CBD Over-Hyped in Pain Treatment, Probably Doesn't Work Says International Review Panel 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. Georgina Crouth, Daily Maverick 24/04/28, 06:00 This report first appeared in the Daily Maverick on 25 April 2024. Expensive, ineffective and possibly harmful, cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products for pain have been given the thumbs-down by a group of researchers in the UK and Canada, after finding there is no evidence that they have any positive effect. The research published in The Journal of Pain found CBD products widely sold in North America and Europe to have varying amounts of CBD – from none to much more than advertised – and warned that they may even contain harmful chemicals. Out of 16 randomised clinical trials for pain using pharmaceutical CBD in oral, topical and other forms, 15 found no greater pain-relieving effect for CBD than for the placebo. The 16th trial was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. Meta-analyses (which combine data from a number of studies) of the clinical trials linked CBD to increased rates of serious adverse events and liver toxicity. A 2021 International Association for the Study of Pain task force examined evidence for cannabinoids and pain but found no trials of CBD. Sixteen CBD randomised trials using pharmaceutical CBD have been published subsequently. The trials were conducted in 12 different pain states, using three oral, topical and buccal/sublingual (cheek or under the tongue) administration, with CBD doses of between 6mg and 1,600mg, and durations of treatment ranging from a single dose to 12 weeks. Small clinical trials using verified CBD suggest that the drug is largely benign, and although large-scale evidence of safety is lacking, there is growing evidence linking CBD to increased rates of adverse health events and liver toxicity. In January 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for new CBD regulations. Current evidence suggests that CBD for pain is expensive, ineffective and potentially harmful. Researchers warn that consumers should rely on evidence-based sources of information on CBD, and not advertisements because there is no good reason for thinking that CBD relieves pain. There are also good reasons for doubting the contents of CBD products. A 2021 International Association for the Study of Pain position statement concluded that due to a lack of evidence from high-quality research, it did not endorse the general use of cannabinoids to treat pain. The task force concluded that preclinical studies, clinical trials and systematic reviews were “generally of low or very low quality” and showed small or nonexistent analgesic effects, despite some evidence of a mechanistic effect in animal models of pain. Cannabis-based medicines are widely promoted as a source of pain relief. The CBD market worldwide is forecast to be worth $60-billion by 2030, with a compounded annual growth rate of nearly 20%. About 26% of Americans, 16% of Canadians, 4.3% Germans and 2% of Britons use CBD products mostly for a chronic condition, the researchers say, which cost them upwards of $140 a month. In another analysis of 105 topical CBD products in the US, THC was detected in 35%, with a total content of up to 100mg. Only one in four products were accurately labelled for CBD, one in five had less than 90% of the advertised CBD, and one in two had more than 110%. In October 2023, UK food regulators slashed the recommended safe daily dose of CBD, citing a risk of liver damage and thyroid issues. In South Africa, CBD has been widely available in mainstream pharmacies, supermarkets, health shops and other retail stores, and promoted for treating a range of conditions, especially pain. Since 23 May 2019, preparations containing less than 20mg per daily dose of CBD have been legally sold here, although the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) said manufacturers may only make an “accepted low-risk claim” or health claim. When used for medical purposes, cannabis products are regulated by Sahpra. In May 2020, CBD was listed in Schedule 4 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, except in complementary medicines containing no more than 600mg cannabidiol per sales pack, providing a maximum daily dose of 20mg of CBD, and making a general health enhancement, health maintenance or relief of minor symptoms; or processed products made from cannabis raw plant material intended for ingestion containing 0.0075% or less of cannabidiol. CBD oil has become a popular drug for a variety of conditions, and many studies are under way on the oils effectiveness. Another article in the academic website The Conversation , written by Kent E Vrana , professor and chair of pharmacology at Penn State University, found while there is growing evidence that CBD can help with certain conditions, caution is needed. “Rigorous scientific studies are limited, so it is important that the marketing of CBD products does not get out ahead of the research and of robust evidence,” he writes. As of early 2023 there were 202 ongoing or completed scientific trials examining the effectiveness of CBD in humans on such diverse disorders as chronic pain, substance use disorders, anxiety and arthritis, he writes. In particular, CBD appears to be an anti-inflammatory agent and analgesic, similar to the functions of aspirin. This means it might be helpful for treating people suffering from inflammatory pain, such as arthritis, or headaches and body aches. CBD also holds potential for use in cancer therapy , although it has not been approved by the FDA for this purpose. # 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 CBD Over-Hyped in Pain Treatment, Probably Doesn't Work Says International Review Panel 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. Georgina Crouth, Daily Maverick 28 April 2024 at 06:00:00 This report first appeared in the Daily Maverick on 25 April 2024. Expensive, ineffective and possibly harmful, cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products for pain have been given the thumbs-down by a group of researchers in the UK and Canada, after finding there is no evidence that they have any positive effect. The research published in The Journal of Pain found CBD products widely sold in North America and Europe to have varying amounts of CBD – from none to much more than advertised – and warned that they may even contain harmful chemicals. Out of 16 randomised clinical trials for pain using pharmaceutical CBD in oral, topical and other forms, 15 found no greater pain-relieving effect for CBD than for the placebo. The 16th trial was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. Meta-analyses (which combine data from a number of studies) of the clinical trials linked CBD to increased rates of serious adverse events and liver toxicity. A 2021 International Association for the Study of Pain task force examined evidence for cannabinoids and pain but found no trials of CBD. Sixteen CBD randomised trials using pharmaceutical CBD have been published subsequently. The trials were conducted in 12 different pain states, using three oral, topical and buccal/sublingual (cheek or under the tongue) administration, with CBD doses of between 6mg and 1,600mg, and durations of treatment ranging from a single dose to 12 weeks. Small clinical trials using verified CBD suggest that the drug is largely benign, and although large-scale evidence of safety is lacking, there is growing evidence linking CBD to increased rates of adverse health events and liver toxicity. In January 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for new CBD regulations. Current evidence suggests that CBD for pain is expensive, ineffective and potentially harmful. Researchers warn that consumers should rely on evidence-based sources of information on CBD, and not advertisements because there is no good reason for thinking that CBD relieves pain. There are also good reasons for doubting the contents of CBD products. A 2021 International Association for the Study of Pain position statement concluded that due to a lack of evidence from high-quality research, it did not endorse the general use of cannabinoids to treat pain. The task force concluded that preclinical studies, clinical trials and systematic reviews were “generally of low or very low quality” and showed small or nonexistent analgesic