President Biden’s New Approach to Cannabis Could Have An International Ripple Effect Observers point out that the US domestic cannabis market has a disproportionate influence on the global industry. President Biden’s new attitude to cannabis could spark a shift in capital markets that could lead to a “wave of legalization across the globe” . Ben Stevens, BusinessCann 22/10/15, 11:00 BusinessCann reports that the ramifications of last week’s announcement that the US President plans to pardon thousands of citizens federally convicted of the ‘simple possession’ of cannabis are yet to be fully understood. Though use of his clemency powers to expunge these criminal records has been welcomed widely throughout the cannabis industry, many have been quick to point out that in practice a very small proportion of convicts stand to benefit from these plans. Others have suggested that this could mark the ‘beginning of a wave of legalisation across the globe’, and that it will ‘definitely spark a shift in perspective of the capital markets’. As the real-world impact of this announcement plays out, what remains clear is the disproportionate impact domestic US cannabis policy has on the global industry. Movement in the Markets Although the move has been welcomed as a step in the right direction from President Joe Biden, who has until now made little progress on his promises of federal cannabis reform, its immediate practical impact will be limited. His pardon will see no one released from federal prison, and will quash the convictions of around 6,500 people. For perspective, around 400,000 people are currently in prison for drug offences, 67,000 of which are in federal prison. This is because almost no minor cannabis convictions are prosecuted at the federal level. Instances where this is more likely to happen are when the offences occurred on federal property, for example national parks, or in properties that receive federal funding such as public housing or some college dormitories where federal law supersedes state law. However, it is the President’s clear message of intent and promise to ‘review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law’ that has driven dramatic rallies in cannabis stocks, and could yet have a ‘tremendous international impact’. On Thursday, 6 October 2022, North American cannabis stocks surged at close, seeing the US-listed shares of Tilray, Canopy Growth and Sundial Growers, among others, increase by double-digit increments . By the end of the week New Cannabis Ventures’ American Cannabis Operator Index had risen by 35.6%, helping stock prices recover from a torrid September, the index’s worst month in more than three years. Canadian operators experienced a similar spike in stock prices, though the subsequent rebalancing of prices was much more severe, seeing indices drop far more significantly on Friday, with some companies, including Aurora, actually declining. The story was similar in Europe on Friday, 7 October 2022, seeing a number of companies, including Kanabo, Synbiotic, Cellular Goods, Chill Brands and IM Cannabis, enjoy more muted spikes, and some dropping back to previous levels the same day. US Regulatory Developments & the Global Cannabis Industry The ongoing reaction from Europe’s media, politics and financial markets serves as the latest example of the close relationship between US regulatory developments and the fortunes of cannabis companies across the globe, regardless of their exposure to the US market. As SEED Innovations’ Vice President of Investment Analysis, Alfredo Pascual, told BusinessCann : “Stocks of cannabis companies are highly correlated and often move together even if these firms operate in different jurisdictions. “Over the past couple of years, news and sentiment coming from North America – particularly related to the potential or lack of federal reform in the US – have been moving cannabis equity prices in Europe and elsewhere.” Clever Leaves , an international cannabis company with positions in both the US and Europe, saw its stocks shoot up 36% following the announcement . Its co-founder and CEO Andrés Fajardo explained that he believes US developments have such a ‘disproportionate’ impact on the rest of the sector for a number of reasons, including the sheer size of the market. “The US is not only the largest market in the world for cannabis, it’s the largest market in the world for many different industries. I think from an industrial organisation perspective, change in the US has a disproportionate effect on any given industry.” A Transnational Agreement on Cannabis However, he argues that its influence stretches far beyond this given the US’s ongoing strength on the international political playing field. He added that its global impact is felt ‘even more so within the global cannabis space than any other country, given the level of development, strength and the influence the US has, including within the UN convention’. Mr Pascual mirrored this sentiment, suggesting that the announcement will be ‘quite significant’ in terms of providing ‘tailwinds for policy makers’ in other countries, such as Germany and Colombia, that have committed to cannabis reform. More crucially, however, is how the announcement could ‘impact the international discussion around the 1961 Single Convention obligations’. “The ‘process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law’ that Biden announced can’t be done in complete isolation,” he explained. “The US is party to the 1961 Single Convention and some of its drug scheduling provisions were enacted with the purpose of ensuring US compliance with its international drug control obligations, in particular the 1961 Single Convention.” In order to satisfy these international obligations, Mr Pascual continued, authorities in the US believe cannabis must be placed under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule I or Schedule II. If, as some stakeholders expect, cannabis was moved from a Schedule I to Schedule III or another category with lower levels of control, this would ‘have a tremendous international impact’. “If such a rescheduling really occurs, it will be particularly interesting to see how the US justifies that decision internationally. “With so many moving pieces it’s hard to predict many steps ahead, but a possibility is that this could even mean tailwinds for a transnational agreement of like-minded, cannabis-friendly countries in terms of how they approach their international cannabis control obligations.” # Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty READ Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains READ Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least READ Nigerian Journalists Fined for Conspiracy and Defamation After Investigation into Cannabis Use at Rice Factory READ UK Parliament Debates Medical Cannabis for the First Time READ INTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS PREVIOUS NEXT

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Swiss Capital Bern Considers Legal Cocaine Project To Curb Crime The Parliament of the Swiss capital Bern has supported the idea as one way to curb crime linked to supply as well as making it easier to control quality of drugs on sale. John Revill, Reuters 20 December 2023 at 13:00:00 This story originated from a Reuters report published on 20 December 2023. Zurich — Switzerland’s capital is examining a pilot scheme to allow the sale of cocaine for recreational use — a radical approach to the war on drugs that is not thought to have been tried elsewhere. Parliament in Bern has supported the idea, which still faces opposition from the city government and will require a change in national law. Drugs policy around the world is evolving, with the US state of Oregon, for example, decriminalising possession of small amounts of cocaine in 2021 in favour of drug treatment. Many European countries, including Spain, Italy and Portugal, no longer have prison sentences for possession of drugs including cocaine, though nowhere has gone as far as the proposal under discussion in Bern. Switzerland is re-examining its stance on the drug after some politicians and experts criticised complete bans as ineffective, with the proposal, now in its early stages, coming after trials under way to permit the legal sale of cannabis. “The war on drugs has failed. We have to look at new ideas,” said Eva Chen, a member of the Bern council from the Alternative Left Party, which co-sponsored the proposal. “Control and legalisation can do better than mere repression.” High cocaine use Wealthy Switzerland has one of the highest levels of cocaine use in Europe, according to the levels of illicit drugs and their metabolites measured in waste water, with Zurich, Basel and Geneva all featuring in the top 10 cities in Europe. Swiss cities, including Bern, are also showing increasing usage, while prices of cocaine have halved in the last five years, according to Addiction Switzerland, a nongovernmental organisation. “We have a lot of cocaine in Switzerland right now, at the cheapest prices and the highest quality we have ever seen,” said Frank Zobel, deputy director at Addiction Switzerland. “You can get a dose of cocaine for about 10 francs these days, not much more than the price for a beer.” Bern’s education, social affairs and sport directorate is preparing a report on a possible cocaine trial, although this does not mean it will definitely take place. “Cocaine can be life-threatening for both first-time and long-term users. The consequences of an overdose, but also individual intolerance to even the smallest amounts, can lead to death,” said the Bern government. Bern MP Chen said it was too early to say how a pilot scheme would develop, including where the drug would be sold or how it would be sourced. “We are still far away from potential legalisation, but we should look at new approaches,” said