditional growers in the lurch, and have created a regulatory vacuum which is penalising legitimate businesses. Cannabis legal activist Charl Botha says it’s time a multi-stakeholder cannabis task team to was set up to get a new overarching cannabis law on the books in 2026. Read More Mpumalanga Govt Says it Wants to Support Small-Scale Cannabis Businesses 25 May 2025 at 08:00:00 Mpumulanga’s Agriculture and Small Business Development departments are actively seeking to fund ‘sustainable’ cannabis businesses with a focus on grassroots entreprenuers. This emerged at the recent Cannabis Symposium held near Mbombela earlier this month. Read More CBD Use Should Not Register Positive in Workplace Drug Tests, But THC is a Different Story 24 May 2025 at 15:30:00 Just because cannabis can be consumed legally in the privacy of your home doesn’t mean you can come to work stoned. That’s the view of substance testing equipment producer Rhys Evans, who says employers and employees need to understand how the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act affects the workplace. Read More Botswana Activists Launch New Advocacy Group to Decriminalize Cannabis and Ensure Govt Policy Benefits the People 24 May 2025 at 10:30:00 CAB head Peo Seed (pictured here) says cannabis legalization should not just be about job creation but entrepreneurial development and technological innovation. CAB wants cannabis decriminalized and to reshape the nation’s approach to the plant as one that could bring prosperity to the people Read More Deputy President Tells French Trade Conference that SA is Developing an “Investor-Friendly Cannabis Framework” 22 May 2025 at 13:00:00 The Presidency has activated its resources to try and attract international investors for South Africa’s struggling cannabis and hemp sector. Deputy President Paul Mashatile (pictured here) has told a high level trade conference in Paris that South Africa is developing an ‘investor-friendly cannabis framework’ that warrants their attention. Read More DTIC: ‘Setting Up a Commercial Cannabis Framework is Our Priority!’ 21 May 2025 at 16:45:00 The DTIC is rebooting the Cannabis Master Plan telling key stakeholders that it’s priority is to commercialize cannabis. The Department wants to fast-track changes in the law to allow this and open up the channels of communication within government departments. Read More TCC’s Herman van Der Watt: ‘Legalize Private Cannabis Clubs Already, the Model is There!’ 21 May 2025 at 10:45:00 The co-founder of one of South Africa’s oldest private cannabis clubs, The CannaClub, has called on the Government to urgently introduce a clear legal framework under which cannabis social clubs can operate. The TCC’s Herman van der Watt says the private club movement can play an important role in social development as well as provide a safe environment for consumers, if only Government would let it. Read More Botswana Stakeholder Conference Planned: ‘Cannabis Policy Not Just Up to Govt Alone’ 21 May 2025 at 10:30:00 The private sector must get in on the ground to help shape Botswana’s cannabis and hemp policies. This is the view of IETD director Charity Kennedy (pictured here) who is organizaing a stakeholder conference at the end of August 2025 to help shape Government policy. Read More Charl Botha: Our Constitution Upholds the Right to Free Trade, This Should Apply to Cannabis As Well 19 May 2025 at 11:45:00 Section 22 of the Constitution upholds the right to free trade. Cannabis has been freely traded in southern Africa for hundreds of years. Legal activist Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions says there are seven Government departments who have it within their power to enable this trade. This is what he suggests they do. Read More Okhahlamba Hopes Planned ‘Shared Cannabis Processing Facility’ Will Create Jobs as KZN Now Has Highest Unemployment Rate in SA 16 May 2025 at 08:00:00 Okhahlamba (Bergville) Municipality in the Kwazulu Natal Drakensberg his pinning its hopes to bring down crippling unemployment in the area with the development of a cannabis processing facility. The pilot project is being funded by the province but the Municipality hopes to raise an additional R10 million to bring it to fruition. Read More Infrastructure Snags Slow Down Rwanda’s Flagship Cannabis Development Project 15 May 2025 at 10:15:00 Rwanda’s Development Board has put up US$1,5 million of the US$3 million needed to complete a major project in partnership with US company KKOG which has already sunk US$10 million into its Musanze facility. The project, already delayed by a year, is now ‘83%’ complete according to the RDB. Read More Synergy to Give Away a Million Rands Worth of Medibles at the Cannabis Expo! 14 May 2025 at 19:15:00 Synergy Wellness will be celebrating its fifth birthday at the Cannabis Expo and spreading the joy with a mass hand out of its new 'medibles' range. Sponsorship of the Expo is a milestone for the group which is now one of the largest medical cannabis distribution networks in the world, with a network of over 250 outlets and a healthy flow of product to market. Read More Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Summit at the Expo: Major Networking Event Comes at Key Moment in Cannabis Reform 14 May 2025 at 19:15:00 South Africa’s premier cannabis industry networking event will be held alongside the Cannabis Expo taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 30 and 31 May 2025. The Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Industry Summit will bring together cannabis and hemp sector leaders with senior advisor Garth Strachan (pictured above) delivering the keynote address. Read More The CannaClub : South Africa’s Oldest Private Cannabis Club 10 Years On and Still Going Strong! 14 May 2025 at 17:30:00 The CannaClub (TCC) is South Africa’s oldest private cannabis club and had its roots in an informal cannabis ‘stokvel’ in the Western Cape’s Garden Route founded by Herman and Heidi van der Watt way back in 2015. Since then they’ve turned that vision into a leading ‘best business practice' not-for-profit organization with over 4 000 members and firm ties with local legacy cannabis communities and officialdom. Read More Postcard from Berlin: SA Viewed as a ‘Sleeping Giant’ on the Cusp of Something Significant says Nexus' Johann Slabber 14 May 2025 at 13:00:00 Nexus Pharma’s Johann Slabber (pictured here) was at the International Cannabis Conference in Berlin at the end of April and sent us his key take-outs on Europe’s biggest annual cannabis indaba. In the old days, he says, compliance with international standards was a differentiator for South African exporters. Nowdays, it’s a prerequisite if the country is to realise its potential as a world player. Read More ‘Crisis of Illegality’ Getting Worse: Grey Zone Sees More Cops on the Take and Consumers Increasingly Vulnerable 11 May 2025 at 10:30:00 Government’s lack of regulations for South Africa’s cannabis sector is perpetuating a ‘crisis of illegality’ that is spinning out of control. The unregulated explosion of the retail ‘grey zone’ has led to mass corruption in the police, employee abuse and lack of consumer protection and a critical intervention is urgently required. Read More One Year On: Why is the Cannabis Act Still Gathering Dust in the Legislative Parking Bay? 11 May 2025 at 09:30:00 Two stakeholder organizations have asked the Justice Department why it's taking so long to publish the draft regulations that would allow the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act 2024 to finally come into law. Read More Health Minister Says Public Consultations on Regulations for Cannabis and Foodstuffs 'Coming Soon’ 11 May 2025 at 09:00:00 The Health Ministry’s draft regulations around cannabis and foodstuffs will be put out for public comment ‘soon’. That’s according to Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who has yet to explain to stakeholders why he chose a to ban substances that were already illegal and in the process wreaked havoc on the hemp industry. Read More Unapologetic Health Minister Won’t Acknowledge Damage Done by Cannabis Foodstuff Ban, Which He Says Was “To Protect Children” 11 May 2025 at 07:30:00 Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi (pictured here) says he didn’t seek public comment on his shock cannabis in foodstuffs ban because legally he didn’t have to. Answering a question in the National Assembly, the Minister said the ban was issued as a prohibition notice which meant he could take an executive decision without consultation, and he did so to protect youngsters from harm. Read More CASP Cannabis Funding: Forget About Applying if You’re White and Afrikaans But it's OK if You're Chinese 10 May 2025 at 18:45:00 If you’re Chinese and holding South African citizenship you may qualify for cannabis funding under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, but forget about it if you’re white and Afrikaans. That’s according to the eligibility criteria for grants from the