High-quality cannabis on the medical market is the holy grail among both patients and clinics with heart. There’s still a fair bit of catching up to do before the UK can offer a selection of medication options that rivals other areas of the world. But one South African company, Morama Holdings , is an exciting new face in the medical cannabis industry bringing top-tier, living soil, sun-grown cannabis to patients like the country has never seen before.
Nestled in the stunning Maloti Mountains of Lesotho, a country enclaved within South Africa, is Morama’s cultivation facility, spanning over 45 hectares. Lesotho wasn’t merely a location of convenience. It was an acknowledgement of the region’s exceptional cannabis-growing potential, they say if you throw seeds on the pavement plants will grow out of the cracks. As a result, Morama are taking things back to basics, growing the medical cannabis the world has been waiting for, as nature intended.
Not short of sunlight, fresh air, and high-quality natural water sources, Lesotho provides an optimal environment for cultivating exemplary cannabis. Embracing soil-enriching, no-till farming practices, they can exact a 100% natural and organic process. And by utilising the natural world and seasons, the focus is on one main growth cycle a year, which means a lot of work and dedication goes into making the most of it.
There’s a refreshing and earnest passion behind this venture and it doesn’t take much looking for that passion to become apparent. “We’ve designed our facility around a core of three fundamental principles: organic, regenerative farming techniques; local community engagement and enrichment; and sustainability.” Says Morama Group CEO, Scott Henson.
These principles are obvious in every aspect of Morama Holdings operations, revealed in the way they take full advantage of the abundant natural summer light and clean mountain air while combining tech by way of their hybrid greenhouse that allows adjustment of the conditions by opening the walls and roof affecting airflow, temperature and humidity.
“This creates a space that’s as close to outside growing as possible while allowing some control over the environment.” Says Henson, “We’re the only large-scale commercial farm that I’m aware of that grows the way we do and at the scale we do.”
Careful choices are made throughout the process, to keep the growth cycle in line with nature. Planting early and utilising low-wattage LEDs extends the vegetative state and prevents flowering and possible inadvertent pollination from wild male plants. It also allows them to grow exceptionally large plants, or “big trees” as Jos Broersen, a legacy cannabis growing veteran with 25 years’ experience, who has been brought on as Morama Holdings Head of Cultivation, says. Of course, not every grower can scale up plants like this. The veritable forest of sun-lit cannabis only comes as a result of unrivalled, hard-earned skill Broeren possesses from his decades of cultivating service to the world-renowned cannabis grows in Amsterdam – a country revered for being well ahead of the curve in terms of cannabis regulation, knowledge and quality. Combining his talents with the innovative solutions Morama offers is a recipe for flower excellence, and the proof is in the pudding.
As if the quality of Morama bud wasn’t enough to bowl you over, their dedication to planet Earth might just tip you over the edge. Unlike many conventional commercial grows Morama doesn’t discard growth mediums, but lovingly sews the nutrients back into the earth in the spirit of community and land rejuvenation and regeneration. This is naturally broken down by a diverse blend of microbes, providing nutrition to the next crop in a wholly organic way. In keeping with that, pest control isn’t reliant on chemical pesticides either, but on natural methods involving predator insects and natural deterrents/treatments ensuring a genuinely harmonious coexistence with the environment.
But, although it’s nice to imagine that nature’s got it all sorted, growing premium cannabis does take some tailoring and careful attention to detail. “None of this is done by guesswork because patient health requires more than that.” Says Henson
“Soil samples are taken at the end of each cycle and analysed and the team then devise the best ways to naturally introduce the necessary nutrients whether that be a nitrogen locking cover crop or a specific mulch, amendment or seed meal.”
Attaining organic certification is currently in progress, underscoring their commitment to cultivating cannabis in harmony with nature – a commitment which extends to engaging the local community, generating employment, wealth, and skills. Even leftover plant matter is donated to the Eternal Flame Cook Bag project: a development of eco-friendly, hemp-insulated bags to reduce the health and financial burdens of open-fire cooking in communities around the world. At Morama, the goal isn’t just to operate, but to enrich the communities around them. From employing locals to upskilling the workforce, they strive for tangible improvements in the region.
By offering full-time positions to around 50 individuals and short-term contracts to an additional 30 during harvest, they create meaningful opportunities while fostering direct accountability through liaison officers and working closely with community chiefs. They want the communities and the area to be improved and enhanced by their presence and pride themselves on their ground-floor promotion opportunities within the company.
Lee-Anne Jacobs, Morama’s Chief Operations Officer, mentions her favourite story “When we launched, we hired some casual labour, just to help with the cleaning and there was one lady who just never left, her excellence was just noticed by everybody and she’s now been promoted to processing lead so she came to clean the toilets and now she’s helping manage the processing. We have this opportunity to look at a person and say ‘Wow you’ve got skills’ What can we do with you and how can we help you grow? I’m very passionate about it.”
Beyond organic cultivation, sustainability is a guiding ethos . Keeping their carbon footprint as small as possible, they’ve established a self-sufficient water supply through a borehole, capturing mountain water to service the entire facility. Moreover, their commitment extends to recycling initiatives—plastic waste finds new life through local recycling companies, while plant matter waste is repurposed for the ‘Eternal Flame’ initiative, greatly reducing carbon emissions globally and significantly improving lives.
Morama Holdings isn’t just cultivating cannabis; they’re cultivating change—a paradigm shift in the cannabis industry, where sustainability, community enrichment, and organic farming converge. Their story isn’t just about cannabis; it’s about redefining what responsible cultivation and community engagement mean in a rapidly evolving industry. As they continue their journey, Morama stands as a testament to the transformative power of harmonising nature, technology, and community for a brighter, sustainable future in cannabis cultivation.
