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Daily news alerts
Daily regulatory updates of legal changes in the cannabis sector, including monthly compilations
25th May 2023
South Africa: The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has concluded a two-day public hearing on proposed amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. Stakeholders criticised the bill for not adequately addressing regulation of the cannabis industry, taxation and access to medical cannabis. The committee will begin deliberations on the bill next week.
6th April 2023
- South Africa: The Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has opened the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill for public comments. The bill was introduced in Parliament in September 2020, and sets a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis and allows specific quantities for possession and cultivation for private purposes. Comments can be submitted until 28th April 2023.
10th February 2023
- South Africa: During the 2023 State of the Nation Address, president Cyril Ramaphosa recommitted to investing in the hemp and cannabis sector. "The Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development and the Department of Health will address existing conditions for the cultivation of hemp and cannabis to allow outdoor cultivation and collection of harvests from traditional farmers," the president said. He added that urgent work is being finalised by the government to enable a regulatory framework for a "whole plant" that includes "complimentary medicines, food, cosmetics, and industrial products, aligned to international conventions and best practices".
6th September 2022
South Africa: The Western Cape High Court has dismissed a company director’s application to decriminalise cannabis “grow clubs”, press reports. The court said that recognising the grow club model, in which a private club grows cannabis on behalf of others, would contravene the Drugs Act. The Constitutional Court decriminalised the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal home use in 2018.
20th June 2022
South Africa:Written comments can be sent to the Presidency’s Office until 27th June on a draft plan to bring investments into the country. The draft recognises cannabis as a traded commodity and concludes that medicinal cannabis is more viable to pursue at an industrial scale than recreational cannabis. It also stresses the need for a regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis.
14th June 2022
South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former trade and industry deputy director Garth Strachan as policy head to help develop the South Africa’s hemp and cannabis industry in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, press reports. Strachan has spoken in favour of responsible adult use and a regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis and hemp that protect small farmers in rural areas.
25th May 2022
South Africa: The parliamentary Committee of Justice and Correctional Services yesterday held a public hearing on the amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, giving interested parties the chance to put their points across. A majority criticised the bill for poorly addressed medicinal and commercial clauses, while the issue of legalising cannabis for religious purposes was also addressed. The bill has been under consideration by the National Assembly since September 2020.
21st April 2022
South Africa: The parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services is considering amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which would introduce a clear distinction between cannabis and hemp. The committee is inviting interested parties to make written submissions with proposals by 13th May. The bill has been under consideration by the National Assembly since September 2020.
15th February 2022
South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his State of the Nation Address at the opening of Parliament that the government would review the policy and regulatory framework for industrial hemp and cannabis to attract investment and create 130,000 jobs. The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which would introduce a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis, has been making its way through Parliament since its introduction in September 2020 but it has been repeatedly stalled.
Regulatory reports
Comprehensive legal reports outlining how the sector is regulated, interpretation of the laws and relevant bodies
Regulatory databases
Regularly updated global regulations currently in place, compiled into easy-to-read maps and tables