controversial state funding entity. Read More Govt-Funded Silver Tree Cannabis Project: No Training, No SAHPRA License and BTW the Director Used to Work for the Land Bank 10 May 2025 at 13:30:00 Silver Tree cannabis farm's director is a former Land Bank manager specialising in BEE transactions who conceptualized his cannabis ‘vision’ during his last year at the Bank in 2019. Simphiwe Yako is the man behind Silver Tree which is accused of misappropriating R20 million in government funding for cannabis training. Read More Essential Reading: Current Cannabis Regulations in South Africa 2025 9 May 2025 at 09:45:00 The global CBD industry continues to grow rapidly, and South Africa has positioned itself as one of the most progressive CBD markets in Africa. While CBD products are legally available to consumers, there is still a degree of uncertainty around the regulations—especially concerning dosage limits, THC content, and product categories. Read More CASP: The Rot at the Core of Government’s Plans to Fund Cannabis Training 7 May 2025 at 16:45:00 It beggars belief that the state entity involved in funding the fraudulent Gupta-linked Free State dairy scheme, is now disbursing cannabis funding on behalf of the Agriculture Department. But, yup, it’s true, and there should be no surprise that the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is behind the missing R20 million earmarked for West Rand cannabis training Read More The Tier-Drop Solution: Here’s How to Rein In the Cannabis Cowboys and Regulate the ‘Grey Zone’ 5 May 2025 at 09:30:00 South Arica is in urgent need of a cannabis retail licensing system as the so-called ‘grey zone’ expands beyond regulatory reach. Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions has put forward a cannabis retail model that could address the absurdity of a system that criminalizes legitimate entrepreneurs and mainstreams drug dealers - and all the while emasculating officialdom. Read More Cheeba’s Trenton Birch: R20 million Govt Cannabis Training Shambles is ‘Sadly, Typical’ 4 May 2025 at 16:45:00 The founder and CEO of South Africa’s leading cannabis skills and training academy says he’s not surprised that Gauteng Government has mismanaged a West Rand training scheme in which R20 million appears to have been misappropriated. Cheeba Africa’s Trenton Birch says this is a “sadly, typical government project”. Read More Agriculture Dept Says It’s Ready to Roll-Out its New Hemp Support Programme Across the Country 4 May 2025 at 08:45:00 The Agriculture Department says it’s to embark on a nationwide ‘multiplication drive’ for the two local hemp varietals it has registered, and will provide permit holders with training and support with the assistance of the Agricultural Research Council. Read More Global Medical Cannabis Market Experiencing Healthy, Double Digit Growth Despite Regulatory Challenges 2 May 2025 at 14:00:00 The ‘Medical Marijuana Global Strategic Business Report 2025’ projects over 14% compound growth in the international market with key growth drivers including increased legalization, technological advancements in cultivation and extraction, and rising chronic disease prevalence. Among the challenges are regulatory hurdles and social stigma. Read More DA Accuses Gauteng Govt of Blowing R20 Million on West Rand Cannabis Project ‘That Has Nothing To Show For It’ 2 May 2025 at 11:30:00 The Democratic Alliance is taking on Gauteng’s Agriculture Department for wasting money on an ill-advised cannabis project at Tarlton near Mogale City. The Silver Tree project received R20 million funding to train cannabis farmers, but the money appears to have vanished without being spent on its intended purpose. Read More Synergy Medibles' Robin Grobelaar: Making Plant Alchemy Work Within the Rules 30 April 2025 at 16:15:00 Robin Grobelaar (pictured here) is the man behind Synergy Medibles, the innovative business concept that has navigated the hazards of the current regulatory regime to produce SAH|PRA compliant ‘medibles. He explains to Cannabiz Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber how these edibles are not foodstuffs at all, but are complementary medicines in line with the regulator’s consumer safety guidelines. Read More Edibles Game Changer: Synergy to Launch ‘Medibles' Concept at Expo 30 April 2025 at 15:45:00 South Africa’s largest medical cannabis service provider, Synergy Wellness, has taken advantage of the whole furore over cannabis edibles to launch a new product concept – ‘medibles’. In a classic case of guerrilla marketing, Synergy has used the publicity around the recently rescinded cannabis in foodstuffs ban to bring to market a completely compliant over-the-counter cannabis edibles range with health benefits. Read More Cannabis Expo: Health and Wellness is Trending, Is it Replacing the Novelty of ‘Rec’? 30 April 2025 at 13:00:00 With Gauteng’s Cannabis Expo just a month away, it’s clear that there is a growing consumer interest in the health and wellness benefits of cannabis and that the novelty of unfettered access to recreational THC products is not what it used to be. Nonetheless there will be plenty of both at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025 Read More If Govt Taxed the ‘Grey Zone’, There’d Be No VAT Increase Debate 28 April 2025 at 06:30:00 A cannabis 'sin tax' could conceivably remove or reduce the perceived need to raise VAT by 0.5 percentage points. That’s the view of the Daily Maverick’s Ed Stoddard, who says that cannabis remains the missing link in Treasury’s arsenal of taxes. Read More Standard Bank Interested in Financing the ‘Organic Products’ Sector, Cannabis Just Happens to be Part of That! 27 April 2025 at 10:00:00 Mainstream banks are beginning to nibble at the prospect of financing cannabis businesses as calls mount for the Government to remove the obstacles to funding this sector. Standard Bank is seeking more to business in the ‘organic’ market as a way of tip-toeing into the cannabis space. Read More Morocco’s Historic Moment as it Exports Landrace to the Pharma Industry for the First Time 23 April 2025 at 17:00:00 Morocco is Africa’s leading cannabis export nation having embarked on an ambitious legalizatio progamme that put small-scale farmers at its core. Now start up Cannaflex has successfully exported for the first time the famed Moroccan landrace, Beldia, to European pharmaceutical buyers Read More Cannabis Policy Paralysis is Scaring Off Investors and Eroding Consumer Trust 23 April 2025 at 13:30:00 The government’s inability to craft a meaningful framework for the development of a domestic cannabis industry is keeping investors away and eroding consumer trust. That’s the view of the former CE of the Tobacco Institute of SA, who says authorities urgently need to develop an integrated strategy for the industry to keep cannabis reform afloat. Read More E Cape Looks to ‘Blended’ Finance Model to ‘Derisk’ Legacy Cannabis Growers 23 April 2025 at 10:15:00 The Eastern Cape’s business model for supporting legacy growers is taking shape under the Agri-Blended Finance Scheme, which it has introduced as a general agricultural support mechanism in Mpondoland and other rural areas. Cannabis growers were among the 30 beneficiaries who received over R50 million from the first phase of a pilot project. Read More Five Red Flags That Should Alert Cannabis Investors to Scams 22 April 2025 at 13:00:00 Despite the lack of guiding regulations, the South African cannabis retail sector is booming – and attracting millions of rands of investment. Investors have climbed into the ‘grey zone’, despite the sale of cannabis being illegal – and many have been taken for a ride. If you’re looking to invest in any cannabis business, these are the five red flags you should look out for. Read More Tangled Webb of Woe: Detectives After Gauteng Cannabis Scam Artist for Skimming Investors 22 April 2025 at 11:30:00 A disgruntled investor has hired a private security company to try and track down 34 year old Christopher Webb, the man alleged to have scammed hundreds of thousands of rands off many people in a fake cannabis scheme involving South African farmers. Read More Half-Baked: Prospective Private Club Partnership Falls Apart in Crypto Fundraising Muddle 22 April 2025 at 10:15:00 Iconic Cape Town private cannabis club Baked has to repay a prospective partner R5,7 million after disagreement over a promised crypto-currency fund-raising deal that never materialized. Baked’s appeal against having to repay the funds has been dismissed by the Western Cape High Court. Read More Medigrow Investors Pause Funding for Eastern Cape Cannabis Project Because of Hemp Foodstuff Ban 16 April 2025 at 10:30:00 Medigrow’s international investors have pressed the pause button on further investment in the company’s R1 billion Eastern Cape cannabis project because of the lack of clarity over South Africa’s hemp policy. The company has been caught up in the aftermath of the now-rescinded hemp foodstuff ban and has halted operations while ‘sensitive