Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as marijuana or dagga, used for recreational, medicinal and industrial purposes. The plant contains psychoactive and non-psychoactive compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which underpin its varied applications. Globally, the cannabis industry spans cultivation, processing, pharmaceutical development, wellness products and hemp-based manufacturing. In South Africa, private use and cultivation for personal consumption were decriminalised following a Constitutional Court ruling, though commercial regulation continues to evolve through legislation such as the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act. The sector is drawing interest from investors seeking export opportunities in medicinal cannabis and hemp fibre, though a fully regulated commercial market remains under development. Labour law issues have emerged around cannabis use, particularly where employees test positive for THC while off duty, raising questions about unfair dismissal and the boundaries between private conduct and workplace policy. South African courts and bargaining councils have had to weigh employee rights against employer safety obligations in sectors such as manufacturing and chemicals. The industry's economic potential includes job creation in agriculture, agroprocessing and export markets. Internationally, cannabis legalisation trends in North America and parts of Europe have accelerated commercial development and investment. Debate continues in South Africa over the pace and scope of full commercialisation, including taxation and licensing frameworks.
Cannabis Updates
Unusual suspects: elders in West Africa’s changing drug trade
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 27th August 2026 The apparent rise of trafficking by older adults could reflect a new criminal adaptation rather than individual criminality. Adults aged 50 and... →
Revisiting zero-tolerance policies: The NBCCI’s ruling on cannabis use
25th August 2026 In National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa obo Nyawuza / PFG Building Glass [2024] 6 BALR 595 (NBCCI), the National Bargaining Council for... →
From maze to map: South Africa's cannabis journey from private use to public value
25th August 2026 Imagine a South African cannabis sector in which the law is not a maze but a map. A cultivator knows whether cultivation is for private use, hemp,... →
What will it take for South Africa to outsmart Mandrax traffickers?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 14th July 2026 The May seizure of over 700 kg of methaqualone, or Mandrax, was one of the largest at a South African border post in recent years. Acting on... →
Western Cape govt leans on governance record as it courts investors at first ever investment summit
By: Irma Venter 6th November 2025 The Western Cape government has invited the private sector to partner with it as it targets a R1-trillion provincial economy by 2035, up from... →
The case for cannabis commercialisation and regulatory reform
29th July 2025 South Africa stands at a critical crossroads in its relationship with cannabis, a plant interwoven into its social, cultural and economic fabric... →
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