effects, despite some evidence of a mechanistic effect in animal models of pain. Cannabis-based medicines are widely promoted as a source of pain relief. The CBD market worldwide is forecast to be worth $60-billion by 2030, with a compounded annual growth rate of nearly 20%. About 26% of Americans, 16% of Canadians, 4.3% Germans and 2% of Britons use CBD products mostly for a chronic condition, the researchers say, which cost them upwards of $140 a month. In another analysis of 105 topical CBD products in the US, THC was detected in 35%, with a total content of up to 100mg. Only one in four products were accurately labelled for CBD, one in five had less than 90% of the advertised CBD, and one in two had more than 110%. In October 2023, UK food regulators slashed the recommended safe daily dose of CBD, citing a risk of liver damage and thyroid issues. In South Africa, CBD has been widely available in mainstream pharmacies, supermarkets, health shops and other retail stores, and promoted for treating a range of conditions, especially pain. Since 23 May 2019, preparations containing less than 20mg per daily dose of CBD have been legally sold here, although the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) said manufacturers may only make an “accepted low-risk claim” or health claim. When used for medical purposes, cannabis products are regulated by Sahpra. In May 2020, CBD was listed in Schedule 4 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, except in complementary medicines containing no more than 600mg cannabidiol per sales pack, providing a maximum daily dose of 20mg of CBD, and making a general health enhancement, health maintenance or relief of minor symptoms; or processed products made from cannabis raw plant material intended for ingestion containing 0.0075% or less of cannabidiol. CBD oil has become a popular drug for a variety of conditions, and many studies are under way on the oils effectiveness. Another article in the academic website The Conversation , written by Kent E Vrana , professor and chair of pharmacology at Penn State University, found while there is growing evidence that CBD can help with certain conditions, caution is needed. “Rigorous scientific studies are limited, so it is important that the marketing of CBD products does not get out ahead of the research and of robust evidence,” he writes. As of early 2023 there were 202 ongoing or completed scientific trials examining the effectiveness of CBD in humans on such diverse disorders as chronic pain, substance use disorders, anxiety and arthritis, he writes. In particular, CBD appears to be an anti-inflammatory agent and analgesic, similar to the functions of aspirin. This means it might be helpful for treating people suffering from inflammatory pain, such as arthritis, or headaches and body aches. CBD also holds potential for use in cancer therapy , although it has not been approved by the FDA for this purpose. # Finally, the First JuicyFields Arrests – “The Russian” is Tracked Down in the Dominican Republic As Europol Cracks the Whip JuicyFields' alleged ring-leader Sergei Berenzin was one of the first to be arrested on "Action Day' Read When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home 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

Finally, the First JuicyFields Arrests – “The Russian” is Tracked Down in the Dominican Republic As Europol Cracks the Whip One of the original ‘Russian mafia’masterminds behind the JuicyFields scam was among those recently arrested in connection with the latest cannabis ponzi scheme. This suggests JuicyFields evolved into another scam, that has continued to take money from gullible cannabis investors who to date may have lost US$700 million through Juicyfields and its associates. Cannabiz/Africa with additional reporting by Dario Sabaghi 24/04/26, 11:00 Europol have said that nine people have been arrested following the “Action Day" operation on 11 April 2024, involving over 400 law enforcement officers in 11 countries who conducted 38 house searches. Although Europol has not revealed the names of those arrested, Cannabiz Africa understands that among them was “The Russian”, Sergei Berenzin, who was picked up in the Dominican Republic. Europol would only say that “a key target of the investigation was located in the Dominican Republic. Local authorities, assisted by Spanish investigators and Europol, searched the residence of a Russian national suspected to be a key figure in the fraud”. Berenzin is allegedly part of the “Russan mafia” that orchestrated the JuicyFields scam which affected over 130 000 cannabis investors in 11 countries. Three days after “Action Day”, on 15 April 2024, a known JuicyFields insider was confronted by police at Stockholm Airport. Fanny Schochlund, the Swedish Founder of Naked Media – a company that promoted JuicyFields at various European cannabis expos - was taken into custody with her boyfriend. As one commentator remarked on Linkedin, that Schochlund’s arrest will send a “chill down the spines” of those behind JuicyFields because she has so much insider knowledge. Who Is Naked Media? The firm is a female-led PR consultancy that broke into the cannabis industry by promoting Juicy Fields at conferences, and online. They were hired in the spring of 2020 and were actively working for the company until just a few months before the business was shut down two years later and all the investors lost their money. This includes being present at the over the top party in Barcelona in March 2022. After the scam went bust, they showed up at all the “in” cannabis conferences across Europe for the rest of the year – dodging the questions about why and how they could have worked for what was obviously a massive scam, right from the start. They have been highly visible on the cannabis conference circuit around Europe ever since. Until now that is. Another person arrested is believed to be a British man involved in JuicyFields' finances. The unnamed 42 year-old man was served with an arrest warrant in Atherstone, Warwickshire on Action Day. He was allegedly responsible for paying salaries to staff members and helped to legitimise the company by attending industry events. Former CEO Alan Glanse is reportedly working with the authorities in Malta to help uncover the missing millions, much of which was channelled through the island’s opaque banking system. The report by Dario Sabaghi was published by Forbes Magazine on 16 April 2024 Judicial assessments show that the losses stemming from fraudulent investments in the promoted cannabis cultivation crowdsourcing platform reached €645 million ($684 million) and involved 186,000 individuals worldwide, mainly European online investors. However, unreported damages may exceed this figure significantly. The case of JuicyFields, considered one of the biggest scams in the cannabis industry , broke the news in 2022. JuicyFields, a global platform for investing in cannabis, purportedly attracted investors with promises of high returns from backing cannabis cultivation by industry leaders. Dubbed “e-growers,” hundreds of thousands of investors joined the platform, depositing substantial sums through bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. However, investigations suggest JuicyFields might have defrauded its users by falsely asserting partnerships with major cannabis cultivation operators, employing a Ponzi scheme by using recent deposits to cover older ones, and successively freezing accounts and disappearing with funds. While the exact magnitude of the scam remains uncertain, with estimates varying from millions to billions of dollars, investors, unable to access their accounts, initiated legal action against JuicyFields led by the Swedish lawyer Lars Olofsson. However, it’s worth noting that prior to JuicyFields’s collapse, suspicions had arisen regarding the company’s unsustainable pledges and questionable practices. The suspects, coming from various countries, used social media ads to lure victims to JuicyFields’ website. The investigation and enforcement operations also led to the confiscation or the freeze of €4.7 million ($4.9 million) in bank accounts, €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cryptocurrencies, €106,000 (about $112,000) in cash, and €2.6 million ($2.7 million) in real estate assets. Additionally, law enforcement seized numerous luxury vehicles, artworks, electronic