negotiations’ are underway to seek resolution. Read More Major International Cannabis Conference Coming to SA: Overcoming Barriers and Developing Standards 16 April 2025 at 10:30:00 A major international conference on ‘Barriers to Entry’ in the cannabis industry is to take place in South Africa next month. The ASTM conference will also look at refining international standards on cannabis food and beverages. Deadline for registration is next week. Read More Buffalo Soldiers: Zambian Defence Force’s Cannabis Mission to Malawi 16 April 2025 at 09:00:00 The Zambian Defence Force National Service is the only entity in the country legally permitted to cultivate and sell industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. It recently sent a delegation to Malawi on a cannabis fact-finding mission as it prepares to be a potential player in the African market. Read More CSIR tells President: All our Cannabis Foodstuff Products Have Always Been Legal 14 April 2025 at 09:45:00 The CSIR says it has incubated scores of small businesses to process and trade in cannabis-related foodstuffs and all have been within the guidelines laid down by SAHPRA and the Department of Agriculture. This emerged during the President’s tour of the CSIR’s cannabis research unit last week - which had its lighter moments! Read More Botswana to Establish ‘Central Cannabis Authority’ to Oversee Policy Implementation and Regulation 12 April 2025 at 12:00:00 Botswana is to establish a central institutional authority to oversee the roll-out of a planned medical and industrial cannabis strategy. This is one of the recommendations by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in a policy document drawn up for the Government and leaked to Cannabiz Africa. Read More Chic Power: Women Drive the Worldwide ‘Cannabis Wellness Revolution’ 11 April 2025 at 11:00:00 ‘Cannabis and wellness’ is a growing trend, and internationally, women are driving innovation and shaping this new market. They are seeking out products that fit into a healthier lifestyle and using them with more sophisticated intention. Read More Synergy’s Hodes: There’s No Regulatory Uncertainty Around Medical Cannabis and the Market is Growing 9 April 2025 at 20:00:00 Fast-growing Synergy Wellness is the headline sponsor for this year’s Cannabis Expo and will be using the event as a major drive to make people aware of the medical benefits of cannabis. Synergy director Jon Hodes (pictured here) believes health and wellness will be one of the most sustainable sectors of the new cannabis market and has structured the company’s business plan around this. Read More Main Networking Event of the Year: Cheeba Africa’s Industry Summit at Cannabis Expo 9 April 2025 at 18:30:00 Cheeba Africa has announced it will hold a two day ‘Cannabis and Hemp Summit’ at the Cannabis Expo to bring stakeholders together to network, upskill and develop their business concepts. It will also provide a forum for the industry to discuss how best to deal with Government in the imminent ‘stakeholder discussons’ on cannabis policy. Read More Cannabis Expo’s Howarth: ‘We’re Building the Highway Even if the Road Signs Aren’t Up Yet’ 9 April 2025 at 13:30:00 This year’s Cannabis Expo comes at a crucial time for the cannabis industry as the ‘grey zone’ consumer market explodes and Government says its ‘really willing’ to engage stakeholders on policy. It’s also been a tough time for players wanting to be legitimate, but that could all be changing. Expo CEO Silas Howarth (pictured here) shares his thoughts on putting together Africa’s biggest cannabis event and where the market is at. Read More Cannabis Expo Signs Up Synergy as Headline Sponsor, Gets Ready to Rock Sandton at the End of May 9 April 2025 at 13:15:00 Africa’s grandest cannabis show comes to town next month in the form of the Cannabis Expo. The three day celebration of cannabis culture and essential business networking will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 May to 1 June 2025. Thousands of people are expected to attend the Expo which will also see a ‘summit’ of industry stakeholders take place to discuss how to push cannabis reform forward. Read More Medical Research Council: Standardize THC Dosage Limits and Labelling Guidelines 8 April 2025 at 13:30:00 The SAMRC has called for standardized dosage regulations for THC edible products and appropriate labelling guidelines. It says legalization of cannabis carries risks for youngsters and with edibles consumption on the rise, authorities need to be increasingly conscious of consumer safety. Read More Khopotse: Now Ban is Behind Us, Let’s Use Hemp Foods to Tackle Malnutrition 8 April 2025 at 09:45:00 The chairman of the recently formed cannabis and hemp lobby group, SACHIDA says now is the time to develop hemp-based superfoods to tackle malnutrition. Katelga Khopotse says Government’s new attitude opens up the industrial cannabis value and that hemp can help feed the people. Read More Druids Taps Into Ancient Wisdom: Launches Biotika, Plant Medicine Booster Range 7 April 2025 at 14:15:00 Druids Garden, the SAHPRA-licensed Gauteng facility has been at the forefront of much of the innovation in South Africa’s cannabis industry. The latest fruit from its garden is Biotika, a range of plant-based energy boosters and health supplements that it bought to market last month. Cannabis Africa publisher Brett Hilton-Barber got the lowdown on the worldwide return to ancient medicines with Druids’ CEO Cian McLelland, who also shared his thoughts on the sorry state of SA cannabis reform. Read More Big Alcohol Wants to Be Tennessee’s Hemp Regulator: ‘It’s Like Asking the Malboro Man to Run a Yoga Studo’ 7 April 2025 at 11:00:00 Big Booze is nervous. Alcohol sales are dropping and cannabis consumption is rising. In the US, Tennessee Alcoholic Hemp Commission wants to be the regulator of the cannabis industry. Columnist Stephen Brown from Nothing But Hemp says this is a bad idea: a cannabinoid is not something you chase with lime and salt, and that maybe scientists should be in charge. Read More 'If SA Gets Cannabis Framework Right, It Could Be a Blueprint for BRICS+' 7 April 2025 at 09:00:00 An unlikely newcomer to the cannabis industry commentariat has just weighed in with the unlikely notion that if South Africa gets its policy framework right, it could serve as a blueprint for the BRICS+ group of nations. Independent media owner Dr Iqbal Surve, says cannabis could be a way of fostering new trade relationships outside traditional cannabis markets. Read More Stakeholder Pressure: Foodstuff Ban Sorted, Now Scrap the Drugs Act! 7 April 2025 at 07:00:00 Cannabis reform cannot proceed while cannabis is still defined as an illicit substance. That’s the view of activist lawyer, Charl Botha, who has written to President Ramaphosa, saying that his proposed stakeholder engagement will be hollow as long as the Drugs Act is in force. Read More Stellenbosch Researchers Squeeze Value Out of Waste in New Cannabis Extraction Breakthrough 5 April 2025 at 13:30:00 Stellenbosch University chemical engineers have developed a unique wax-based method of extraction that recovers valuable compounds that would otherwise be wasted. They say their methodology could make African cannabis exporters far more competitive on the global stage. Read More Political Pressure Forces Last-Minute Postponement of Botswana Hemp Conference 5 April 2025 at 11:30:00 Pressure from opposition political parties forced the last minute postponement of the Botswana Inaural Hemp Business Conferrence, which will now only take place in July. Read More What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

Cannabiz-Africa is your hub for all cannabis news and resources. Everything from breaking news, cannabis politics, business investments, legal policies and a marketplace network where we connect you with local businesses. Be in the know with the hottest, freshest and most up-to date hemp movements. WHY CANNABIZ AFRICA? Cannabiz Africa is Africa's leading B2B cannabis news platform. Let us expose your brand, products and service to the African cannabis marketplace. See our sponsorship and advertising details below. Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Key Facts: Established in 2020 by veteran journalist Brett Hilton-Barber Published over 1 000 news reports since then Based in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province SA Readership includes key decision-makers across the value chain in the African cannabis industry; Over 4,000 unique users 1 500 subscribers to the weekly Newsline Fourfold increase in traffic over the past three months 80% of readers in SA with a nationwide footprint (130 cities, towns, villages) Most international readers are from the US, UK, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands Also regular site visitors from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Brazil, Jamaica, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Poland, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine Reaching African readers in Namibia, eSwatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Mauritius What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service