Chen. “That is why we are calling for a scientifically supervised pilot scheme trial.” Legal change needed For a trial to take place, parliament must amend the law banning recreational use of the drug. The decision could come in a few years or sooner if present cannabis schemes, with the drug sold at pharmacies, show successful results, said commentators. Any legalisation will be accompanied by quality controls and information campaigns, with the approach also reducing a lucrative criminal market, said Chen. Experts are divided, with even those in favour of the trial concerned about the potential dangers. “Cocaine is one of the most strongly addictive substances known,” said Boris Quednow, group leader of the University of Zurich’s Centre for Psychiatric Research. He said its risks are not in the same league as liquor or cannabis, citing links to heart damage, strokes, depression and anxiety. On the other hand, Thilo Beck of the Arud Zentrum for Addiction Medicine, the largest centre for addiction medicine in Switzerland, said it was time for a more “grown up” policy towards cocaine. “Cocaine isn’t healthy, but the reality is that people use it,” said Beck. “We can’t change that, so we should try to ensure people use it in the safest, least damaging way.” Leo, a cocaine user in Geneva, said legalising the drug would make treatment easier, as well as reduce violence and crime linked to supply. It would also make it easier to control the quality of the drugs on sale. “Prohibiting drugs doesn’t give good results in terms of health policies and prevention,” said Leo. “On the contrary, it looks as if countries that chose to legalise it or to depenalise drugs, have better results in terms of prevention and global health policies. “Switzerland has been courageous in its policies with other drugs, so I think the next stage should be the legalisation of cocaine.” # Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections. Cannabis Bill one of 27 pieces of impending legislation sitting on the President's des. Read E Cape Bemoans The Phakisa’s Lack of Momentum; Intends to Turn Coega SEZ Into a Major Cannabis Hub and Partners With Medigrow to Raise R100m Investment Premier says "sandbox" plan will allow farmers to grow cannabis without licenses if they supply the Coega hub. Read South African Willem v d Merwe Among those Arrested for JuicyFields Scam: Also Faces Fraud Charges in Cape Town Over Missing Investor Cash About 200 South Africans were among the hundreds of thousands of investors who lost cash through JucyFields Read NEXT PREVIOUS Cannabis in South Africa: The People’s Plant We are a civil society organisation with the interests of the existing Cannabis industry and the Human Rights of ALL citizens at heart. WE’RE BRINGING A NEW STANDARD We are more than just a cannabis retail company. We are about a lifestyle that promotes vitality, balance & good health. Resources & Equipment Explore cannabis growing equipment for growing weed at home. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to enhance your outdoor or indoor weed grow setup – we have the perfect range of cannabis growing equipment to match your marijuana growing ambitions. ​ Find everything from LED grow lights, grow tents, fans, and hydroponic setups, to environmental equipment and controls, harvesting accessories, extraction equipment and plenty more. Design your ideal cannabis growing setup with high quality growing equipment available in South Africa. Explore cannabis growing equipment we’ve curated from reliable online suppliers in South Africa Explore More

Now Portuguese Police Red-Faced Over Busting Hemp Entreprenuer The President of the Association of Industrial Hemp Merchants of Portugal is now to sue the authorities for €10 million in compensation and 40 kg of hemp flower has to be returned to him. Hemp Today 22/11/23, 12:00 Hemp Today reported on 9 November 2022 that Portuguese law authorities have returned 40kg of hemp flowers to an entrepreneur who was acquitted of drug trafficking charges in April. The return of the products was part of a settlement in the case of Patrick Martins, a hemp seller and president of the Association of Industrial Hemp Merchants of Portugal (ACCIP), who was found innocent under narcotics laws for selling packaged hemp flowers. Martins was arrested in July 2020, when Portugal’s Judiciary Police seized most of the products from his Green Swallow CBD shop. In all, the authorities raided Martins’ property four times that year, seizing products worth €100,000. Milestone The decision marks a milestone for Portugal and adds to a growing body of policy clarifications, court decisions and rule changes that are slowly marking the outline of a legal framework for the European hemp sector. “It is a historic day for industrial hemp and for the players in the hemp sector in Portugal,” said Humberto Nogueira, vice-president of ACCIP. Martins’ legal odyssey, which took two years to move through Portuguese courts, included having guns pointed at him, being handcuffed and detained. In an interview following his acquittal this past spring, Martins said the case had hit his business hard. “In 2019, I paid around €300,000 in taxes, for a turnover of almost €1 million. With company expenses, covid-19 and above all these added apprehensions, I couldn’t even pay my minimum wage most months,” he said. Tension over flowers Portuguese hemp stakeholders have pushed for rational laws that would encourage the production of all parts of the hemp plant. But a law that went into effect last January put tight restrictions on hemp production and was aimed specifically at shutting down trade in hemp flowers – in contravention of clear European Union laws. Stakeholders have said the law is disincentivizing to farmers and processors, and puts the country’s nascent hemp industry in peril. “We are a far cry from the government’s promises, which often boast of encouraging young entrepreneurs,” Martins said. Martins also said following his acquittal that he will seek €10 million in compensation. # Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty READ Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains READ Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least READ Nigerian Journalists Fined for Conspiracy and Defamation After Investigation into Cannabis Use at Rice Factory READ UK Parliament Debates Medical Cannabis for the First Time READ INTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS PREVIOUS NEXT

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS FGFA: 10 Crisis Points That Need to Be Faced on the Path to Cannabis Legalization Charl Henning argues that until the Government gets its "Dagga Ducks" in a row, the fledgling cannabis industry is doomed to fail. Here he outlines 10 crisis points that need to be urgently addressed in South Africa is to realize the inclusive, economic benefits of cannabis. Charl Henning, Fields of Green for All 22 February 2023 at 09:00:00 This report first published on Fields of Green for All on 13 February 2023. In 2011, when we started Fields of Green for ALL, it was not clear what we had to do. Our main goal was to accumalate evidence for the Trial Of The Plant, but it took many years (and t he part heard trial ) for us to get clarity on what needs to be done. A clear picture of our desired outcomes is our Manifesto which has been largely ignored by the Portfolio Commitee on Justice and Correctional Services, currently drafting the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. While we have seen a bit of progress on a provincial level, as well as at community level (Dagga Private Clubs ), The 1992 Drugs and Drug Trafficking act, still prohibits Cannabis, completely. The vacuum that exists in addressing the crisis in Cannabis legalisation is getting bigger and worse. This is a natural evolution of the state of things when there are no laws and regulations. We would like to highlight our ten Crisis Points here once again for everyone to understand which issues need to be addressed. Each of these ten Crisis Points would need a day for the government to hear the evidence. They can bring their experts and we’ll bring ours. Or we’ll see them in court. CRISIS POINT 1: Legislative Vacuum : Where is the evidence for the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill and the National Cannabis Masterplan? The Bill and the Masterplan conflict with each other. This is a clear sign that our government does not have it’s Dagga ducks in a row. Regulations and the law has to be based on evidence and science, otherwise it is rendered nefarious. There is no scientific evidence that concludes that Dagga has to be regulated as if it is something dangerous. The science around Dagga would be easy to prove in a court of law, as we indeed tried to do with The Trial of The Plant, but the trial was filibusted and it is yet to be completed! The evidence for Dagga has NEVER been heard in a court of law, and when that happens it will be the final moment of TRUTH over prohibition which is solely based on LIES. Our Manifesto at Fields of Green for All has clear evidence based regulations laid out for lawmakers to adopt, if only they would leave dogma and superstition at the door and embrace science and the truth. CRISIS POINT 2: The Law Arrests, incarceration, criminal records, divorce and custody issues, testing at work and at school. Cannabis users still live in a police state in South Africa, and the police arrest for any and all Cannabis detected. We have not seen a single expungement for a criminal record for Dagga coming from the state, bad romance still leads to snitching and exes keep children from each other because of Cannabis use, which is safer than cigarettes. Employers still use Cannabis tests that don’t prove impairment against employees as a tool of prejudice and selfish control. Our lack of Dagga regulation is benefitting everybody