South Africa: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

9th September 2024: South Africa: As part of the Cannabis Master Plan, which aims to provide a framework for the establishment, growth and development of the cannabis and hemp industry, the government announced that a total of 1,110 permits have been issued for hemp cultivation since the declaration of hemp as an agricultural crop in 2021. The minister of planning, monitoring and evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, added that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has initiated the process of drafting regulations for the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, which will further regulate the law.
17th June 2024: South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been in power since 2018, has been re-elected president after his party, the African National Congress (ANC), reached a coalition agreement with the centre-right Democratic Alliance, press reports. The Democratic Alliance has supported the approval of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, and its regulations will have to be developed by a newly appointed justice minister.
4th June 2024: South Africa: After counting the votes from last week’s elections, the current ruling African National Congress Party (ANC) only garnered 40.2% of the votes and has lost its majority in the National Assembly, press reports. The parties have two weeks to elect a president and form a coalition government. It is unclear if a weakened ANC would mean a shift in the positioning of cannabis. Regulations for the recently approved Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which allows possession and cultivation for private purposes, will have to be developed by the new government.
29th May 2024: South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, which allows possession and cultivation for private purposes and removes cannabis from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. Possession will be allowed in public places, but consumption will not. Sale of cannabis is not allowed. Maximum amounts for possession and cultivation will be established later through regulations. The bill has not yet been published in the Official Gazette.
15th March 2024: South Africa: The Cabinet – consisting of the president, deputy president and ministers – received a progress report on the government’s strategy to industrialise the hemp sector at a meeting held on Wednesday (13th March). The agriculture minister said: “The Agricultural Research Council, with support from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), continues to develop hemp varieties to make seed available for the 2025 planting season.” The previously reported consultation on changes to the Schedules of the Medicines and Related Substances Act on medical cannabis was also highlighted.
28th February 2024: South Africa: The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. The bill would allow possession and cultivation for private purposes. Possession will be allowed in public places, but consumption will not. Maximum amounts for possession and cultivation will be established later through regulations. The bill will now be sent to the president for assent.
31st January 2024: South Africa: The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has responded to several comments from industry members on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which allows possession and cultivation of cannabis for private purposes. The authority clarified that cannabis will not be able to be bought or sold, private and social cannabis clubs are not going to be legalised, and that this subject should be addressed by national legislation focused on commercialisation. The department added that many aspects of the law are still unclear, but they will be clarified in regulations by the relevant minister. The bill is currently being discussed by the department before being tabled in the National Council of Provinces.
17th January 2024: South Africa: The Ministry of Health has opened the public consultation on amendments to Schedule 6 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act. The amendments would allow consumer items or products containing THC to be used for private personal consumption if they have no pharmacological effect or medical purpose. Comments can be submitted until 14th March 2024.
30th November 2023: South Africa: The Select Committee on Security and Justice is inviting stakeholders and interested parties to send in written submissions on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill until 19th January 2024. The bill would allow possession and cultivation for private purposes and sets a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis.
15th November 2023: South Africa: Yesterday (14th November), the National Assembly passed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which allows possession and cultivation for private purposes and sets a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis. The bill will now be discussed in a selected committee before being tabled in the National Council of Provinces.
8th November 2023: South Africa: The parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services approved the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. The bill, which was introduced in 2020, allows possession and cultivation for private purposes and sets a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis. It will now be debated in the National Assembly.
26th September 2023: South Africa: The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services is currently considering amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. The committee has invited interested parties and industry members to make written submissions on alternative solutions by which to address the prohibition of use, possession and cultivation of cannabis by children (under-18s). Submissions should be emailed to cannabisbill@parliament.gov.za and must be received by 13th October 2023.

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