A large contingent of KZN law enforcement officers descended on a ‘vegetable farm’ on Wednesday and discovered a five hectare field of cannabis. They seized a large amount of cannabis, and arrested 14 people linked to the farm, among them foreign nationals. A large contingent of KZN law enforcement officers descended on a ‘vegetable farm’ on Wednesday and discovered a five hectare field of cannabis. They seized a large amount of cannabis, and arrested 14 people linked to the farm, among them foreign nationals. 16 July 2025 at 22:30:00 Cannabiz Africa KwaZulu Natal police have arrested 14 people after raiding a large scale, five hectare outdoor illicit grow operation near Babanango on Wednesday 16 July 2025. Ten of those arrested were foreign nationals. The suspects, aged between 19 and 40 years old are due to appear in the Babanango Magistrates Court soon. According to police spokesperson Captain Ntathu Ndlovu, cannabis worth hundreds of thousands of rands was seized during the raid on the plantation that was fronting as a vegetable farm. “Pieces of South African National Defence Force uniform, machetes and processed cannabis were also found in the possession of the suspects,” said Ndlovu. The operation consisted of a multidisciplinary team, comprising officers from the SAPS Zululand District, Vryheid and Ulundi K9 units, Vryheid Search and Rescue, Home Affairs Immigration Officers, Zone 3 Task Team members and officers from the Ulundi Local Municipality Crime Prevention Unit. Meanwhile in Mpumulanga, SAPS arrested three men in a bakkie loaded with six bags of cannabis weighing over 117 kg, and a SAPS-estimated street value of R700 000. The suspects, Nowa Mkhonto (39), Phinda Mnisi (30) who are from the Kingdom of Eswatini and Mxolisi Mavimbela (36), a South African, were arrested in the early hours of 14 June 2025 at Ekulindeni. SAPS says the men will be "charged for dealing in dagga" and an that additional charge of contravention of Immigration Act was added to the two suspects who did not have legal documentation to be in the country. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service KZN Police Arrest 14 After Raiding 5 ha Illegal Cannabis Farm Near Babanango

Cannabiz-Africa is your hub for all cannabis news and resources. Everything from breaking news, cannabis politics, business investments, legal policies and a marketplace network where we connect you with local businesses. Be in the know with the hottest, freshest and most up-to date hemp movements. BREAKING African News Cannabiz Africa brings you the hottest breaking African cannabis news right here! From crucial developments in laws and reform to socio-economic changes in the industry. Find your latest dose of breaking news right here and stay onto of the earliest developments! Namibian Survey Finds Significant Support for Legalization, Especially in the North Read More Namibia’s Government has long maintained that the ban on cannabis reflects the will of the people, but a recent Afrobarometer survey shows the opposite is true – Nambians broadly support full-adult use legalization, especially in Caprivi and the north. Namibia High Court Ruling on Constitutionality of Cannabis Prohibition Set for 12 August 2025 Read More The State has asked for more time to adjust its case in opposition to the legal challenge by cannabis activists to have Namibia’s prohibitionist laws to be overturned. A ruling on the matter has been postponed for over five weeks, prompting an accusation that the State is using delaying tactics to wear down the plaintiffs. Namibian Survey Finds Significant Support for Legalization, Especially in the North 9 July 2025 at 07:00:00 Namibia’s Government has long maintained that the ban on cannabis reflects the will of the people, but a recent Afrobarometer survey shows the opposite is true – Nambians broadly support full-adult use legalization, especially in Caprivi and the north. Read More Namibia High Court Ruling on Constitutionality of Cannabis Prohibition Set for 12 August 2025 5 July 2025 at 14:00:00 The State has asked for more time to adjust its case in opposition to the legal challenge by cannabis activists to have Namibia’s prohibitionist laws to be overturned. A ruling on the matter has been postponed for over five weeks, prompting an accusation that the State is using delaying tactics to wear down the plaintiffs. Read More Northern Namibian Cannabis Dealing Accused Remanded in Custody 2 July 2025 at 20:15:00 The four men arrested after last month’s major cannabis bust in Northern Namibia will remain behind bars while further investigations continue. Police say the haul (pictured above) in the Hochfield area was one of the biggest seizures in the country’s history. Read More Namibia’s Prohibitionist Cannabis Laws Come Under Constitutional Scrutiny in the Windhoek High Court 2 July 2025 at 19:45:00 Namibia’s legalization debate has come before the Windhoek High Court which has been called on to decide whether the ban on cannabis is consititutional. An application has been brought by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) following months of intense campaigning against prohibition by the country’s cannabis activists. Read More Released Cannabis Leader to Sue Namibian Govt for N$1,25 Million for Human Rights Abuse 1 July 2025 at 07:00:00 Ganja Users of Namibia President Brian Jaftha spent nearly two years in jail for possessing 100 gm of cannabis and forfeited assets to the state of N$160 000. He was released early as a gesture of goodwill by the Government, but tells Africa Editor John Makoni in his first interview since his release, that this is not justice enough and is to sue for N$1,25 million in damages in his personal capacity. Read More UN Drugs Report 2025: North Americans Now Consuming More Cannabis Than Anyone Else, Anywhere 29 June 2025 at 10:45:00 Over 20% of North Americans have consumed cannabis over the past year. The comparable figure in West Africa is 10% and in South Africa 5%! The latest UN figures show that cannabis use has increased 34% worldwide over the past decade. Read More SA Dealing With ‘Complex and Evolving Drug Landscape’ as Substance Abuse On the Rise Worldwide. 29 June 2025 at 07:30:00 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has praised South Africa for its efforts in addressing a ‘complex and evolving drug landscape’. The UN says SA’s development of a Drug Master Plan was one its notable achievements in harms reduction and treatment initiatives. Read More Tanzania: Don’t Go Wearing Your Rasta Gear Downtown Any Time Soon 25 June 2025 at 18:00:00 Tanzania’s drug enforcement authorities have warned that anyone wearing clothes with a cannabis insignia could be liable for arrest. As the rest of the continent adopts a more relaxed approach to the plant, Tanzania is veering in the opposite direction taking a hard line ahead of the general elections scheduled for October 2025. Read More Ghana: Jerry Rawlings’ Daughter Champions the Environmental Benefits of Hemp 23 June 2025 at 11:00:00 Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the daughter of strongman and former president of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings (pictured above), has won the hearts of hemp activists after calling on her country to turn to industrial hemp as a means to solve her country’s growing environmental waste problem. Read More SAPS Busts Indicate Extent of eSwatini Cannabis Smuggling in Southern Africa 20 June 2025 at 07:30:00 Police have stepped up the arrests of illicit cannabis dealers over the past month as eSwatini outdoor floods the local black market. In the latest developments a 43 year old man was arrested in Letsitele, Limpopo for allegedly ferrying eSwatini flower to Zimbabwe, while police are searching for a man in Tonga who abandoned a car full of cannabis after a high speed chase. Read More Reform Momentum Builds in Namibia With Jailed Cannabis Leader's Early Release 18 June 2025 at 16:00:00 Leading Nanibian cannabis activist Brian Jaftha, convicted on cannabis possession charges two years ago, has been released on parole just short of serving his full sentence. The Justice Ministry’s decision is another indication of a groundswell change of attitude under way. Read More Joint Submission by Namibia's Main Cannabis Organizations to the Ministry of Justice 13 June 2025 at 07:45:00 This is the joint submission to the Namibian Government by the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), Cannabis and Hemp Association of Namibia (CHAN), Medical Marijuana Association of Namibia (MMAN) and Rasta United Front (RUF) of Namibia ahead of today's deadline for public comment on cannabis laws. They specifically criticize the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act 41 of 1971 (RSA), also known as “the Impugned Act”) and