devices, and documents. Fueled by cannabis reforms sweeping almost half of the United States and several countries in Europe, but also in Africa and South America, the legalization of cannabis cultivation and the expanding legal status of medical cannabis has attracted significant investment in recent years, with investors seeing this industry as an attractive opportunity, considering cannabis one of the world’s most widely used substances. However, this progress has also led to criminal networks entering the market, adapting to changing regulations amid the legal uncertainty surrounding cannabis, and taking advantage of the promising revenue that may come from the industry, creating opportunities for fraudsters to promote investment schemes that seem low-risk but promise high returns. Unlike other frauds in the cannabis industry that may have happened or still exist, the case of JuicyFields stood out due to the enormous amount of money poured in, and the hundreds of thousands of investors defrauded, bringing the case to be covered worldwide and inspiring several documentaries that covered this story, as well as a dedicated website for the victims of the fraud to stay up to date with the development of the case. # 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 Finally, the First JuicyFields Arrests – “The Russian” is Tracked Down in the Dominican Republic As Europol Cracks the Whip One of the original ‘Russian mafia’masterminds behind the JuicyFields scam was among those recently arrested in connection with the latest cannabis ponzi scheme. This suggests JuicyFields evolved into another scam, that has continued to take money from gullible cannabis investors who to date may have lost US$700 million through Juicyfields and its associates. Cannabiz/Africa with additional reporting by Dario Sabaghi 26 April 2024 at 11:00:00 Europol have said that nine people have been arrested following the “Action Day" operation on 11 April 2024, involving over 400 law enforcement officers in 11 countries who conducted 38 house searches. Although Europol has not revealed the names of those arrested, Cannabiz Africa understands that among them was “The Russian”, Sergei Berenzin, who was picked up in the Dominican Republic. Europol would only say that “a key target of the investigation was located in the Dominican Republic. Local authorities, assisted by Spanish investigators and Europol, searched the residence of a Russian national suspected to be a key figure in the fraud”. Berenzin is allegedly part of the “Russan mafia” that orchestrated the JuicyFields scam which affected over 130 000 cannabis investors in 11 countries. Three days after “Action Day”, on 15 April 2024, a known JuicyFields insider was confronted by police at Stockholm Airport. Fanny Schochlund, the Swedish Founder of Naked Media – a company that promoted JuicyFields at various European cannabis expos - was taken into custody with her boyfriend. As one commentator remarked on Linkedin, that Schochlund’s arrest will send a “chill down the spines” of those behind JuicyFields because she has so much insider knowledge. Who Is Naked Media? The firm is a female-led PR consultancy that broke into the cannabis industry by promoting Juicy Fields at conferences, and online. They were hired in the spring of 2020 and were actively working for the company until just a few months before the business was shut down two years later and all the investors lost their money. This includes being present at the over the top party in Barcelona in March 2022. After the scam went bust, they showed up at all the “in” cannabis conferences across Europe for the rest of the year – dodging the questions about why and how they could have worked for what was obviously a massive scam, right from the start. They have been highly visible on the cannabis conference circuit around Europe ever since. Until now that is. Another person arrested is believed to be a British man involved in JuicyFields' finances. The unnamed 42 year-old man was served with an arrest warrant in Atherstone, Warwickshire on Action Day. He was allegedly responsible for paying salaries to staff members and helped to legitimise the company by attending industry events. Former CEO Alan Glanse is reportedly working with the authorities in Malta to help uncover the missing millions, much of which was channelled through the island’s opaque banking system. The report by Dario Sabaghi was published by Forbes Magazine on 16 April 2024 Judicial assessments show that the losses stemming from fraudulent investments in the promoted cannabis cultivation crowdsourcing platform reached €645 million ($684 million) and involved 186,000 individuals worldwide, mainly European online investors. However, unreported damages may exceed this figure significantly. The case of JuicyFields, considered one of the biggest scams in the cannabis industry , broke the news in 2022. JuicyFields, a global platform for investing in cannabis, purportedly attracted investors with promises of high returns from backing cannabis cultivation by industry leaders. Dubbed “e-growers,” hundreds of thousands of investors joined the platform, depositing substantial sums through bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. However, investigations suggest JuicyFields might have defrauded its users by falsely asserting partnerships with major cannabis cultivation operators, employing a Ponzi scheme by using recent deposits to cover older ones, and successively freezing accounts and disappearing with funds. While the exact magnitude of the scam remains uncertain, with estimates varying from millions to billions of dollars, investors, unable to access their accounts, initiated legal action against JuicyFields led by the Swedish lawyer Lars Olofsson. However, it’s worth noting that prior to JuicyFields’s collapse, suspicions had arisen regarding the company’s unsustainable pledges and questionable practices. The suspects, coming from various countries, used social media ads to lure victims to JuicyFields’ website. The investigation and enforcement operations also led to the confiscation or the freeze of €4.7 million ($4.9 million) in bank accounts, €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cryptocurrencies, €106,000 (about $112,000) in cash, and €2.6 million ($2.7 million) in real estate assets. Additionally, law enforcement seized numerous luxury vehicles, artworks, electronic devices, and documents. Fueled by cannabis reforms sweeping almost half of the United States and several countries in Europe, but also in Africa and South America, the legalization of cannabis cultivation and the expanding legal status of medical cannabis has attracted significant investment in recent years, with investors seeing this industry as an attractive opportunity, considering cannabis one of the world’s most widely used substances. However, this progress has also led to criminal networks entering the market, adapting to changing regulations amid the legal uncertainty surrounding cannabis, and taking advantage of the promising revenue that may come from the industry, creating opportunities for fraudsters to promote investment schemes that seem low-risk but promise high returns. Unlike other frauds in the cannabis industry that may have happened or still exist, the case of JuicyFields stood out due to the enormous amount of money poured in, and the hundreds of thousands of investors defrauded, bringing the case to be covered worldwide and inspiring several documentaries that covered this story, as well as a dedicated website for the victims of the fraud to stay up to date with the development of the case. # When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home Read King Kong Secures Rwanda’s First Medical Cannabis Export License ​ 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 Ramon Pereira, Senior Associate 24/04/26, 09:30 The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill now awaits President Ramaphosa's signature before it comes into law. The Bill is likely to be merely a stopgap until an overarching cannabis law is passed, which is unlikely to be within the next year, thus prolonging the "grey zone" the industry is currently caught in. Here's a legal view of where matters cannabis stand right now. This legal memo from legal firm Adams and Adams , first published on 4 March 2024. In September 2018, the Constitutional Court of South