The South African government has announced it will speed up regulatory reform aimed at helping the newly created cannabis industry develop.
The South African cannabis industry is on track to create 130,000 domestic jobs which has prompted the discussion around developing a regulatory and policy framework. It is also hoping that it could lead to an increase in exports.
In a state of the nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated: “We are streamlining the regulatory process so that hemp and cannabis can thrive as it does in other countries.”
Following the address, the President tweeted a thread that said: “Our people in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere are ready to farm with this age-old commodity and bring it to market in new and innovative forms.
We are therefore streamlining the regulatory processes so that the hemp and cannabis sector can thrive like it is in other countries such as Lesotho.”
We are therefore streamlining the regulatory processes so that the hemp and cannabis sector can thrive like it is in other countries such as Lesotho.https://t.co/51BAT8fUuB
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???????? (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 10, 2022
South Africa has legalised cannabis for personal use in 2018 followed by CBD in 2019. There have been plans to allow the cultivation of hemp or cannabis for everything including food or recreational uses.
The proposed legislation titled, The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill was introduced to parliament in September 2020 but it has been delayed until now. It would define the rules around cannabis consumption and its private cultivation of up to four plants. The bill also expunged criminal offences but there is a lack of definition around its commercialisation.
There is also confusion around public or private consumption. Those caught smoking outside or around children may face between two to four years in prison.
In the same address, the South African President commented: “We are engaged in a battle for the soul of the country, and we will not be defeated.”
While this was not solely in relation to cannabis, the government will no doubt be aware of attempts to decriminalise, legalise and organise recreational and medical markets across the globe. Last year, parts of Africa began to export medical cannabis to Europe. Industrial Hemp Uganda exported 600 kilogrammes of medical cannabis to Israel in 2020 and 400 kilogrammes of medical cannabis to Germany in 2021.
The government in Zimbabwe has also started a ‘green fund‘ aimed at attracting investment, allowing cultivation and export. It allows international cannabis investors the option of owning 100 per cent of their operations and the right to choose where in the country to invest.