for nefarious reasons and nobody for the right reasons. It’s a sad mess and we will not stop fighting for fair regulations until these issues are addressed in law, not in hemp permits and webinars about webinars. CRISIS POINT 3. Limits Plant Counting /Thresholds An insidious prohibitionist practice if there ever was one. Setting limits on plants you can grow is just evil and has ZERO scientific backing. Cannabis is a safe healing plant and does not require measures that pretend that it is dangerous. FEAR and perceived harms by uneducated lawmakers lead to such misguided notions and dogmatic malpractices as we can see in the disastrous mess that is the National Cannabis Masterplan and the contradicting bill that goes with it. Plant counting and licences are both unfair restrictive measures that are not backed by any rhyme or reason, they are merely tools of over-regulation and control, and will after all not work in South Africa. It’s a mere pipe dream of prohibition with no evidence to support it. There is NOTHING private about the South African Police Gangsters entering your house to count your plants. In fact it is unconstitutional, COMPLETELY POINTLESS, and will not hold up in a court of law. Myrtle and Paul-Michael explained this point here. CRISIS POINT 4 – Licences and the Dagga Dompas In the same way that licences drive a deep wedge in our already disproportionately privileged society, the medical Cannabis card, or Dagga Dompas relies on the idea that you need permission to use dagga as medicine, and a card to protect you from corrupt police. This prohibitionist system is not evidence based and still enforces Dagga apartheid onto what is a safe healing plant. The compromise required from the authorities (government and law enforcement) is to let go and allow a reasonable degree of self-regulation in the fledgling legal Cannabis industry in South Africa. The existing, largely unregulated Cannabis industry is ready and willing to compromise its complete autonomy under prohibition for a regulated industry that allows for best practice and customer safety without undue barriers to entry. “We are good at what we do and we will continue as before if you overregulate us or create regulations that only suit the rich. Good people disobey bad laws.” – Anonymous Underground Dagga Trader. The process of licensing producers and traders of Cannabis (outside of a registered medicine) is not appropriate in South Africa because cultivation, production and trade has many facets within the existing Cannabis industry. A system of business registration (where applicable) and affiliation to a hub must be open to any willing market participant. Business registration serves the requirements of legal regulation and can fit into existing regulatory protocols. Registration criteria specific to the Cannabis industry must be developed and enforced through the office of the Cannabis OmBUDsman in conjunction with the Hubs. Affiliation to Hubs can serve as de facto licences for those who do not have business registration. This is a simple and accessible way for all South Africans – including thousands of previously disadvantaged citizens – to have real opportunities to enter the formal economy. The combination of registered businesses and Kasinomics operators within a single Hub will also contribute to broadening the knowledge base of those previously disadvantaged. Licensing of non-medical cultivators, manufacturers and traders is wide open to corruption. A licensing system is regarded as a fait accompli by many South Africans. The many grey areas, rumours in the media of licences and permits being handed out, and the nefarious nature of criminal activity related to “drugs” ALL point to the inevitable failure of this top-down approach. CRISIS POINT 5: Ignorance Ignorance of history and the experience of other developing countries in the global south. There are 22 South African Government Departments affected by Cannabis legalisation. How many of our “leaders” know the history of The Last Apartheid Law? We started dealing with this issue in our very first short movie, Dagga: The Truth, made in 2013. We fought for the relevance of our history expert in The Trial of the Plant and we still feel that the history of the persecution of South Africans because of Dagga remains largely unknown by those who are tasked with changing the law. After hundreds of years of use on the mountains and in the valleys and settlements of Southern Africa, South Africa has the dubious reputation of being the first country where one population group imposed the prohibition of Cannabis on another population group. The British Army settlers of the late 19th century disliked their Hindu labourers using bhang as a sacrament in the sugar cane fields of their Natal Colony. Colonial observations concluded ‘it renders the Indian immigrant unfit and unable to perform, with satisfaction to the employer, that work for which he was specially brought to this colony’. CRISIS POINT 6: Misleading Hype Overselling economic benefits while legislating for the criminalisation of the existing market. We don’t call the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act of 1992 the last apartheid law for nothing. Already rich licensed farmers can grow and export, and the media will stand in line to help them boast about their success in our faces. More and more, we see these glistening stories in the news and on social media, right next to the bust reports. Conflicting messages sent out by a well oiled media machine to the poor folks already confused by the lack of coherent regulations. Have any license holders ever contributed a cent to the legalisation struggle, or even paused to think about how corrupt their game is in the face of ongoing oppression and exclusion of the unregulated Legacy Cannabis community? Lawmakers need to formulate evidence based regulations, and to do this they need to be educated first and study Cannabis 101! The SAPS need to be officially instructed BY GOVERNMENT to STOP ARRESTING US. CRISIS POINT 7: Communications Vacuum The industry speaking in a vacuum. Fields of Green for All have recommended in our Manifesto a central Cannabis office with an omBUDsman to regulate our industry. This office can consist of representatives from various government departments that can all vote and shape our regulations so that everybody is on the same page. What we have at the moment is very clear. Most of the initiative for the Dagga industry is coming from local government, but there is also no broader communication or cohesive national decision making. The result is that Limpopo, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape among others all proclaimed to be the centre of our ‘future legal industry’. Various government departments that are getting involved in Cannabis are constantly conflicting each other with regulations. Let us not forget that on the one hand our government is issuing Cannabis permits and on the other hand it is also still locking it’s citizens up in cages every day for possession, cultivation and dealing of the plant. It seems very conflicted on the way forward. Even the revolting Cannabis for Private Purposes bill conflicts with the disastrously concocted National Cannabis Masterplan. It is time for our stakeholders to meet and greet around the same table and decide on our future together, as a community and as a country. CRISIS POINT 8: Hemp Where is the last 20 years of Research from the permits? THC levels per definition are set impractically high, seeds are still illegal to buy, and what about cross pollination? Africa has zero history of cultivating hemp and hemp planted in the wrong location can destroy our valuable landrace heritage. We have to proceed very carefully if we grow hemp at all, and this far, looking at the comedy of errors that are our hemp permit system, our government has not acted in any way that gives potential growers any faith in authority at all. Regulations just reflect luke warm intentions informed by gross ignorance, nothing else. CRISIS POINT 9. Cannabis issues as political suicide . Who are WE going to vote for? No political party in our country has bothered to use this hot topic successfully as leverage, even though Cannabis seems to have massive support everywhere you look. For how long will Dagga be ignored at political level? It’s a broom that can sweep up big support at the voting stations, and parties that ignore the issue simply lose out on support from a giant section of society. CRISIS POINT 10. Drug education for Children and Youth Start telling the truth. The youth of today are more equipped than ever before. In fact, as Julian Stobbs used to say: “anybody with a phone with internet access has the key to the sum of all knowledge in their pockets”. Teenagers experiment with Dagga and it does not take them long to figure out what is true and what is not when it comes to the information out there. Factually flawed posters in courts, hospitals and schools that group Dagga with dangerous street drugs and warn of addiction, rehab and other lies need to be revised and replaced. Just like we have no faith in our government because they enforce bad laws on us, teaching learners the wrong facts (when they can easily find out the truth on their cellphones) only breaks their faith in authority in general when it comes to everything else. We have had enough of being judged as unethical and immoral as this quote from the South African Cannabis Masterplan explains the dogmatic and fanatic attitude from the powers that be towards the thriving unregulated market: “… the illicit market – fuelling a crime-prone underbelly and networks of individuals operating outside the realm of ethical and moral behaviour.” The South African Cannabis Masterplan, v5 (pg4), August 2021 . In September 2021 the Cannabis Trade Association Africa (CTAA) , together with Cheeba Africa , Craft Cannabis TV and Cape Town TV, hosted a webinar / live DSTV broadcast to address the crisis we are all facing. Now, a year and 4 months later since we published our first blog on the 10 Crisis Points , nothing has changed! Thank you to the hosts for the opportunity to present our solutions to this crisis. We certainly hope that the South African Police will be invited to the table next time . Can we also suggest that the government pay for the venue and catering at The South African Dagga Commission? Payback for keeping us waiting in the dark for so long. In September 2022, a year after the webinar, we anounced the Trial Of The Plant II . About Charl Henning. I have worked at Fields of Green For All and Stop The Cops since 2014. Apart from day to day admin I also man our helpline and support victims of arrest. Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections. Cannabis Bill one of 27 pieces of impending legislation sitting on the President's des. Read E Cape Bemoans The Phakisa’s Lack of Momentum; Intends to Turn Coega SEZ Into a Major Cannabis Hub and Partners With Medigrow to Raise R100m Investment Premier says "sandbox" plan will allow farmers to grow cannabis without licenses if they supply the Coega hub. Read South African Willem v d Merwe Among those Arrested for JuicyFields Scam: Also Faces Fraud Charges in Cape Town Over Missing Investor Cash About 200 South Africans were among the hundreds of thousands of investors who lost cash through JucyFields Read NEXT PREVIOUS Cannabis in South Africa: The People’s Plant We are a civil society organisation with the interests of the existing Cannabis industry and the Human Rights of ALL citizens at heart. WE’RE BRINGING A NEW STANDARD We are more than just a cannabis retail company. We are about a lifestyle that promotes vitality, balance & good health. Resources & Equipment Explore cannabis growing equipment for growing weed at home. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to enhance your outdoor or indoor weed grow setup – we have the perfect range of cannabis growing equipment to match your marijuana growing ambitions. ​ Find everything from LED grow lights, grow tents, fans, and hydroponic setups, to environmental equipment and controls, harvesting accessories, extraction equipment and plenty more. Design your ideal cannabis growing setup with high quality growing equipment available in South Africa. Explore cannabis growing equipment we’ve curated from reliable online suppliers in South Africa Explore More

Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty Explore More Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains Explore More Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least Explore More PREVIOUS NEXT Brett Hilton-Barber 23/05/11, 05:00 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. There feels like renewed hope in the southern African medical cannabis sector with at least a billion rand of capital investment that has been pledged in recent months. Most of the new investment is going into boosting export production and increasingly it’s evident that the money to be made lies in creating value-added products for the international market rather than just by securing offtake agreements for raw flower. In the last month there have been three significant investment pledges in the SA medical cannabis industry that are potential economic drivers for Centurion in Gauteng, and KwaZulu Natal, while the Western Cape has its own dynamic where the value chain is more developed. Leading the new charge in coughing up fresh cash for the SA cannabis industry is Nigerian entrepreneur and SafriCanna founder, Bashid Haidar who’s commitment of around R720 million (US$40 million) to the company’s Centurion facility may be a game changer for the area. He’s expanding capacity by acquiring more land so as to produce up to 25 tons of medical cannabis within five years’ time. In the area is also Cilo Cybin’s facility, which is the only South African holder of all three types of SAHPRA cannabis licenses. Founder Gabriel Theron intends trying to relist it on the JSE as a Special Acquisition Vehicle with the support of Malaysian biotech company…., who have underwritten the initiative with R54 million. One of Theron’s business aims is for Cilo Cybin to be a third party manufacturer/processor for other cannabis enterprises as well as develop his own product range. Between these two companies’ investment plans for the Centurion/Midrand area, there will be a plethora of support services that will be required, ranging from scientific support to product purchasing. These will generate new entrepreneurial opportunities across the cannabis value chain and will go some way to creating new jobs. Many stakeholders were cynical of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s February 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in which he recommitted himself to creating an inclusive and job creating cannabis regulatory framework. He backed up his words with introducing cannabis for the first time to his Presidential Investment Conference in March 2023, and secured a pledge there from Tri Medi Canna to invest R121 million to build a cannabis and hemp industrial park in KwaZulu Natal. He’s also said there’s a high-level finance team working behind the scenes to put together a blended financing scheme involving public and private sector funding and a blend of loans and grants. In the last month or so, state legislators have indicated that cannabis is going to be removed from the “scope and purview” of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act of 2022, which will be a major impediment-remover for cannabis financing. This has been a frustrating bone of contention for cannabis stakeholders and the fact that the State is doing a U-turn on cannabis being listed as a scheduled, undesirable substance just three months after bringing the Bill into law, shows that someone in the corridors of power is actually listening. Much credit for this must go to the President’s cannabis advisor Garth Strachan, who has been working hard behind the scenes to try and align different government departments behind a single cannabis strategy. It’s believed he was instrumental in getting cannabis investment included for the first time in South Africa’s country investment strategy but has warned that the wheels of trying to establish a “sunrise” industry inevitably grind slowly. Listed cannabis group Labat Africa’s CEO Brian van Rooyen recently said there was over …..of investment for the SA cannabis industry if only Government could provide a clear regulatory framework. Labat itself has stared down the dark night of the soul but said in February 2023 that two key divisions were now profitable – most importantly it’s Sweetwater Aquaponics cultivation and processing facility at Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape and its CannaAfrica retail division. Sweetwaters has already fulfilled offtake agreements to Australia and, as we understand, to Switzerland as well. Australia has also been identified as an important export destination by Cilo Cybin and SafriCanna, while Germany is forefront of the mind of every cannabis exporter as the country moves rapidly to regulating a legal cannabis market. Interestingly Poland is featuring in the business plans of both SafriCanna and Lesotho’s MG Health, while North Macedonia is likely to emerge as a large customer because of they way it’s positioning itself as a European cannabis distribution hub. While South African recreational, or adult-use, legalization still remains contentious in State thinking, it’s clear that stakeholders in the medical cannabis sector are starting to find traction. In recent news MG Health in Lesotho announced it had attracted international investment support to the tune of US18 million and that intended to use this money to triple capacity to service increasing international demand. Meanwhile in the Western Cape there’s a different cannabis dynamic underway since the release of the Province’s CanPlan. Commercially, the emergence of the Impilovest group late last year is of significance, while Stellenbosch-based Felbridge Medical has already established itself as a leading cannabis nursery, particularly in the supply of tissue culture to markets such as Switzerland and North Macedonia. Paarl-based botanicals extraction and manufacturing firm, Afriplex, is a core part of Impilovest’s aim to infuse itself across the value chain. The group raised an unknown amount of capital from international investors last year and has put this to good use already with Afriplex announcing a new CBD extraction technology and plans to set up a CBG processing facility in Canada. The Impilovest model is innovative in that it is not as capital intensive as the other SA cannabis groups and under the guidance of Afriplex’s Danie Nel, has sought to create a merger of key players along the value chain: notably Releaf Pharmaceuticals. The main region missing in action right now in terms of medicinal cannabis is the Vaal Triangle, which was fanfared by the previous ANC Gauteng administration as the future centre of industrial cannabis and hemp production in the province. David Makhura’s administration came up with grand plans to establish a Special Economic Zone in the area which would allow special dispensation to cannabis companies. SEZ’s for both the Vaal Triangle and West Rand have been on the drawing board for some time now. There was also talk of transforming OR Tambo International into its own special cannabis export zone but nothing has materialized since Makhuru and Parks Tau were dropped from the Gauteng provincial government late last year. In summary there is a noticeable shift underway since the President’s SONA 2023 address in that cannabis has been removed from the Drugs Act and that opens the way for solid international and local investment, particularly in the medical cannabis cultivation and value-add market. This has already had an effect in that at least a billion rand will find its way into this industry in the next 12 months and that this will have a multiplier effect on support services, state revenue and job creation. Having said that, there is the small question of whether there will be enough electricity available to drive the production of industrial medical cannabis over the next 12 months. The sector is a high energy consumer and the uncertainty over the national grid and the increasing power outages could put the operations outlined above at risk and make it challenging to fulfil international obligations. # SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: 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 Home African News South African News International News All News Marketplace Business News More All South African News Are Sponsored by: CHEEBA AFRICA Hydrobiz Support Locals Networking for your business Meet like minded people Advertise with us today Connecting People Opportunity for all Supporting Business Growth