Africa unanimously ruled that the personal and private use of Cannabis, by adults, would be decriminalised. This meant that the ban on private possession and consumption as well as cultivation of Cannabis plants for personal use was unconstitutional and infringed on section 14 of the Constitution which gives all citizens the right to privacy. In September 2020, the relevant parliamentary committee published the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill (the “Bill”) and following some amendments, the Bill recently passed through the two houses of parliament and is expected to soon be gazetted by the President into law. This echoes the President’s statement in his 2022 state of the nation address of the “huge potential for investment and job creation” offered by the Cannabis industry. The Bill creates a tiered list of offences, depending on the quantity of Cannabis or severity of the offence, and further distinguishes between cultivation and possession which exceed personal use, and defines smoking and consumption offences. Cultivation Regarding cultivation, an adult is entitled to cultivate 4 flowering plants in a private place and up to 8 plants if more than one adult resides in that dwelling. A guardian of a minor must reasonably restrict access to the plants but is allowed to have the child assist in the legal cultivation thereof for private use, in the presence and supervision of the guardian. A person may not provide for consideration, receive for consideration, buy, sell, offer to purchase, advertise for sale, import, export or any other conduct facilitating selling (referred to as “deal in” in the Bill) of a plant. An individual is, however, allowed to exchange without consideration (meaning any form of compensation, gift, reward, favour or benefit) one or more plants to another individual which may not exceed the above limit and if in a public place, which means spaces which the public has the right of access, the plant must be concealed from public view. Possession Regarding possession, an adult is entitled to possess, in a public place, up to 500 grams (g) of fresh Cannabis, 100g of dried Cannabis, and 25g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate. In a private place, an individual is entitled to possess up to 3 kilograms (kg) of fresh Cannabis, 600g of dried Cannabis, and 150g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate. These amounts increase to 6kg of fresh Cannabis, 1.2kg of dried Cannabis, and 300g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate, if more than one adult resides in a dwelling. Again, a person has a duty to ensure the Cannabis is not accessible to children, may not deal in Cannabis but may freely exchange without consideration amounts which do not exceed the above limits, which must also be concealed if in a public place. Smoking and Consumption It should be emphasised that the Bill still prohibits Cannabis from being smoked or consumed in a public place or smoked in a private place in the immediate presence of a non-consenting adult, with failure to comply attracting a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. It may also not be smoked or consumed in a vehicle on a public road or smoked in the immediate presence of a minor, with failure to comply resulting in a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 4 years. Furthermore, a person may not smoke Cannabis in a private place which is in close proximity to another’s window, ventilation inlet, doorway or entrance, or in close proximity to a public place where the smoke is likely to cause a hinderance, which may need consideration if the person lives in an apartment complex, also attracting a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. Thankfully, the Bill provides special protections for minors in particular, and sanctions the highest penalty of a fine and/or imprisonment of up to 15 years for a number of offences. Interestingly, the Bill includes the automatic expungement of criminal records for people that have been previously convicted of Cannabis-related offences under other Acts of Parliament, unless that individual does not qualify, which disqualification is also able to be challenged in terms of the Bill. The Bill does not, however, apply to any person who is permitted or authorised in terms of any other Act of Parliament to cultivate Cannabis and/or deal in Cannabis or Cannabis products. In this regard, the Medicines and Related Substances (MRS) Act has already been formally amended in that the whole plant, together with its constituents, is no longer classed as falling in Schedule 7. Schedule 7 drugs are substances not recognised as medicine and which have a high potential for abuse and relate to the two main cannabinoids, non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is now amended as a Schedule 4 regulated substance. Products that contain up to 600mg of CBD in total, recommend a daily dose of no more than 20mg and make no specific health claims, are exempt and classed as Schedule 0, which is unregulated, over-the-counter medicines. Furthermore, products intended for ingestion, where the plant source material naturally contains a maximum of 0.0075% CBD in total, are also exempt and fall under Section 0. THC is now a Schedule 6 regulated substance, except if the raw plant or its derivatives are cultivated, possessed, shared or consumed by an adult, in private and out of sight, in line with the Bill. The cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes on a commercial basis requires a licence issued in terms of the MRS Act, the licence is issued by South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). A permit from the Director-General is also required. The application forms for the licence and permits can be accessed online via the SAHPRA website or by contacting the Regulatory Compliance unit of SAHPRA. Schedule 6 substances of the MRS Act, however, are not able to be sold by any person other than a pharmacist, pharmacist intern or a pharmacist’s assistant acting under the personal supervision of a pharmacist, without a prescription . This seemingly begs the question in our law on how Cannabis produced on a commercial scale for private use would get into the hands of a private individual in line with the Bill, without having to grow their own plants. Currently, an individual would approach a health practitioner who, after assessment of the patient would determine whether to prescribe Cannabis for treatment, and thereafter a pharmacist would distribute the product to the patient. It is also interesting to consider the status of “grow-clubs” which have mushroomed in the legal uncertainty since the Constitutional judgement and may consider themselves compliant with the Bill. These clubs may believe that they are providing a private place for individuals to grow each of their individual allocation of cultivated plants in terms of the Bill, and so the club may collectively possess amounts which exceed the limits set by the Bill in terms of a single private place. In order for this argument to be sustained, the club will need to find support that the cultivation and possession of an individual is able to be delegated or mandated to them in terms of the Bill. This may also circumvent the need to obtain a licence and permit as mentioned above, along with the need for a prescription. Invariably, this will need to be settled through the Courts. The Bill is a welcome inclusion to the legal framework of the South African Cannabis industry, bringing it in line with the Constitutional judgement but further legislation relating to commercial production for private use to enjoy the privileges offered by the Bill seem necessary. # SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: From the Legal Desk: Adams & Adams Assessment of the Current State of Play as Cannabis Lurches Towards Legality 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