the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 (“the Medicines Act”). Read More Namibian Justice Officials Attend Colorado Conference on International Cannabis Regulations 13 June 2025 at 07:00:00 Namibia may be in for a complete overhaul of its cannabis laws in the strongest indications yet from the Government of a change in its prohibitionist attitude. It has called for public input on current legislation and proposals on the way forward, and senior Justice Department officials this month attended the Cannabis Regulators Association meeting in Denver, Colarado. Read More Namibia: Friday the 13th is Deadline for Public Input on Cannabis Laws 11 June 2025 at 19:30:00 The Namibian government has indicated a willingness to revisit the country’s prohibitionist cannabis laws following months of stakeholder pressure. The four manor Namibian advocacy groups have submitted their proposals and other interested parties, who haven’t yet done so, have until close of business, 13 June 2025, to have their say, Read More Windhoek Police Clamp Down on Cannabis Users as Namibian Government Calls for Suggested Changes to the Law 10 June 2025 at 11:30:00 The campaign for cannabis legalization in Namibia has ramped up significantly this year, while at the same time police harassment of cannabis users has turned into a human rights issue. This week police arrested six people were arrested in Windhoek for possession, while the Government received submissions on cannabis law reform. Read More South African Arrested in Major Northern Namibian Cannabis Bust 9 June 2025 at 08:15:00 Namibian police say the bust was one of the largest ever in Namibia’s history and believe the large-scale illicit cannabis network was one of the main suppliers to the Windhoek black market. Read More Ghana on the Go! Hemp Licensing Applications to Open Soon! 7 June 2025 at 12:30:00 Ghana is to open up its industrial cannabis licensing process soon. An estimated 600 farmers from across the West African country are hoping to 'get in on the ground', and are anxiously waiting to find out how much licenses will cost and other T's and C's. Read More History in the Making: South Africa and Lesotho To Set Up Cross-Border Cannabis Trade Agreement 6 June 2025 at 10:45:00 South Africa and Lesotho have taken the first concrete steps to establishing a cannabis ‘SADEC’ with trade representatives agreeing to establish a common regulatory framework. The two countries intend to standardize their cannabis guidelines and seek ways to leverage this trade agreement to take advantage of international markets. Read More Namibia May Be Easing Prohibitionist Stance as Government Calls for Public Input on Cannabis Laws 4 June 2025 at 03:45:00 Namibian cannabis stakeholders have until Friday 13 June 2025 to have their say on cannabis reform. The Namibian government has invited public comment on current cannabis legislation, and its new-found openness to engagement could result in an easing of its prohibitionist laws. Read More Botswana Activists Launch New Advocacy Group to Decriminalize Cannabis and Ensure Govt Policy Benefits the People 24 May 2025 at 10:30:00 CAB head Peo Seed (pictured here) says cannabis legalization should not just be about job creation but entrepreneurial development and technological innovation. CAB wants cannabis decriminalized and to reshape the nation’s approach to the plant as one that could bring prosperity to the people Read More Botswana Stakeholder Conference Planned: ‘Cannabis Policy Not Just Up to Govt Alone’ 21 May 2025 at 10:30:00 The private sector must get in on the ground to help shape Botswana’s cannabis and hemp policies. This is the view of IETD director Charity Kennedy (pictured here) who is organizaing a stakeholder conference at the end of August 2025 to help shape Government policy. Read More Namibia is the New Frontline in Southern Africa’s Battle for Cannabis Reform 20 May 2025 at 07:45:00 Namibia’s draconian anti-drug laws are increasingly under the spotlight as cannabis activists mobilise to legally challenge Windhoek’s prohibitiosist stance. Here Cannabiz Africa’s Africa editor, John Makoni takes a deep dive into the Namibian cannabis landscape where the fault lines are opening up like never before. Read More Infrastructure Snags Slow Down Rwanda’s Flagship Cannabis Development Project 15 May 2025 at 10:15:00 Rwanda’s Development Board has put up US$1,5 million of the US$3 million needed to complete a major project in partnership with US company KKOG which has already sunk US$10 million into its Musanze facility. The project, already delayed by a year, is now ‘83%’ complete according to the RDB. Read More Namibia’s Jailed Cannabis Organization President Brian Jaftha Ends Hunger Strike 9 May 2025 at 11:00:00 The jailed Ganja Users of Namibia leader Brian Jaftha (pictured here) ended his hunger strike after five days following the intervention of Namibia’s presidency which says that it will pick up on his human rights complaints. And it looks like he may be out on parole soon. Read More Rastas Lead the Drive for ‘Full Adult-Use' Cannabis Legalization in Botswana 9 May 2025 at 10:30:00 Botswana’s President Duma Boko is to legalize medical and industrial cannabis under his new government, but the nation’s Rastafarian community wants him to go further and legalize cannabis for full adult-use. Read More Cannabis Becoming a Human Rights Issue in Namibia as Jailed Activist Brian Jaftha Embarks on a Hunger Strike 7 May 2025 at 17:30:00 Cannabis has become a human rights issue more than ever in Namibia as the country becomes the new frontline in the push for legalization. Following last week’s protest march in Windhoek, jailed Namibian cannabis leader Brian Jaftha has gone on hunger strike in a call for human rights Read More Cannabis Legalization on the Agenda As Tanzania Prepares for October Elections 3 May 2025 at 08:45:00 Activists in Tanzania are calling on the government to legalise cannabis as the country prepares for a general election in October 2025, which the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is expected to win. However, it appears there's still a long road ahead for any softening of prohibitionist attitudes in the East African country. Read More Namibian Chiefs: Legalization 'Will Bring Madness to the People' 3 May 2025 at 09:00:00 Former Namibian Justice Minister and Ongandjera Traditional Authority spokesperson, Sakeus Shangula (pictured here), says cannabis legalization runs against the grain of the country’s commitment to prevent substance abuse. He says there is increased alcohol and tobacco consumption amongst Namibia’s youth and any form of legalization will make matters worse. Read More Namibian Cannabis Activists to Take to Windhoek’s Streets This Saturday to Call for Legalization 30 April 2025 at 10:30:00 The cannabis legalization movement in Namibia is gathering momentum as a second protest march is planned for this Saturday in the capital. More protests are planned ahead of a July court hearing challenging the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition. Read More Morocco’s Historic Moment as it Exports Landrace to the Pharma Industry for the First Time 23 April 2025 at 17:00:00 Morocco is Africa’s leading cannabis export nation having embarked on an ambitious legalizatio progamme that put small-scale farmers at its core. Now start up Cannaflex has successfully exported for the first time the famed Moroccan landrace, Beldia, to European pharmaceutical buyers Read More Namibian Activists Call for Legalization of Medical Cannabis on 420 Day 22 April 2025 at 10:00:00 Namibian cannabis activists marched in Windhoek on 20 April 2025 to mark 420 Day and to call for the legalization of medical cannabis. The march, led by advocate Borro Ndungula (pictured here) of the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN), was aimed at highlighting an upcoming court case challenging the Government’s prohibitionist stance.. Read More Major International Cannabis Conference Coming to SA: Overcoming Barriers and Developing Standards 16 April 2025 at 10:30:00 A major international conference on ‘Barriers to Entry’ in the cannabis industry is to take place in South Africa next month. The ASTM conference will also look at refining international standards on cannabis food and beverages. Deadline for registration is next week. Read More Buffalo Soldiers: Zambian Defence Force’s Cannabis Mission to Malawi 16 April 2025 at 09:00:00 The Zambian Defence Force National Service is the only entity in the country legally permitted to cultivate and sell industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. It recently sent a delegation to Malawi on a cannabis fact-finding mission as it prepares to be a potential player in the African market. Read More Probably a World Record: Nigeria Destroys 1,4 Million Tons of Illegal Cannabis in One Go 14 April 2025 at 11:00:00 Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) carried out what is probably the biggest cannabis burn ever: 1,4 million tons of cannabis were