Amsterdam to Outlaw Cannabis-Smoking in Red-Light District Streets ‘Historic’ clampdown on tourist excesses aims to make life more bearable for local residents John Henley, European Correspondent, The Guardian 23/02/11, 08:00 This report first appeared in The Guardian on 10 February 2023 Smoking cannabis on the street in Amsterdam’s red light district will soon be illegal, the city council has announced, as part of a range of bylaws designed to deter tourist excesses and make life more bearable for despairing local people. With more than 18 million visitors thronging its narrow 17th-century streets last year, Amsterdam’s residents have long complained that the busiest parts of the city centre, including De Wallen – the red light district – were becoming unlivable. The council said in a statement that smoking joints in public in the inner city would be outlawed from mid-May, adding that it was prepared to consider extending the ban to the terraces of cannabis “coffeeshops” if necessary. Sex workers will also have to shut up shop at 3am rather than 6am, while bars, cafes and restaurants must close at 2am rather than 3am on weekdays and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, with no new customers allowed to enter after 1am. Shops in the inner city, already barred from selling alcohol after 4pm from Thursday to Sunday, will have to remove bottles and cans from their windows or hide them behind screens, and a ban on drinking in public will be strictly enforced. “Residents of the old town suffer a lot from mass tourism and alcohol and drug abuse in the street,” the council said. “Tourists also attract street drug dealers, who in turn cause crime and insecurity. Especially at night, the atmosphere can get grim.” The Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool called the measures “historic ” , noting that for decades Amsterdam had been known worldwide as the city “where everything was possible and everything was permissible – including smoking weed on the street”. More recently, however, it added, “overtourism” had made the inner city unlivable. Foreign tourists and domestic visitors “make a lot of noise, urinate in the street, vomit, and treat the red light district as an amusement park, not a residential area”. Almost the entire city council backs the new measures, Dutch media have reported, which will be open for consultation for a month and follow previous efforts to deter tourists “whose intention is to booze and misbehave, dressed up as a penis”. City “hosts” have been employed to help manage revellers, especially at weekends,. A one-way system has been introduced, and parts of the red light district can be closed off completely. The city is still investigating a possible ban on stag and hen parties and the mayor wants to bar tourists from its cannabis coffeeshops. # Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty READ Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains READ Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least READ Nigerian Journalists Fined for Conspiracy and Defamation After Investigation into Cannabis Use at Rice Factory READ UK Parliament Debates Medical Cannabis for the First Time READ INTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS PREVIOUS NEXT

Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty Explore More Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains Explore More Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least Explore More PREVIOUS NEXT Cannabiz Africa/Linda Ensor 23/03/31, 14:00 President Cyril Ramaphosa says “considerable progress” has been made in developing the cannabis and hemp industries and that a special finance team is putting together a public and private sector blended financing instrument to support investment across the sector. Replying to a question from DA MP Carin Visser in the National Council of Provinces, President Cyril Ramaphosa, said the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) had to date issued: 83 cannabis licences, four manufacturing licences, and 30 research permits. The Department of Agriculture, land reform and rural development had issued 371 hemp permits. “These licences and permits have enabled significant investment, employment creation, the application of technology, intellectual property development and exports to highly competitive global markets,” he said. The following report is by Linda Ensor and was published in Business Day on 28 March 2023. In his 2023 state of the nation address Ramaphosa reiterated the government’s commitment made in 2022 to unlock investment in the hemp and cannabis sector. “We are moving to create the conditions for the sector to grow,” he said in his February speech. “Urgent work is being finalised by government to create an enabling regulatory framework for a whole plant, all legitimate purposes approach for complementary medicines, food, cosmetics and industrial products aligned to international conventions and best practices.” Work was being undertaken to develop a competitive strategy to identify where SA has competitive and comparative advantage, Ramaphosa told Visser. Also, a team of financial experts has been appointed to develop a public and private sector blended financing instrument to support investment across the sector. In addition, the Industrial Development Corporation has established a dedicated sector fund supporting investments in the sector. Given the complexity of the legislative regime for hemp and cannabis cultivation and processing — the applicable legislation is the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, the Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Plant Improvement Act — legal work will be undertaken to understand the longer term regulatory and legislative reform necessary to enable comprehensive and overarching legislation. Ramaphosa said the department of science and innovation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had undertaken a research map of all tertiary institutions involved in hemp and cannabis research to support the sector’s development. The department of small business development and the CSIR had launched an incubation programme with 30 SMMEs to assist these businesses to develop prototype technologies and intellectual property for product manufacture in the areas of cosmetics, food, complimentary medicines and African traditional medicines, he said. The CSIR has also bought catalytic equipment, which is being installed at the Ngqura special economic zone to process the primary agricultural product for downstream demand. Ramaphosa also said the government was working with several mining companies to explore the potential use of hemp for mine rehabilitation and remediation. Two pilot projects are under way . # SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: Presidency’s Latest Assurances: Special Finance Team Urgently Finalizing a Funding Framework for Cannabis and Hemp Industries Home African News South African News International News All News Marketplace Business News More All South African News Are Sponsored by: CHEEBA AFRICA Hydrobiz Support Locals Networking for your business Meet like minded people Advertise with us today Connecting People Opportunity for all Supporting Business Growth

Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty Explore More Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains Explore More Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least Explore More PREVIOUS NEXT Willem van der Merwe 22/08/03, 22:00 “I Don’t Think it was a Ponzi Scheme; it Was a Good Business Concept Managed By Inexperienced People” says van der Merwe who has called for Juicy Fields investors to be patient and the owners to be transparent I might be off the mark, but I don’t think this was an intended Ponzi Scheme. I believe this was purely a case where a good business concept was mismanaged by inexperienced people, which are more equipped to develop IT solutions, not run businesses in a productive and transparent manner. There is a distinct difference between designing a race car, and eventually racing with it. This business took off way beyond anyone’s expectations, including those of the Juicy Fields founders. When they realised the size of the fish they caught, they tied to get help, but unfortunately seems to have recruited both good and a few wrong people to assist them. I was informed by a reliable source that the owners/founding members indeed decided to suspend the Juicy Fields.io platform deliberately, once they became aware of one or two rogue people that lead them down the wrong path. For these owners/founding members to restart up the JuicyFields.io platform will not be inconceivable or event too farfetched, but they will need to have a good