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS From the Legal Desk: Adams & Adams Assessment of the Current State of Play as Cannabis Lurches Towards Legality The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill now awaits President Ramaphosa's signature before it comes into law. The Bill is likely to be merely a stopgap until an overarching cannabis law is passed, which is unlikely to be within the next year, thus prolonging the "grey zone" the industry is currently caught in. Here's a legal view of where matters cannabis stand right now. Ramon Pereira, Senior Associate 26 April 2024 at 09:30:00 This legal memo from legal firm Adams and Adams , first published on 4 March 2024. In September 2018, the Constitutional Court of South Africa unanimously ruled that the personal and private use of Cannabis, by adults, would be decriminalised. This meant that the ban on private possession and consumption as well as cultivation of Cannabis plants for personal use was unconstitutional and infringed on section 14 of the Constitution which gives all citizens the right to privacy. In September 2020, the relevant parliamentary committee published the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill (the “Bill”) and following some amendments, the Bill recently passed through the two houses of parliament and is expected to soon be gazetted by the President into law. This echoes the President’s statement in his 2022 state of the nation address of the “huge potential for investment and job creation” offered by the Cannabis industry. The Bill creates a tiered list of offences, depending on the quantity of Cannabis or severity of the offence, and further distinguishes between cultivation and possession which exceed personal use, and defines smoking and consumption offences. Cultivation Regarding cultivation, an adult is entitled to cultivate 4 flowering plants in a private place and up to 8 plants if more than one adult resides in that dwelling. A guardian of a minor must reasonably restrict access to the plants but is allowed to have the child assist in the legal cultivation thereof for private use, in the presence and supervision of the guardian. A person may not provide for consideration, receive for consideration, buy, sell, offer to purchase, advertise for sale, import, export or any other conduct facilitating selling (referred to as “deal in” in the Bill) of a plant. An individual is, however, allowed to exchange without consideration (meaning any form of compensation, gift, reward, favour or benefit) one or more plants to another individual which may not exceed the above limit and if in a public place, which means spaces which the public has the right of access, the plant must be concealed from public view. Possession Regarding possession, an adult is entitled to possess, in a public place, up to 500 grams (g) of fresh Cannabis, 100g of dried Cannabis, and 25g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate. In a private place, an individual is entitled to possess up to 3 kilograms (kg) of fresh Cannabis, 600g of dried Cannabis, and 150g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate. These amounts increase to 6kg of fresh Cannabis, 1.2kg of dried Cannabis, and 300g of solid or liquid Cannabis concentrate, if more than one adult resides in a dwelling. Again, a person has a duty to ensure the Cannabis is not accessible to children, may not deal in Cannabis but may freely exchange without consideration amounts which do not exceed the above limits, which must also be concealed if in a public place. Smoking and Consumption It should be emphasised that the Bill still prohibits Cannabis from being smoked or consumed in a public place or smoked in a private place in the immediate presence of a non-consenting adult, with failure to comply attracting a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. It may also not be smoked or consumed in a vehicle on a public road or smoked in the immediate presence of a minor, with failure to comply resulting in a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 4 years. Furthermore, a person may not smoke Cannabis in a private place which is in close proximity to another’s window, ventilation inlet, doorway or entrance, or in close proximity to a public place where the smoke is likely to cause a hinderance, which may need consideration if the person lives in an apartment complex, also attracting a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. Thankfully, the Bill provides special protections for minors in particular, and sanctions the highest penalty of a fine and/or imprisonment of up to 15 years for a number of offences. Interestingly, the Bill includes the automatic expungement of criminal records for people that have been previously convicted of Cannabis-related offences under other Acts of Parliament, unless that individual does not qualify, which disqualification is also able to be challenged in terms of the Bill. The Bill does not, however, apply to any person who is permitted or authorised in terms of any other Act of Parliament to cultivate Cannabis and/or deal in Cannabis or Cannabis products. In this regard, the Medicines and Related Substances (MRS) Act has already been formally amended in that the whole plant, together with its constituents, is no longer classed as falling in Schedule 7. Schedule 7 drugs are substances not recognised as medicine and which have a high potential for abuse and relate to the two main cannabinoids, non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is now amended as a Schedule 4 regulated substance. Products that contain up to 600mg of CBD in total, recommend a daily dose of no more than 20mg and make no specific health claims, are exempt and classed as Schedule 0, which is unregulated, over-the-counter medicines. Furthermore, products intended for ingestion, where the plant source material naturally contains a maximum of 0.0075% CBD in total, are also exempt and fall under Section 0. THC is now a Schedule 6 regulated substance, except if the raw plant or its derivatives are cultivated, possessed, shared or consumed by an adult, in private and out of sight, in line with the Bill. The cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes on a commercial basis requires a licence issued in terms of the MRS Act, the licence is issued by South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). A permit from the Director-General is also required. The application forms for the licence and permits can be accessed online via the SAHPRA website or by contacting the Regulatory Compliance unit of SAHPRA. Schedule 6 substances of the MRS Act, however, are not able to be sold by any person other than a pharmacist, pharmacist intern or a pharmacist’s assistant acting under the personal supervision of a pharmacist, without a prescription . This seemingly begs the question in our law on how Cannabis produced on a commercial scale for private use would get into the hands of a private individual in line with the Bill, without having to grow their own plants. Currently, an individual would approach a health practitioner who, after assessment of the patient would determine whether to prescribe Cannabis for treatment, and thereafter a pharmacist would distribute the product to the patient. It is also interesting to consider the status of “grow-clubs” which have mushroomed in the legal uncertainty since the Constitutional judgement and may consider themselves compliant with the Bill. These clubs may believe that they are providing a private place for individuals to grow each of their individual allocation of cultivated plants in terms of the Bill, and so the club may collectively possess amounts which exceed the limits set by the Bill in terms of a single private place. In order for this argument to be sustained, the club will need to find support that the cultivation and possession of an individual is able to be delegated or mandated to them in terms of the Bill. This may also circumvent the need to obtain a licence and permit as mentioned above, along with the need for a prescription. Invariably, this will need to be settled through the Courts. The Bill is a welcome inclusion to the legal framework of the South African Cannabis industry, bringing it in line with the Constitutional judgement but further legislation relating to commercial production for private use to enjoy the privileges offered by the Bill seem necessary. # When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home Read King Kong Secures Rwanda’s First Medical Cannabis Export License ​ 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 Labour Court Victory for Worker Fired from Barloworld for Medical Cannabis Use: : R1M Payout for Wrongful Dismissal A Gauteng woman who was fired for smoking cannabis after work for medical reasons took her fight to the Labour Appeal Court of South Africa and emerged