destroyed in Abuja at the weekend as part of a public drug awareness campaign. By way of comparison, legal cannabis sales in the US in 2023 amounted to less than 3 000 tons. Read More Botswana to Establish ‘Central Cannabis Authority’ to Oversee Policy Implementation and Regulation 12 April 2025 at 12:00:00 Botswana is to establish a central institutional authority to oversee the roll-out of a planned medical and industrial cannabis strategy. This is one of the recommendations by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in a policy document drawn up for the Government and leaked to Cannabiz Africa. Read More Main Networking Event of the Year: Cheeba Africa’s Industry Summit at Cannabis Expo 9 April 2025 at 18:30:00 Cheeba Africa has announced it will hold a two day ‘Cannabis and Hemp Summit’ at the Cannabis Expo to bring stakeholders together to network, upskill and develop their business concepts. It will also provide a forum for the industry to discuss how best to deal with Government in the imminent ‘stakeholder discussons’ on cannabis policy. Read More 'If SA Gets Cannabis Framework Right, It Could Be a Blueprint for BRICS+' 7 April 2025 at 09:00:00 An unlikely newcomer to the cannabis industry commentariat has just weighed in with the unlikely notion that if South Africa gets its policy framework right, it could serve as a blueprint for the BRICS+ group of nations. Independent media owner Dr Iqbal Surve, says cannabis could be a way of fostering new trade relationships outside traditional cannabis markets. Read More Political Pressure Forces Last-Minute Postponement of Botswana Hemp Conference 5 April 2025 at 11:30:00 Pressure from opposition political parties forced the last minute postponement of the Botswana Inaural Hemp Business Conferrence, which will now only take place in July. Read More Last Mover Advantage: Botswana Better Placed Than SA to Become Regional Hemp Powerhouse 2 April 2025 at 14:30:00 Botswana looks set to bypass the regulatory nightmare that has beset South Africa's industrial cannabis industry by putting in a set of rules for the game before it opens up the market. Neighbouring South Africa, by comparison, has found itself in a quandary where permits are being issued with no clear market guidelines yet in place. Read More SANDF: Cross Border Cannabis Trafficking Almost a ‘Daily Occurrence’ 30 March 2025 at 10:30:00 The SANDF has been deployed for the last six months along the South Africa’s northern and eastern borders to combat transnational smuggling. Defence Web reports that this month’s seizure of R1,5 m worth of cannabis on the border between KwaZulu Natal and eSwatini highlights how porous the country’s frontiers are to drug smugglers. Read More Botswana Hosts Major Hemp Indaba to Chart Regulatory Way Forward 26 March 2025 at 19:30:00 Botswana will once again get a chance to showcase its bold vision to incorporate hemp into its economy when it hosts the Inaugural Hemp Business Summit in Gaborone on 5 April 2025. Read More ‘Heartbreaking’ Policy Inertia and Public Stigma Holding Back Kenyan Hemp Sector 24 March 2025 at 09:00:00 Cannabis is still stuck in research mode in Kenya, despite Government promises to allow an industrial hemp sector to develop. One of the major problems is the stigma attached to cannabis, which stakeholders have suggested be countered with a public education campaign. Read More Zimbabwe’s 'Dr Zoey': The Region Should Harmonize Regulations And Market Itself as a Solid Bloc on World Markets 22 March 2025 at 13:15:00 Imagine a ‘Cannabis SADEC’ in which the member countries harmonized their regulatory criteria and worked as a solid bloc to market southern African medical and industrial cannabis to the world. That’s the vision of Zimbabwe’s leading cannabis change-maker, Dr Zorodzai Maroveke who says that would make a real difference Africa’s prospects of becoming a real player in the global game. Read More Namibia: Definition of Dealing Under Scrutiny in the Courts 17 March 2025 at 11:30:00 Namibian law assumes anyone found with over 115 gm of cannabis is guilty of dealing. That definition is being contested in the Windhoek High Court where a Keetmanshoop man convicted of having 241 gm in his possession was convicted as a drug dealer. Read More Applications Open: DTIC Seeks Project Manager for Cannabis Master Plan 12 March 2025 at 07:00:00 The DTIC has restructured and seeking a project manager for the National Cannabis Master Plan: You're Interested? Apply Here Read More Botswana Leverages Gaberone’s Twin City Status with Toronto to its Cannabis Advantage 4 March 2025 at 10:00:00 Botswana is the latest African country to partially legalize cannabis, and South African and Canadian stakeholders are getting in on the regulatory ground floor. Botswana hopes to use South African and Canadian expertise in getting a framework in place that will enable it to use cannabis to reduce its dependence on diamond exports, stimulate business and reduce unemployment. Read More Cannabis is the Gateway Drug to the World’s New Plant-based Medicine Revolution 1 March 2025 at 08:30:00 Plant-based therapies are becoming all the rage as more scientists unlock nature’s secrets to find new healing and wellness benefits. Africa is well-poised to take advantage of the new global plant-based product revolution that is integrating cosmetics and healing. Read More Cannabis Mission DRC: Cheeba to the Rescue to Fix Broken Hemp Project 26 February 2025 at 07:00:00 The DRC hasn’t featured much in the African legal cannabis landscape because the industry is going through the teething pains of developing an export market. A major industrial hemp project near Kinshasa ran into trouble with its first harvest and called in South African-based Cheeba Consultancy to help iron out the problems. Read More Ghana: Clearing the Ground for West Africa’s First Industrial Cannabis Revolution 24 February 2025 at 10:00:00 After years of legislative delays, Ghana’s plans to develop a hemp sector are finally underway. It hasn't been an easy ride getting here says 'Hempire's' CEO Nana Kwaku Agyemang. He tells Cannabiz Africa that large tracts of land are being cleared for hemp planting and that industrial cannabis in Ghana is open for business. Read More Zimbabwe Hopes Local Genetics Research Will Lower High Input Costs of Cannabis Farming 18 February 2025 at 14:00:00 Zimbabwe has embarked on a programme to cross-breed indigenous landrace strains with imported genetics in the hope of bringing down farm input costs. This comes as it struggles to build traction in the industrial hemp market with only seven of the 48 licensees actually in operation. Read More Malawi Makes Up Lost Ground as Cannabis Momentum Begins to Build 18 February 2025 at 08:00:00 Malawi’s ‘head of cannabis’ says that the creation of a single cannabis authority, co-ordination between government departments and meaningful incentives for foreign investors have laid a solid foundation for future growth. Malawi is now poised to capitalize on its most famous landrace, Malawi Gold, as the export market opens up. Read More Colorado-Based Nutiva Gets in Quick as Botswana Begins Developing Hemp Sector 17 February 2025 at 06:00:00 Botswana is to kick off its part-legalization of cannabis with a hemp business summit in Gaberone in April, at which international companies and banks will be in attendance. The meeting’s main objective is to chart a regulatory way forward. Read More Rwanda Sets Aside Large Site for Cannabis Production, Five Companies Interested 1 February 2025 at 05:30:00 Last year Rwanda issued the first cannabis industry guidelines focusing on medical and industrial cannabis for export. Kigali has now set aside a large tract of land as a cannabis hub and is looking for investors. Read More African Cannabis Hits an Impasse: Limited Vision, Disappointing Exports and No Local Market Development 29 January 2025 at 19:00:00 Africa has missed out on the first wave of cannabis legalization that has swept the Americas and Europe. Exports have not lived up to expectation and there has been limited local market development. African cannabis is now at an impasse and is being left further behind as international markets grow exponentially . Read More Morocco: Growers Call for Recreational Cannabis to be Legalized as Hemp Stockpile Mounts and Prices Drop 24 January 2025 at 12:30:00 Morocco is Africa’s largest exporter of cannabis, mostly hemp for industrial purposes. However, cannabis reform has faltered with record crops and lower prices, prompting traditional growers to call for a legal domestic adult-use market to be legalized. Read More Namibian Police Seize 380 kg Cannabis in December, Concerns That Other Drug Use is Rising 17 January 2025 at 06:45:00 Namibian police are concerned that the country is becoming a “nation of drug addicts and drug dealers". This follows the arrest of 126 people in December for drug-related offences, the appearance of metamphetamine in the country and the increasing use of Namibians as ‘drug mules’. Read More