and plausible explanation for/to the market for their initial actions taken, and going forward, to give the platform half a chance, will need not only a new platform offering that deals with issues such as proper KYC but be compliant with regulators. In addition, any new offering will require a new, revitalised marketing strategy to build up trust again. The issue is not the business offering itself, it became the way in which the business was promoted, perceived and disclosed to its members. Personally, my first thoughts were that the brand is most certainly tarnished. Having had some time to think about it, I think the best way forward for owners/founding members of the JuicyFields.io platform is to almost “relaunch” it, with the proviso already mentioned. If they don’t at least try, a stigma will not only follow these owners/founding members but also the business of crowd growers in general. Following the news release that was released by the owners/founding members on 27 July, it is apparent that Juicy Fields was duped into believing the BaFin regulatory issues should be dealt with by registering new Juicy Fields companies outside of Germany, where this all started. This, of course, is not correct, as the BaFin situation to my understanding, was simply a case of filing the requisite prospectus as required by German financial regulators, to clarify the grey area that Juicy Fields was operating in. A person by the name of Von Luxburg presented himself as an attorney that could help the owners/founding members with the BaFin requirements, including writing a prospectus for the group as was suggested and required by BaFin at the time. It appears now from what we have all learned, that he clearly did not have the best interest at heart of the owners/ founding members of the Juicy Fields platform. When these inexperienced owners/ founding members realised this, they did what any person in their shoes probably would have done, and that was to shut down or suspend operations, to prevent losing all the investors’ funds. Their fears were actually credible, as I further understand that Von Luxburg had indeed sent people to at least one of the Juicy Fields banks, to try and take over signature control of this account. According to news that started flowing into the markets via social media since mid-July when the JuicyFields.io platform was suspended, both Von Luxburg and the owners/founding members started blaming each other publicly, another tragedy in this saga, and again in my opinion showing some inexperience by the owners’/ founding members in dealing with such situations. They really should have simply obtained legal court orders, but I reckon they were overwhelmed by the mess that was created. Again, these are my observations from the outside. My message to investors will be to be patient. Logic tells me that nobody can steal this type of money and get away with it. Rather, engage with the company or its lawyers and see if a refund can be arranged. I’m sure the owners/ founding members will be eager to deal with the threats and accusations accordingly. To the owners, I would say be transparent and in constant communication with the eGrower clients. Also, do your best to get everything operational again, but in a way that will increase security for all involved, and with the future blessing of the authorities such as BaFin. This situation will not be resolved overnight as the financial institutions have apparently frozen all the Juicy Fields accounts. Not because the authorities requested it, but because the owners/founding members did. The financial institutions are highly regulated and I’m almost certain they, in turn, would have to have reported these events to their local Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). Regarding my earlier comments that I doubt that this was a Ponzi scheme or money laundering – there is simply too much at stake for any bank, never mind the owners/founding members to even try and engage in this type of business. The current status and situation of the Juicy Fields business, unless amicably resolved in the very near future, will most certainly be investigated by the regulatory bodies to determine the reasons for any such account activities nor part of a bigger investigation. The owners/ founding members can either decide to wrap up the business, refund whoever is owed money and wind down the business or refund everyone and then start fresh with a new approach to market. May logic and good sense ultimately prevail and the investors be made whole again, and the cause of this whole situation be dealt with properly and adequately. Willem van der Merwe Former Juicy Fields CEO SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: Juicy Fields: Former SA CEO Willem v d Merwe Speaks Out Home African News South African News International News All News Marketplace Business News More All South African News Are Sponsored by: CHEEBA AFRICA Hydrobiz Support Locals Networking for your business Meet like minded people Advertise with us today Connecting People Opportunity for all Supporting Business Growth

2024 Preview: 10 Key Factors Driving the International Cannabis Market Driven by millennial consumers, expanded medical usage, and growing awareness of cannabis’s health benefits, it’s safe to say that the cannabis market is evolving rapidly. South African cannabis entrepreneurs should take note of these trends. Tatum Blakeney, Viiahemp 24/01/19, 07:00 This was first published as a blog in Viiahemp.com on 5 January 2023. The US cannabis industry is projected to increase in market size by USD 46,904.91 million and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.03% from 2022 to 2027. While it’s hard to fathom the enormity of these numbers, the cannabis market’s impact is undeniable. This remarkable growth is not just a financial phenomenon — it’s significantly reshaping the health and wellness landscape, reflecting a change in how individuals approach their well-being. More importantly, it’s influencing legislative changes across the United States, reflecting the societal shift in the perception of the cannabis plant. We won’t speak on the global cannabis market too much, but we’ll focus closer to home in the United States, where the legal framework is rapidly adapting to market growth. We’ll explore the driving factors behind this growth, from the surge in artisanal and personalized cannabis products to the expansion of consumption methods beyond traditional smoking. We’ll also delve into the increasing importance of third-party lab testing, which indicates a growing demand for quality and safety in cannabis products. 1. Increased Legalization and Regulation of Recreational Cannabis A significant trend in the United States is the increased legalization and regulation of recreational cannabis. Several states are actively considering or preparing to vote on marijuana legalization, including Hawaii, South Dakota, Florida, and Nebraska. States like Oklahoma , Wyoming , and Ohio are also expected to vote on this issue in the coming elections. These movements reflect a growing national shift towards embracing recreational cannabis, signaling a major change in public opinion and state policies. As more states warm up to marijuana legalization, we can also expect market expansion and innovation. This move means new cannabis companies entering the market, a flood of investments, and a whole variety of cannabis products to come. 2. Growth in Medical Cannabis As the cannabis industry grows, so does the funding for research. Come 2024, we’re looking at some exciting breakthroughs. This research is going to shed more light on how cannabis works, its benefits, and all the ways it can be used — We’re talking about a whole new level of understanding and appreciation for medical marijuana in the health world. The Medical Cannabis Research Center at Drexel Universit y has funded two new studies for its 2023-24 pilot funding cycle. These studies include an analysis of marijuana dispensary locations across the U.S. and their impact on marginalized communities and a study focusing on the use of medical cannabis among parenting women, particularly in relation to mental health concerns like depression and anxiety​​. To add to this, the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University is conducting research into the use of cannabis for various mental health indications, such as anxiety and bipolar disorder. They’re also evaluating the use of medicinal cannabis for pain management and its efficacy in different clinical settings, and the impact of legalization from health economics and policy perspective. 3. Focus on Quality and Safety Since the CBD market took off in 2018, customers have become savvy about what they expect from their CBD products. It’s no longer just about catchy branding or trendy packaging — shoppers want to be assured about the quality and safety of their products. Fly-by-night companies struggle to survive as consumers demand more from their CBD brands. People want to know exactly what they’re putting into their bodies, and they’re asking the right questions. This shift means that third-party lab testing has become the norm, not the exception. Customers want to know about any potential contaminants, the exact concentrations of active ingredients, and the overall purity of the product. And it doesn’t stop there. This isn’t exclusive to the cannabis market, but many consumers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious and want products that are not only safe for them but also kind to the environment. This preference has pushed brands to source their ingredients responsibly and sustainably. Brands prioritizing sustainable practices, from cultivation to packaging, are gaining more consumer trust and loyalty. This focus on quality and safety is reshaping the CBD industry, setting high standards that ensure consumers get the best, most reliable products. 