victorious. Jolene Marriah-Maharaj, Senior Digital Journalist, IOL News 26 April 2024 at 09:00:00 This report from IOL News , published on 26 April 2024. Bernadette Enever filed an appeal against Barloworld South Africa’s decision to dismiss her on 20 April 2020, for going against their zero-approach policy to drugs and alcohol. READ: Fields of Green for All's respose to the Bernadette Enever ruling In June 2022, the Johannesburg Labour Court ruled in favour of Barloworld, but this week the appeal court set aside their ruling in what could possibly be deemed as a ground-breaking judgment. The Labour Appeal Court found that Barloworld’s policy was “overbroad” and infringed on Enever’s right to privacy. It further ruled that Barloworld’s alcohol and substance abuse policy was irrational and violated the right to privacy in section 14 of the Constitution, to the extent that it prohibits office-based employees that do not work with or within an environment that has heavy, dangerous and similar equipment, from consuming cannabis in the privacy of their home. The court found that Enever suffered unfair discrimination and that her dismissal was automatically unfair. Barloworld was ordered to pay her 24 months compensation of R43 199.75 a month, which amounts to more than R1 million. According to court documents, Enever worked as a category analyst at the time of her dismissal. The background was that she had signed an employee policy handbook in 2012, in which it explicitly states that the company may require employees to undergo medical examinations. In 2018, the company sent out a document to staff titled “Cannabis is strictly prohibited in the workplace”, following the Constitutional Court’s decision to decriminalise the use of cannabis for adults in the privacy of their homes. It stated it would have no bearing on their company policy. In May 2012, Enever’s doctor had prescribed her medication for pain and sleep due to severe anxiety, but she said she suffered side-effects. Following the decriminalisation judgment, Enever began using cannabis, which she says eventually helped her reduce her reliance on prescription medication. In essence, she said she saw an improved relief from cannabis-based products. She said she smoked a rolled-up cannabis (joint) every night and on weekends, along with the daily use of cannabis-based products like cannabis oil. In January 2020, four months before her dismissal, Enever, in order to regain biometric access to the workplace, was required to undergo a medical test, which included the testing of her urine. The test results came back positive for cannabis use. She was denied access and told to return to work after seven days. A further four tests done in February came back positive because she did not stop the use of cannabis. A notice of disciplinary was served on her on 25 February 2020, and she pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing on 28 February 2020. In mitigation, Enever spoke about the benefits she had seen from using cannabis, more especially how she had less anxiety, better sleep and was no longer reliant on side-effect causing prescriptions. However, her access to the workplace was denied and she was told to return when she tested negative. Enever never tested negative and at the outcome of her hearing on April 30, 2020, was dismissed. Following her dismissal, Enever took her matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) but it did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore she approached the Labour Court. Each party was ordered to pay their own costs. # When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home Read King Kong Secures Rwanda’s First Medical Cannabis Export License ​ 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 Jolene Marriah-Maharaj, Senior Digital Journalist, IOL News 24/04/26, 09:00 A Gauteng woman who was fired for smoking cannabis after work for medical reasons took her fight to the Labour Appeal Court of South Africa and emerged victorious. This report from IOL News , published on 26 April 2024. Bernadette Enever filed an appeal against Barloworld South Africa’s decision to dismiss her on 20 April 2020, for going against their zero-approach policy to drugs and alcohol. READ: Fields of Green for All's respose to the Bernadette Enever ruling In June 2022, the Johannesburg Labour Court ruled in favour of Barloworld, but this week the appeal court set aside their ruling in what could possibly be deemed as a ground-breaking judgment. The Labour Appeal Court found that Barloworld’s policy was “overbroad” and infringed on Enever’s right to privacy. It further ruled that Barloworld’s alcohol and substance abuse policy was irrational and violated the right to privacy in section 14 of the Constitution, to the extent that it prohibits office-based employees that do not work with or within an environment that has heavy, dangerous and similar equipment, from consuming cannabis in the privacy of their home. The court found that Enever suffered unfair discrimination and that her dismissal was automatically unfair. Barloworld was ordered to pay her 24 months compensation of R43 199.75 a month, which amounts to more than R1 million. According to court documents, Enever worked as a category analyst at the time of her dismissal. The background was that she had signed an employee policy handbook in 2012, in which it explicitly states that the company may require employees to undergo medical examinations. In 2018, the company sent out a document to staff titled “Cannabis is strictly prohibited in the workplace”, following the Constitutional Court’s decision to decriminalise the use of cannabis for adults in the privacy of their homes. It stated it would have no bearing on their company policy. In May 2012, Enever’s doctor had prescribed her medication for pain and sleep due to severe anxiety, but she said she suffered side-effects. Following the decriminalisation judgment, Enever began using cannabis, which she says eventually helped her reduce her reliance on prescription medication. In essence, she said she saw an improved relief from cannabis-based products. She said she smoked a rolled-up cannabis (joint) every night and on weekends, along with the daily use of cannabis-based products like cannabis oil. In January 2020, four months before her dismissal, Enever, in order to regain biometric access to the workplace, was required to undergo a medical test, which included the testing of her urine. The test results came back positive for cannabis use. She was denied access and told to return to work after seven days. A further four tests done in February came back positive because she did not stop the use of cannabis. A notice of disciplinary was served on her on 25 February 2020, and she pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing on 28 February 2020. In mitigation, Enever spoke about the benefits she had seen from using cannabis, more especially how she had less anxiety, better sleep and was no longer reliant on side-effect causing prescriptions. However, her access to the workplace was denied and she was told to return when she tested negative. Enever never tested negative and at the outcome of her hearing on April 30, 2020, was dismissed. Following her dismissal, Enever took her matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) but it did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore she approached the Labour Court. Each party was ordered to pay their own costs. # SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: Labour Court Victory for Worker Fired from Barloworld for Medical Cannabis Use: : R1M Payout for Wrongful Dismissal 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

CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS The Shadow Side of Rehab: Murder Charges Laid After Canadian Dies During Opioid Treatment at Durban ‘Clinic’ Westville dentist Anwar Mohamed Jeewa is facing murder charges after one of his patients succumbed at his clinic from opioid withdrawal. A subsequent police raid on the unregistered drug and alcohol treatment/detoxification facility, revealed not only ibogaine, but heroin, tik and cannabis on the premises. Anelisa Kubheka 23 April 2024 at 05:00:00 This report from IOL online , first published on 19 April 2024. A murder trial is underway in the Durban High Court where retired Hawks head Lieutenant-Colonel Anton Booysen gave evidence following the death of Milos Martinovic in 2017. Booysen was giving evidence as the investigating officer in the trial against dentist Anwar Mohamed Jeewa, who has been charged with the murder of Milos Martinovic. Martinovic was a Canadian and French citizen addicted to Oxycontin (an opiate) and Xanax (known as alprazolam). Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine medication commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorder. Jeewa had a permit to import Tabermanthe Iboga (dry plant material) from Goban to South Africa, which he did regularly. He used the dry plant material to manufacture preparations containing ibogaine, which the State alleges he had no licence to do. In November 2017, Martinovic travelled to South Africa and on arrival at the centre, Minds Alive, he was in possession of an unknown number of OxyContini tablets and several boxes of Xanax which the State alleges Jeewa allowed him to keep. It is alleged that Jeewa instructed Martinovic to continue taking the tablets he had allowed him to keep to avoid withdrawal symptoms. It is alleged that on the night of November 7, Martinovic was given three to four separate doses of ibogaine capsules by a nurse. Ibogaine is contraindicated for the treatment of addiction to benzodiazepines. The chances of fatality are increased when benzodiazepines or opiates are taken together with other substances. The State alleges that Jeewa was aware of this. “Several items were seized including scheduled medicines and illicit drugs, those being tik, heroin and cannabis,” said Booysen. He said the centre was raided on November 17, 2017, following an application for a search warrant of the premises that the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court had granted. “Also seized were CCTV cameras at various places, including the bedrooms of the patients as well as a purple plastic file which was the patient admissions file. The medication and drugs were forwarded to the forensic science lab in Pretoria and the digital evidence was forwarded to the forensic digital laboratory. “The patient file was kept by me under lock and key pending further investigation from there on,” Booysen told the court. He said that while at the centre he was concerned when he saw a doctor’s prescription pad with signed pages. He said he saw the need to apply for a search-and-seizure warrant for Jeewa’s home, as he was concerned that he might continue treating patients and sourcing more ibogaine. On December 22, 2017, police raided Jeewa’s home and on arrival asked him if he had anything he wanted to tell them. He admitted to having ibogaine at his home. Booysen said when they asked Jeewa if he had a permit for the ibogaine, he said he did but it was at his facility and they headed there. He told the court that while on the driveway of the facility, he noticed the house next door to be derelict with no direct entrance to it. But there was a pedestrian gate from the facility to the house. Booysen said he noticed a lot of activity at the house on the morning they raided the facility. He said after verbalising his curiosity about the house next door while in the car, Jeewa said while police did not have a warrant they were welcome to search the house. Booysen told the court that Jeewa had told police that the derelict house was where he manufactured his ibogaine. The trial continues. # When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home Read King Kong Secures Rwanda’s First Medical Cannabis Export License ​ 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

Groundbreaking Project in Amazon – Creating Carbon Offsets from Cannabis A cannabis farming cooperative in Ecuador’s northern Amazon will work with German specialists to optimize biochar production for carbon dioxide removal and soil regeneration. Hemp Today 24/04/24, 09:00 This report was first published in Hemp Today on 23 April 2024. Cooperativa Ananda and Hamburg-based CarbonConnect announced a strategic agreement that also includes the development of a model system for certifying carbon credits. Biochar is a super charcoal made by heating any biomass – for example, corncob, husk or stalk, potato or soy hay, rice, wheat straw and cannabis – without oxygen. All of the cellulose, lignin and other, non-carbon materials gasify and are burned away. What remains is pure carbon – 40% of the carbon originally contained in the biomass “Through this synergy, the impact of biochar production and improving livelihoods of farmers in the northern Amazon of Ecuador through sales of CO2 credits, can begin,” said Nando Knodel, co-founder and managing director of CarbonConnect. Artisanal production Under a letter of intent outlining the cooperation, CarbonConnect and Ananda will provide hemp farmers and medical marijuana growers training in low-cost artisanal production methods for biochar (, and take an active role in auditing CO2. Part of the carbon credits generated are to be paid out to Ananda and individual farmers whose waste from marijuana and hemp crops is turned into the biochar. Also, some biochar is returned to farmers to spread in their fields, benefiting both soil health and crop performance. ‘Net-negative’ emissions CarbonConnect calculates CO2 removals by subtracting any greenhouse gas created through biochar processing from that sequestered in the biochar, to reach “net-negative” emissions. The company has exclusive rights to the credits that emerge. CarbonConnect credits are certified by Carbon Standard International , which verifies methodologies and projects that generate tradable carbon credits. Such third-party certification ensures that the credits are high quality and reflect the actual reduction of CO2 emissions — making them worth the money being paid for them and assuring buyers that carbon accounted for is the result of a transparent evaluation. The remaining credits can be sold on the open market. ‘Social & climatic impact’ Ananda, a multi-disciplinary agriculture co-op based in the city of Riobamba in Chimborazo province, is a partner with the El Dorado de Cascales farmers association, which holds licenses for medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp farming. “We are at the right time to initiate projects of great social and climatic impact in Ecuador,” said Sebastián Moreno, founder and manager of Cooperativa Ananda. “The partnership with CarbonConnect will allow us to tokenize and monetize the long-term capture and removal of CO2.” The Ecuadorian Amazon and the Amazon rainforest as a whole face a vicious cycle of threats from climate change, deforestation, and water pollution from gold mining. Climate conditions growing hotter and drier in the Amazon make it more susceptible to fires and disrupting rain patterns. Projects in LatAm, Africa CarbonConnect also has one project up and running in Africa, and a second project in Latin America that is in the development phase. In Zimbabwe, the company helped the Harare-based Organic Farming Academy (OFA) set up a first-of-its-kind production facility that makes biochar from baobab husk left over after the processing of baobab powder. With support from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, CarbonConnect worked with OFA in developing a locally made Kon-Tiki type kiln in which the waste is mixed with compost and applied back into the soil by farmers in the region. In addition to biochar operations, the Organic Farming Academy trains smallholder and wild plant collector families for EU certification of organic products. In Colombia, CarbonConnect is working with the Atinkana reserve in the Valley of the Sierra Nevada and a farmer network that covers 150 hectares. The vision for that project is to use waste from coffee and cocoa production, as well as broken tree parts and stems, to produce biochar in soil pits to help forestation and water conservation efforts. # 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 Groundbreaking Project in Amazon – Creating Carbon Offsets from Cannabis A cannabis farming cooperative in Ecuador’s northern Amazon will work with German specialists to optimize biochar production for carbon dioxide removal and soil regeneration. Hemp Today 24 April 2024 at 09:00:00 This report was first published in Hemp Today on 23 April 2024. Cooperativa Ananda and Hamburg-based CarbonConnect announced a strategic agreement that also includes the development of a model