Zimbabwe Seeks Investors for Ambitious US$ 17m Goromonzi Cannabis Hub Project 14 January 2025 at 11:00:00 ZIDA has put out a call for investors to fund an ambitious US$16,9 million ‘industrial hemp and cannabis hub' at Goromonzi, 40 km east of Harare. Read More Hello Hemp: Networking Event in Nairobi is Kenya’s First Step Towards Developing an Industrial Cannabis Sector 6 January 2025 at 14:00:00 Kenya has taken the first step towards realizing the potential of industrial cannabis with a landmark hemp workshopping conference planned for Nairobi on 20 January 2025. Read More Africa: Cannabis Reform Stuck in the Shadows of a Substance Abuse Crisis 6 January 2025 at 07:00:00 Cannabis reform in Africa is taking a very different route from the legalization in other jurisdictions as the continent’s policy-makers see the plant simply as a drug. That approach means that cannabis is lumped in the same category as heroin, metamphetamines and cocaine which tends to obscure the real drug problem - Africa's growing synthetic drugs crisis. Read More Going into 2025, Africa’s Potential to be a Medical Cannabis Powerhouse Remains an Elusive Dream 30 December 2024 at 09:00:00 Africa faces numerous hurdles if it is ever to realize its potential to become a global leader in medical cannabis production. Among those challenges are balancing policy, economic growth and social norms. With lazy, conservative thinking entrenched in post-colonial governments across the continent, Africa is many years away from any hope of being a player in the world medical cannabis arena. Read More Malawi: Invegrow Kickstarts Exports But Cannabis Reform is Failing the Rural Poor It Was Meant to Help 13 December 2024 at 13:00:00 Where have we heard this before? Well, in South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini, Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco and just about every other African country that has legalized cannabis for export. Now Malawi joins their ranks in a sad but familiar repeat from the African cannabis playbook, with Invegrow being its only success story to date. Read More Ghana Launches Chamber of Cannabis Industry to Guide Policy and Set Standards 9 December 2024 at 06:00:00 Earlier this year Ghana’s Chamber of Commerce set up a specialist division to help establish a regulated cannabis industry in the West African country. The CCI’s CEO Mark Darko writes how Ghana is taking the regional lead in creating a commercial medicinal and industrial cannabis industry. Read More Namibia: Cops Refuse Permission for Cannabis Protest Because ‘Foreign Nationals’ Are Involved. 24 November 2024 at 06:00:00 The Namibian Police won’t allow a planned cannabis protest march to take place on 10 December 2024 because ‘foreign nationals’ have been invited to participate’. A top officer says this will be ‘detrimental to Namibia’s sovereignty and will only let the protest go ahead if no foreigners are involved. Read More Botswana Breakthrough: New President Embraces Cannabis in First SONA 20 November 2024 at 09:00:00 Botswana will diversify its diamond-dependent economy by launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine, President Duma Boko said on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 in his first State of the Nation address (SONA). Read More SA Court Censures Swaziland News for Calling eSwatini King a “Dangerous Dagga Dealer " Intent on Looting the Nation 18 November 2024 at 09:00:00 Judgement has been reserved in a Mbombela court case in which the eSwatini Prime Minister is tryng to gag the rebel Swaziland News, accusing it of terrorism and defamation. Part of the PM’s objection is that the paper reported without substantiating its sources, that King Mswati III is involved in the Kingdom’s illegal cannabis trade. Read More Zimbabwe's Ivory Medical Launches Therapeutic Product Range Integrating Cannabis and Traditional African Medicine 11 November 2024 at 06:00:00 Zimbabwe has been struggling to develop its medical cannabis value chain but this looks set to change as Ivory Medical brings an innovative product range to market. Its CannaQure range, launched last week, integrates traditional African medicines into cannabis-based therapeutic products. Read More African Pharmacists Need to Take Cannabis Seriously – Or Risk Being Trapped in the ‘Knowledge Gap’ 7 November 2024 at 04:00:00 Only nine countries in Africa have legalized medical cannabis to some degree, but for the rest of the continent the global medical cannabis revolution is passing it by. Nonetheless, African pharmacists should tackle their own knowledge gap in anticipation of cannabis becoming part of integrated public health systems in the future. Read More Global Cannabis Market Just Keeps Growing, Africa Nowhere Really to be Seen 31 October 2024 at 07:00:00 International consulting company Global G has just released its Global Cannabis Market: Fall 2024 Outlook which shows the market just keeps growing. The oils market especially has expanded rapidly in a sector that has increased by 14% in value over the past year. Sadly, Africa is nowhere to be found in this positive prognosis. Read More eSwatini Cannabis Confusion, Cannabis Bill Floats in Parliamentary Backwaters, While Police Intensify War Against Growers 29 October 2024 at 16:00:00 eSwatini’ MP’s hope that the controversial Cannabis Bill will still be retabled before the year is out, but with more ministries being pulled into the legalization issue, don’t expect this to happen. Read More Lesotho Loses Revenue to Unchecked Cannabis Licensing Corruption 26 October 2024 at 07:00:00 cannabis licencing corruption remains rife in the country and the government is turning a blind eye. That's according to The Lesotho Reporter, the Kingdom’s main newspaper, which alleges there is a single mastermind behind the ongoing licensing fraud whose identity is known to the authorities. Read More Malawi: Cannabis Bill Delayed by Faith Leaders' Objections 22 October 2024 at 13:00:00 Malawi’s president has not yet enacted into law a Bill passed by Parliament in March this year intended to regulate the cannabis industry. This was because of objections by religious leaders that not enough harms prevention measures had been put in place, even though the Malawi is only permitting cultivation for export. Read More Uganda Issues Medical Cannabis Export Guidelines 22 October 2024 at 12:00:00 Uganda’s cannabis policy is to legalize cannabis only for export. Kampala is currently not considering domestic consumption of industrial, medical or recreational cannabis, but has recently issued guidelines for prospective exporters. Read More Namibia Lifts Lid on Legalization Debate; Sends MP’s on Cannabis Fact-Finding mission to Lesotho. 17 October 2024 at 09:00:00 All forms of cannabis consumption are illegal in Namibia but that could soon change as the country’s lawmakers begin discussing the possibilities of partial legalization. Namibian MP’s recently visited Lesotho to find out how that country is dealing with medical cannabis regulation and culivation Read More Africa is ‘Modernizing’ its Hemp Policies But It’s on a Slow Path to Being a Global Player 7 October 2024 at 09:00:00 The African Hemp Fund reports that industrial cannabis, or hemp, is experiencing “significant economic expansion” in Africa although the overall regulatory market remains constrained. Despite this analysts project that Africa’s industrial hemp industry possesses a market potential of US$2.4 billion – and this excludes CBD, which itself is a massive market. Read More Malawi: US$10 Million Mega-Cannabis Facility Under Construction; Ambitious Revenue Hopes 21 September 2024 at 11:00:00 A US10 million cannabis processing facility planned for Malawi’s capital, Llilongwe, has ambitious revenue targets, aiming to generate US$300 million a year in four years time Read More South African Law Firms Well Poised to Ride the Wave of African Cannabis Legalization 13 September 2024 at 14:00:00 The South African legal sector has significant experience in dealing with cannabis legislation and is well-positioned to benefit from the regulatory reform that is taking place in the rest of the continent. Read More Morocco: Now the Push is On to Legalize Full-on ‘Recreational’ Use 12 September 2024 at 06:00:00 Morocco’s cannabis policy has centred on medical and industrial exports and bringing small-scale farmers into the mainstream. This has given stakeholders new impetus to urge the Kingdom to go further and open a discussion on full adult-use legalization. Read More West Africa: Abuse of Killer Synthetic Cannabis Drug ‘Kush’ Now a Regional Crisis 11 September 2024 at 09:00:00 Kush, also known as the ‘Zombie Drug’ or ‘KJ’, is spreading across the Mano River Basin in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, ensnaring young people and straining social services. This is according to a report from the Institute of Security Studies which says a united front by these three governments is needed to prevent this transnational drug crisis from