4. Diverse Consumption Methods Gone are the days when smoking was the only way to enjoy cannabis. Now, we’re seeing an awesome trend of diverse consumption methods that cater to everyone’s preferences and needs. Think vaping for a smooth, quick experience or tinctures for precision dosing. Even transdermal patches are making waves for their discreet, long-lasting effects. Each method offers its unique experience and benefits, making cannabis more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience. 5. Minor Cannabinoid Focus We’ve seen this trend coming for a long time, but expect it to become even bigger in the cannabis business, and we’re talking about minor cannabinoid-focused products, which include hemp cannabinoids such as CBN (cannabinol) , CBG (cannabigerol) and THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). What’s appealing about these minor players is how they hold the potential to offer more tailored cannabis experiences. People are no longer just looking for CBD or THC — they’re curious about the unique benefits and effects of these lesser-known cannabinoids. Products focusing on these compounds are gaining popularity for their ability to provide specific experiences from sleep support, focus, and more, catering to a more personalized approach to cannabis use. 6. Increased Investment Opportunities in Cannabis Businesses The cannabis industry is really hitting its stride, and with that comes a lot of financial action, especially in investments, mergers, and acquisitions (M&A). Companies are super keen to spread their wings, strengthen their positions, and catch the eye of investors who are now more open than ever to betting big on cannabis. This rush of investment is sparking tons of creativity and growth, helping these companies to grow bigger, tap into new markets, and whip up exciting new products. 7. International Market Expansion The global cannabis landscape is evolving rapidly, with major companies extending their reach across international borders. A prime example is Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian firm that has made significant strides by acquiring Reliva LLC, a Massachusetts-based CBD seller, and expanding into Germany’s burgeoning medical cannabis market. As more countries revise their cannabis legislation, we expect to see a similar trend of international expansion. U.S.-based cannabis companies are increasingly eyeing overseas markets, seizing opportunities created by legislative changes. This global expansion diversifies their operations and taps into new customer bases, enhancing their growth potential. In the coming years, the international cannabis market is set for a dynamic transformation driven by these strategic expansions and evolving legal landscapes. 8. Personalized Cannabis Experiences Consumers are on the hunt for something special and unique. They’re all about discovering rare strains, grabbing locally sourced goodies, and enjoying personal and authentic experiences. This shift shows that customers crave novelty — products that stand out because of their quality, backstory, and personal touch. It’s a big move towards customization and authenticity, showing how cannabis consumers are looking for more than just a product — they’re looking for an experience that resonates with their individual preferences and values. If you’re in the business of selling cannabis-infused products and want to tap into this growing market, think about crafting experiences that leave a lasting impression. This might involve weaving engaging stories around your high-quality product catalog, offering tailor-made options, sharing knowledgeable insights, and building ties with the community. Today’s consumers are looking for something beyond the ordinary purchase — they’re after experiences that speak to their quest for authenticity and a personal touch. This approach will set your products apart in a market increasingly seeking real, memorable connections. 9. Mainstream Retail Adoption Cannabis products, particularly hemp-derived ones, have been branching out from specialized dispensaries into mainstream retail spaces. This shift isn’t entirely new — it got a big push from the 2018 Farm Bill, which made low-THC hemp products legal, easing their way into regular retail. Now, we’re seeing these products pop up in places like convenience stores, smoke shops, and even online. And it’s not just there — in states like Minnesota, they’re breaking new ground by selling them in restaurants and bars. This trend is just warming up. We predict that you’ll see more of your favorite cannabis products on the shelves of your local grocery and health food stores, becoming as commonplace as any other wellness product. 10. CBD in Sports and Fitness The sports and fitness world is starting to embrace CBD like never before. We’re noticing a trend with athletes advocating for cannabis products, recognizing their potential benefits in training and recovery. A great example is VIIA Hemp’s collaboration with UFC athletes “Suga” Sean O’Malley and Tim Welch to create Elevate THC Training Gummies . This partnership highlights how CBD and cannabis products are becoming more mainstream in the athletic community. Athletes are looking for natural, effective ways to boost performance and aid recovery, and CBD is increasingly becoming a go-to option. This trend reflects a broader shift in how we view wellness and recovery in sports , with a growing openness to the potential of cannabis products. Final Thoughts: Cannabis Industry Trends in 2024 As we navigate through the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization in the United States, it’s clear that the cannabis industry is undergoing a significant transformation. The trends we’ve explored in this article, from the increasing mainstream retail adoption to the innovative use of CBD in sports and fitness, are reshaping how cannabis is perceived and used in our day-to-day lives. These changes, fueled by progressive legislation and changing public attitudes, indicate a growing and maturing market. As we look to the future, it’s evident that the cannabis market trends of 2024 are setting the stage for even more dynamic changes. Ultimately, the story of cannabis legalization and the unfolding of these market trends offer a glimpse into a future where cannabis plays a pivotal role in wellness, lifestyle, and, perhaps most importantly, economic development. # Nyandeni Municipality Punts Cannabis as an Investment Opportunity to Ease Dreadful Poverty READ Thailand: Pro Cannabis Party Makes Better Than Expected Parliamentary Gains READ Portland, Oregon is the Most “Cannabis Friendly" City in the US; Birmingham, Alabama the Least READ Nigerian Journalists Fined for Conspiracy and Defamation After Investigation into Cannabis Use at Rice Factory READ UK Parliament Debates Medical Cannabis for the First Time READ INTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS PREVIOUS NEXT

Farming Community of Gouda says it Wants to Be the Hemp Hub of the Western Cape Cannabiz Africa 28 December 2022 at 14:00:00 The Gouda Farmers Association is to undertake a pilot project with Hemp Africa (Pty) Ltd to perfect hemp growing in the Western Cape and turn it into the province’s “hemp hub”. Hemp Africa says the aim of the project is “to obtain the perfect strain for the relevant markets and for the Western Cape microclimate”. Research and development began on half a hectare of land in the Gouda area in October 2022, and according to Hemp Africa “we will then proceed to grow 50 ha and initially up to 1 000 ha of industrial hemp on a large-scale development in Gouda”. Hemp Africa says “we aim to become the hemp hub of the Western Cape”​. ​ “This is a crucial project for the future economic growth of the community. Together we can make this a success and build upon the enormous potential of industrial hemp crops and the skills of the farmers in the Gouda community. “By leasing public land, establishing community based infrastructure that is specific to the growers and negotiating contracts, there is an opportunity to increase income and gain access to local and international markets as we move towards widening the growing base within the Western Cape and throughout South Africa.” ​ The Gouda Farmers Association and Hemp Africa intend to establish a cooperative on the site. The project involves cultivating the hemp and processing it into different products for specific markets. Hemp Africa, founded by the Holmes group, says it has a “from the bottom up” vision to establish farming co-operatives for smallholder farmers to grow industrial hemp. ​ “Our vision is to create employment for farmers, spreading wealth, independence and sustainable employment in the region. The Hemp Africa & Gouda Farmers Association Project aims to increase employment in the Western Cape, teaching and supporting smallholder farmers for processing and distributing industrial hemp products.” Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections. E Cape Bemoans The Phakisa’s Lack of Momentum; Intends to Turn Coega SEZ Into a Major Cannabis Hub and Partners With Medigrow to Raise R100m Investment South African Willem v d Merwe Among those Arrested for JuicyFields Scam: Also Faces Fraud Charges in Cape Town Over Missing Investor Cash Previous Next