system for certifying carbon credits. Biochar is a super charcoal made by heating any biomass – for example, corncob, husk or stalk, potato or soy hay, rice, wheat straw and cannabis – without oxygen. All of the cellulose, lignin and other, non-carbon materials gasify and are burned away. What remains is pure carbon – 40% of the carbon originally contained in the biomass “Through this synergy, the impact of biochar production and improving livelihoods of farmers in the northern Amazon of Ecuador through sales of CO2 credits, can begin,” said Nando Knodel, co-founder and managing director of CarbonConnect. Artisanal production Under a letter of intent outlining the cooperation, CarbonConnect and Ananda will provide hemp farmers and medical marijuana growers training in low-cost artisanal production methods for biochar (, and take an active role in auditing CO2. Part of the carbon credits generated are to be paid out to Ananda and individual farmers whose waste from marijuana and hemp crops is turned into the biochar. Also, some biochar is returned to farmers to spread in their fields, benefiting both soil health and crop performance. ‘Net-negative’ emissions CarbonConnect calculates CO2 removals by subtracting any greenhouse gas created through biochar processing from that sequestered in the biochar, to reach “net-negative” emissions. The company has exclusive rights to the credits that emerge. CarbonConnect credits are certified by Carbon Standard International , which verifies methodologies and projects that generate tradable carbon credits. Such third-party certification ensures that the credits are high quality and reflect the actual reduction of CO2 emissions — making them worth the money being paid for them and assuring buyers that carbon accounted for is the result of a transparent evaluation. The remaining credits can be sold on the open market. ‘Social & climatic impact’ Ananda, a multi-disciplinary agriculture co-op based in the city of Riobamba in Chimborazo province, is a partner with the El Dorado de Cascales farmers association, which holds licenses for medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp farming. “We are at the right time to initiate projects of great social and climatic impact in Ecuador,” said Sebastián Moreno, founder and manager of Cooperativa Ananda. “The partnership with CarbonConnect will allow us to tokenize and monetize the long-term capture and removal of CO2.” The Ecuadorian Amazon and the Amazon rainforest as a whole face a vicious cycle of threats from climate change, deforestation, and water pollution from gold mining. Climate conditions growing hotter and drier in the Amazon make it more susceptible to fires and disrupting rain patterns. Projects in LatAm, Africa CarbonConnect also has one project up and running in Africa, and a second project in Latin America that is in the development phase. In Zimbabwe, the company helped the Harare-based Organic Farming Academy (OFA) set up a first-of-its-kind production facility that makes biochar from baobab husk left over after the processing of baobab powder. With support from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, CarbonConnect worked with OFA in developing a locally made Kon-Tiki type kiln in which the waste is mixed with compost and applied back into the soil by farmers in the region. In addition to biochar operations, the Organic Farming Academy trains smallholder and wild plant collector families for EU certification of organic products. In Colombia, CarbonConnect is working with the Atinkana reserve in the Valley of the Sierra Nevada and a farmer network that covers 150 hectares. The vision for that project is to use waste from coffee and cocoa production, as well as broken tree parts and stems, to produce biochar in soil pits to help forestation and water conservation efforts. # When Will They Ever Learn? Investors in 35 Countries Get Burned in Medical Cannabis Scam Modelled on Juicy Fields' Brazen Marketing Spanish police swoop on multi-million Euro scam after brazen gang copied JF's high profile methods to lure unsuspecting victims into parting with their cash for wildly unrealistic returns from medical cannabis Read Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany Adults allowed to carry 25 gms of cannabis and grow three plants at home Read King Kong Secures Rwanda’s First Medical Cannabis Export License ​ 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 Benjamin M Adams 24/04/24, 08:00 Mikes Kitchen in Parktown has become embroiled in a row with Rapper Emptee after throwing him out of the restaurant for “smelling like weed”; the musician says his lawyers will ask for an apology and that the whole incident reeked of racism. This report from High Times , published on 28 March 2024. Should restaurant patrons who smell like weed be denied service at a restaurant? That’s the question South Africans should be asking after one of the country’s top rappers was denied service along with two friends. South African rapper Emtee was recently denied service, along with along with artists Uncle Vinny and Yungseruno, from a branch of Mike’s Kitchen in Johannesburg, last month after the restaurant complained that they smelled like weed. (Personal cannabis use at home is decriminalized and medical use is legal in South Africa.) The incident has prompted a national social media debate about the odour of cannabis in public spaces, and many people think the rappers were profiled as well. Emtee, who has millions of followers on Instagram, along with rappers Uncle Vinny and Yungseruno , said they were refused entry from Mike’s Kitchen in Parktown because they were “smelling of weed and had too many tattoos.” The restaurant chain is known for South African heritage-based dishes. TimesLIVE , South Africa’s second-biggest news website, reports that Emtee’s lawyers demanded an apology from Mike’s Heritage House in the upscale Parktown neighborhood of Johannesburg or he will take legal action against the restaurant. “We decided to go have lunch at Mikes Kitchen, Parktown,” Emtee said . “We were dropped off. We walked in and as we were being ushered to our table, a white man comes and tells us to leave because we ‘smell of weed and we had too many tattoos’. Mind you, our transport has left. This ho ass nigga kicked out the yard,” Emtee said. While apartheid ended decades ago, a severe case of race inequality remains rampant in Johannesburg , with nearly 40% of Black South Africans unemployed, a much higher ratio than their white counterparts. South African leaders, however, are currently taking measures to promote equity. On April 12, 2023, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Employment Equity Amendment Bill of 2020, which enacts “equity targets” to promote equity in the business sector. Emtee sounded fed up after being denied entry from the restaurant, suggesting racism was at play as well. “Fuck Mikes Kitchen in Parktown!” Emtee said. “You are about to get served. The fuck!? Fuck y’all food! At this, you are all fucking with me and my guys for nothing. Talking about ‘I’m gonna call the police’, call them! Scary ass bitch. Say never go to Mikes Kitchen Parktown. The son of biches is racist! Yeah I said! You all gone have to kill me. Mikes kitchen in Park Town is going down!” Emtee’s legal representatives have demanded that Mike’s Kitchen issue a public apology to the star or they will proceed with legal action. Mike’s Kitchen publicist Melinda Shore told TimesLIVE , “We are handling this privately. It’s not a matter they want to handle in the media. It’s being handled and taken seriously.” Emtee responded by posting a video on Instagram of himself buying a bottle of cologne, probably referring to the Mike’s Kitchen incident. “They say I’m this, they say I’m that,” Emtee posted on Instagram. “They forgot to tell you I smell best. When you see, embrace me.” “My life isn’t easy but I woke up feeling blessed,” Emtee sings on his latest single. “Smokin’ on that zaza, tryna balance out the stress…” In the U.S. the E-Bar restaurant in Dallas, Texas also discriminates against and denies service to patrons if they smell like weed . # SOUTH AFRICAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY BREAKING NEWS Brought to you by: Jo’burg Restaurant Denies Service to Leading Rap-Artist Because He ‘Smelled of Cannabis and Had Tattoos’. 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