disrupting the region’s fragile stability. Read More Mozambique: Cannabis the Most Trafficked Drug But Heroin Seizures Are Going Through the Roof 5 September 2024 at 07:00:00 Cannabis seizures were up almost 20% in 2023 but the alarming statistic is in the amount of heroin confiscated. This is a fourfold rise over the previous year highlighting Mozambique’s growing role as a transhipment point in the international narcotics supply chain – and that of neighbouring South Africa. Read More Moroccan King Mohommed VI Pardons 5 000 Small-Scale Growers and Dealers for Cannabis Offences 2 September 2024 at 09:00:00 Morocco is emerging as Africa’s leading exporter of legal cannabis with an estimated 225 tons shipped out this year,, almost as much as it exported in the whole of 2023. The Kingdom is limiting cultivation to the centuries-old Rif region cannabis growing areas and has a strict anti-recreational use laws. Now it has pardoned 5 000 small-scale cannabis offenders. Read More ‘Knowledge Gap’ Holding Back Zimbabwe’s Hemp Industry 27 August 2024 at 08:00:00 Zimbabwe is failing to live up to its expectations of being a major player in the African industrial cannabis sector. Although 61 various hemp licenses have been issued, exports have been minimal and there’s a long way to go before there’s any serious talk about cannabis reducing Zimbabwe’s dependence on tobacco. Read More Justice Denied as Kenya’s Court System Overwhelmed by Drugs Cases 19 August 2024 at 07:00:00 Expediting major narcotics cases could improve Kenyans’ trust in the criminal justice system and help curb trafficking. Read More US-Based King Kong Organics Finally Set to Open Rwanda Cannabis Oil Extraction Facility 18 August 2024 at 10:00:00 KKOG’s CEO Rene Joseph says the multi-million dollar cannabis processing facility is 70% complete and will open in September. The company has a five year license from the Rwanda Development Board, which also invested capital in the project. The primary aim is to export cannabis oils internationally and KKOG says it intends expanding its African footprint. Read More ‘African Policymakers Need to Overhaul Existing Cannabis Laws in Favour of More Inclusive Legislation’ 13 August 2024 at 09:00:00 African policymakers in country’s allowing cannabis cultivation should re-evaluate existing cannabis laws as they are disproportionately repressive and largely ineffective. A new report says that to be effective, new cannabis laws need to be inclusive by actively seeking the input of cannabis stakeholders. Read More Morocco’s Illegal Cannabis Farmers Emerge Boldly From the Shadows Under New Regulatory Regime 10 August 2024 at 09:00:00 Morocco's partial legalisation of cannabis has seen the number of legal farmers rocket from 430 to 3 000 in just a year. This has seen the area under cannabis cultivation increase tenfold to 2 700 ha as the country cautiously reform the regulatory landscape. Read More Mozambique: President Nyusi Calls for ‘Deep Reflection’ on Legalizing Cannabis 7 August 2024 at 11:00:00 Mozambique is lifting the lid on cannabis legalization. Speaking at a drug policy conference in Maputo, the President said he seeks ‘closer co-operation’ with other countries on how to legalize and regulate cannabis. The European Union has stepped up smartly and said it’s ready to help. Read More Madagascar Now Africa’s Biggest Illegal Cannabis Exporter as Cartels Use the Island for Repackaging and Distribution 25 July 2024 at 10:00:00 Africa produces about 25% of the world’s cannabis. Almost all of it is illegal and much of it is consumed domestically. According to a report on maritime smuggling, Madagascar is now the key illegal exporter of cannabis in Africa with syndicates specialising in repackaging and international distribution. Read More Interpol Comes Knocking as SA Emerges as a Key Player on the International Narco-Trafficking Scene 24 July 2024 at 15:00:00 South Africa’s role as a key hub in international narco-trafficking is coming to the fore and the country is also a “cornerstone production location for crystal meth, cat, mandrax and MDMA. Now Interpol has dropped in for a look. Read More Seychelles: 33% of Public Support Cannabis Legalization, 49% Oppose, as Government Struggles With Horror Spike in Heroin Addiction 8 July 2024 at 08:00:00 In a first-ever survey in Seychelles, Afrobarometer explored citizens' views on drugs. Seychellois say they want drug abuse, addiction, and trafficking to be prioritized after the management of the island's economy. The survey showed a strong resistance to legalization with 49% of those polled opposing it, while 30% were in favour. Read More Nitazenes: Highly Potent Opioids Surface in West African Drug Market for the First Time 1 July 2024 at 11:00:00 Nitazenes can be 100 times more potent than heroin and 10 times the strength of fentanyl meaning that users get their high from small hits but with huge risks of overdosing. Now they’ve found their way into the West African drug market for the first time Read More Liberia: Killer ‘Kush Cannabis’ Crisis Takes Root in Monrovia 1 July 2024 at 10:00:00 Liberia says it’s facing a national health emergency because of widespread use of ‘kush cannabis’, a dangerous new cocktail that includes opioids, among the nation’s youth. Drug seizures over the past year reveal an alarming array of new synthetic psychoactive substances. Read More Zimbabwe: New Cannabis Pharmaceutical Sector Emerging as Three Companies Begin Manufacturing 1 July 2024 at 09:00:00 Three pharmaceutical companies in Zimbabwe have started to manufacture cannabis medicines under the country’s five-year-old industrial hemp reforms. Read More UN Drug Body: 90% of Global Tramadol Seizures in Past Five Years Have Been in Africa 28 June 2024 at 07:00:00 The UNODC reports that Africa is facing an alarming increase in ‘dangerous drug cocktails’, with youngsters most susceptible to this growing trend. This is highlighted by news that almost all global seizures of tramadol – an opioid analgesic used in most of these cocktails – occur the region. Read More Africa’s Cannabis Consumption is Growing Faster Than Anywhere Else, So is the Use of Dangerous New Drug “Cocktails” 27 June 2024 at 08:00:00 Cannabis use in Africa is growing faster than any other region in the world, according to the latest UN Drug Report. The continent is also increasingly affected by drug trafficking and the use of new and dangerous drug “cocktails” Read More Khat in Kenya: Borderline Legal But Prohibitionists Kick Back 26 June 2024 at 09:30:00 Khat appeared to have secured legal status in Kenya even though it’s a prohibited substance in most countries. However, there is a kick-back underway with a regional governor banning muguka, a variety of khat, on health grounds following a trade dispute over import levies. Read More eSwatini Cautiously Plans to Legalize Medical Cannabis 18 June 2024 at 08:00:00 Eswatini is joining many of its African neighbours in legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, revising a colonial drug law dating back a century. Read More Revealed! Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation’s Secret Cannabis Farm 10 June 2024 at 10:00:00 International policy Investigative organization, The Sentry, has exposed Zimbabwe's secretive CIO’s vast business network which focuses on diamonds, coal and industrial cannabis. It has urged the Government to dissolve this empire and make the CIO more accountable and be paid for from the National Budget instead of the shady financing that is currently taking place. Read More The African Cannabis Market Overview: Estimated Legal Market Worth was US$41 million in 2021/2 2 June 2024 at 10:00:00 Prohibition Partners has just released its African Cannabis Market Overview for 2022. Among its key findings are that, driven by South Africa, the continent has seen significant growth but that it lags behind other cannabis-producing nations. It reports that over the next five years the South African market for decriminalized cannabis in South Africa will grow. Read More Zimbabwe Govt Asks Tobacco Research Body to Look at Viability of Large-Scale Cannabis Production 31 May 2024 at 06:00:00 Zimbabwe’s hopes of capitalizing on cannabis have not yielded the results that Harare hoped for. Africa’s largest tobacco producer is concerned that cigarette consumption is dropping world-wide and has now called on the sector’s research experts to look at how cannabis can become a meaningful alternative export commodity. Read More Nigeria: NDLEA Clamps Down on Cartels Dealing in Cocaine, Fentanyl and Synthetic Cannabis 29 May 2024 at 10:00:00 West Africa has become a critical international drug smuggling hub, while at home substance abuse is getting out of hand in several countries in the region. This has prompted Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies to step up their ‘War Against Drugs’, leading to the recent break up of two major trafficking cartels. Read More What Sets Us Apart ? 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