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Lesotho Has New Leadership, But Can That Save It From Sliding Off the World’s Cannabis Radar? Lesotho has a new Prime Minister, the country’s richest man and a cannabis entrepreneur to boot. Sam Matekane says his priority is to root out corruption, but he’s also going to have to take on Lesotho’s diminishing reputation as Africa’s cannabis leader. Cannabiz Africa 3 November 2022 at 10:00:00 Lesotho's new Prime Minister, diamond magnate and cannabis entrepreneur Sam Matekane, is cracking the mould of African patronage politics. His newly formed party Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) won the most seats in the recent elections but fell short of an overall majority. It has formed a coaltion with the has formed a coalition government with two other opposition parties, the Alliance of Democrats (AD) and the Movement for Economic Change (MEC). "We are taking over a bankrupt government and we will be using our personal cars and staying in our homes until things have gone back to normalcy" he told Reuters on 10 October 2022. "One thing for sure of the many things that we are going to do is to downsize the cabinet, and all our members will declare their assets, including myself," Matekane, who is Lesotho’s richest man, is the founder of the country’s first cannabis company, Verve, is obviously committed to developing the cannabis economy in Lesotho. However, the mountain kingdom, which pioneered the development of legal cannabis in Africa, is in danger of being marginalized as a leading player. Lesotho has three main cannabis challenges right now: There are ongoing corruption issues in the cannabis industry, and the Battle for Bophelo has tarnished the country’s reputation as a cannabis investment destination; There are issues around the country’s medicinal cannabis quality. Cannabiz Africa understands that Cape-based CloneLabs pulled out of its intended expansion into Lesotho earlier this year because of concerns over “local partner expectations”. Nasdaq-listed Akanda, had its local subsidiary Bophelo Bioscience and Wellness, “stolen” from under its nose by founder Louise Mojela. While it is taking legal steps to recover the company which Mojela put into liquidation, Akanda has revised its Africa policy completely and will now source from Portugal . Akanda CEO Tej Virk told Cannabiz Africa that the whole saga had tarnished Lesotho’s reputation as a reliable cannabis investment destination. Can Maketane halt Lesotho’s slide into global cannabis marginalization? He has already pulled off a political miracle and so it’s not an impossible ask. However, his priority, he says, is to tackle corription. Wikipedia reports that in March 2022 Matekane held a press conference at his boutique hotel, and declared he would pivot from business to politics and formed the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party. The RFP shocked the political system in the country. Matekane self-funded a state-of-the-art political campaign with heavy social media presence went on to win the 2022 Lesotho General Election, amid a long period of political dissatisfaction from government instability in country. Matekane's win is considered to have been heavily influenced by his his social media campaign. His campaign's financial advantage on the ground, along with his social media reach and presence was unmatched by the other 63 parties that contested the election. Through MGC, Matekane has funded several social projects in the country. Matekane has funded the construction of a football stadium, a school, and a convention center and a cost-sharing owner-farmer scheme farm in his village of Mantšonyane . During the Covid-19 pandemic, bought testing equipment, vaccines and other medical necessities and donated them. He has made many generous donations in the amount of M8 million in forms to the Police, and many millions on an ambulance, ICU beds, stretchers, wheelchairs, laundry machine and dryer and 1000 military uniforms donated to the Lesotho Defence Force. # Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections. Cannabis Bill one of 27 pieces of impending legislation sitting on the President's des. Read E Cape Bemoans The Phakisa’s Lack of Momentum; Intends to Turn Coega SEZ Into a Major Cannabis Hub and Partners With Medigrow to Raise R100m Investment Premier says "sandbox" plan will allow farmers to grow cannabis without licenses if they supply the Coega hub. Read South African Willem v d Merwe Among those Arrested for JuicyFields Scam: Also Faces Fraud Charges in Cape Town Over Missing Investor Cash About 200 South Africans were among the hundreds of thousands of investors who lost cash through JucyFields Read NEXT PREVIOUS Cannabis in South Africa: The People’s Plant We are a civil society organisation with the interests of the existing Cannabis industry and the Human Rights of ALL citizens at heart. WE’RE BRINGING A NEW STANDARD We are more than just a cannabis retail company. We are about a lifestyle that promotes vitality, balance & good health. Resources & Equipment Explore cannabis growing equipment for growing weed at home. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to enhance your outdoor or indoor weed grow setup – we have the perfect range of cannabis growing equipment to match your marijuana growing ambitions. ​ Find everything from LED grow lights, grow tents, fans, and hydroponic setups, to environmental equipment and controls, harvesting accessories, extraction equipment and plenty more. Design your ideal cannabis growing setup with high quality growing equipment available in South Africa. Explore cannabis growing equipment we’ve curated from reliable online suppliers in South Africa Explore More

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS “Take Us to the Cannabis King!” King Khoisan Pulls In The Tourists As His Illegal Cannabis Protest at the Union Buildings Enters Year 4! The self-proclaimed Khoisan king has been occupying a section of the Union Buildings’ lawns in Pretoria where he cultivates cannabis as part of an ongoing protest over indigenous rights. Now he’s become something of a cannabis-educating tourist attraction as local guides say he’s good for business and the cops appear to have backed off for the time being. Cannabiz Culture 28 January 2023 at 09:30:00 As Cannabis Culture reports, King Khoisan and his followers continue their defiance into 2023 and local and international tourists visiting the Union Buildings’ expansive garden have taken a shine to the royal rebel. The group had become a fascination for visitors who stop by to offer solidarity, ask more about cannabis, pose for photos, and offer food and cash donations. “We won’t be moved – and it’s our right to cultivate cannabis, and enjoy our way of life,” vows 54 year-old King Khioisan SA. He says it’s “disrespectful” that the modern government of South Africa doesn’t recognize his authority, has not returned his lands stolen during colonialism, and can’t allow his people to farm cannabis without any need for any lawful permission. “This is our country, this our cannabis,” King Khoisan says. “I like them,” says Vutt Loma, 29, a German tourist with arthritis who says she spent a day with King Khoisan, asking about how burning heating cannabis and rubbing it in her knees can dull the pain. “It was fantastic Indigenous knowledge, I got instructions even on how to inhale a few cannabis smokes as a way of lessening headaches.” Khoisan says the avalanche of tourists visiting them in the garden of Union Buildings has not hindered their way of life for the past three years. “It’s a moment to teach the world of the colonial state in South Africa that even controls our plants like cannabis apart from our bodies.” King Khoisan and his cannabis rebels say they are not ideological activists or rebels. “The land upon which the South African president’s house is built is essentially our unceded land. We are simply continuing our way of life hence apart from cannabis we also grow a vegetable garden,” he says. For tourist guide, Namata Gcaba, meeting the Khoisan King camping at the South African president’s house has boosted his business. “Most tourists who board my taxi to the president’s house demand upfront: which side of the garden is the cannabis king living? Take us straight there!” For three years, they have been living in the garden of South Africa’s president’s official home, growing a cannabis garden and other vegetables saying that, being South Africa’s First Nation, their freedom cannot be restricted by modern post-colonial rules. Cannabis and colonialism in South Africa is an enduring legacy and complaint. Cannabis Culture has previously reported the agony whereby South African police use intimidating helicopters to spray and kill indigenous farmers’ cannabis plots; the way commercial licenses in South Africa have been doled out mainly to white, wealthy foreign corporations at the expense of Black entrepreneurs. “Khoisan’s struggle is another front in the war against expropriation of cannabis, its ownership, and the culture surrounding it in South Africa by the post-colonial state which is still colonial and continuing anyway,” says social scientist O’bren Nhachi. In January 2022, officers of the South African police attempted to arrest King Khoisan and his followers. They clung to a cannabis tree plant which ultimately got uprooted when they tussled with police over the arrest. Police deliberately uprooted the cannabis tree as a tactic to make sure Khoisan and his followers have nothing to cling to, said King Khoisan. SAPS spokesperson Lt. Col. Robert Netshiunda, spokesman says that King Khoisan SA is breaking the law by cultivating cannabis, which is illegal. South Africa’s highest court legalized cannabis for commercial medicinal cultivation and processing in 2023 but Cannabis Culture has reported on South Africa’s police’s continued tough stance against individual users of cannabis. “It’s nonsensical; it’s hogwash,” says Khoisan of the police attempts to suppress him and his followers. “I can smoke cannabis; rub my knee pains with it in our land, we have been living this way for 10, 000 years.” # Time Fast Running Out For Pres Ramaphosa to Sign. Cannabis Bill into Law Before May 29 Elections. Cannabis Bill one of 27 pieces of impending legislation sitting on the President's des. 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