Tag: south africa

South African Researchers Detect “Rare Compounds” In Cannabis Leaves

Written by Johnny Green on August 15, 2025. Posted in Science.

The leaves of cannabis plants are often considered to be waste by some cannabis cultivators and destroyed. However, recent research conducted in South Africa is shedding new light on why cannabis leaves may contain useful compounds.

Two researchers affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science at the University of Stellenbosch conducted a “comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatographic analysis of cannabis phenolics,” with their findings being published in the Journal of Chromatography A.

“Compared to the well-studied cannabinoids and terpenoids, characterization of the phenolic composition of Cannabis has received little attention.” the researchers stated about their investigation. “With studies reporting synergistic effects in Cannabis, the importance of investigating polyphenols in Cannabis is becoming more apparent.”

“We report an on-line comprehensive 2D HILIC × RP-LC method hyphenated to high resolution (HR) MS for the detailed characterization of polar phenolics in Cannabis inflorescence and leaf samples of three commercial strains.” the researchers wrote. “Optimal HILIC × RP-LC conditions were derived using an automated method optimization program, and provided excellent separation performance (peak capacity > 3000) and high orthogonality. Diode array and HR-MS data enabled tentative identification of 79 compounds, comprising mainly flavone and (hydroxy)cinnamic acid derivatives.”

“The presence of three C-glycosylated flavones, as well as several of their O-glycosylated derivatives, distinguished one of the strains from the other two. In the same strain, flavoalkaloids were detected, mainly in the leaf extracts. The structures of the alkaloid moieties could not be unambiguously assigned based on the available HR-MS data, but four classes of flavoalkaloids comprising 16 flavone derivates could be tentatively identified.” the researchers found.

“This is the first time that this relatively rare and chemically interesting class of compounds has been detected in Cannabis. These findings highlight the diversity of Cannabis, and the utility of HILIC × RP-LC-HR-MS for the in-depth study of its phenolic composition.” the researchers concluded.

The results of this study in South Africa demonstrate that while humans know more about the cannabis plant now than ever before, there is still a lot left to be discovered, and that is true for the leaves of cannabis plants just as much as it is for other parts of the plant.

“Our analysis again highlights the medicinal potential of cannabis plant material, currently regarded as waste. Cannabis exhibits a rich and unique non-cannabinoid phenolic profile, which could be relevant from a biomedical research perspective,” stated Prof. André de Villiers, one of the authors of the study.

Advocates Push For Private Cannabis Clubs In South Africa

Written by Johnny Green on August 9, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

South Africa is on a short but growing list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. South Africa is joined by Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany, which all adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures before South Africa. The Czech Republic also recently adopted a national legalization measure.

The modern adult-use legalization law in South Africa actually started in late 2018 when the nation’s Constitutional Court deemed cannabis prohibition against private consumers to be unconstitutional. The landmark court decision was finally codified in 2024 by the nation’s lawmakers.

Policymakers and regulators are still working to properly set up South Africa’s recreational cannabis industry, and if advocates have their way, the nation’s legalization model will expressly include private cannabis clubs.

“A new initiative to unify private cannabis clubs to lobby for legal recognition has just been launched. The South African Cannabis Clubs Alliance (SACCA) says the time is critical for the private club movement to speak with one voice ahead of the anticipated release of draft regulations that will empower the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act.” reported Cannabiz Africa in its local reporting.

“SACCA’s launch does come at a time of mounting pressure on authorities to draft regulations to combat the growing cannabis retail ‘Grey Zone’, the omniglot of thousands of unlicensed businesses dealing in cannabis across the country. To date, conflicting court decisions have cast clubs into a legal ‘no man’s land’ where the best they can strive for in terms of compliance, is to be ‘technically’ not illegal.” the outlet also reported.

As part of its advocacy, the South African Cannabis Clubs Alliance has launched a website, stating on it that the organization seeks to “ensure that self-regulated Cannabis Clubs are formally recognised in future cannabis legislation, with compliance requirements embedded into law to promote safety, transparency, and legitimacy.”

“SACCA is committed to an inclusive, transparent drafting process, inviting participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders — including cultivators, legal experts, health professionals, traditional healers, activists, and community members.” the organization also states on its website.

The South African Cannabis Clubs Alliance has created ‘foundational documents’ that it is encouraging members of South Africa’s emerging industry to weigh in on, and the drafting phase for the documents will remain open until February 2026.

“In March 2026, the finalized SACCA documents will be formally submitted to all relevant government departments as part of the push for recognition and regulation of Private Cannabis Clubs in South Africa.” states SACCA on its website.

South Africa Is Studying Cannabis Business Development Opportunities

Written by Johnny Green on July 25, 2025. Posted in Business.

South Africa officially approved a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2024, placing the African nation on an exciting and ambitious path towards taking its rightful place as a continental and international cannabis industry leader.

In 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court rendered a landmark legal decision that struck down the nation’s cannabis prohibition law as it pertained to private individual cannabis activity. Part of the decision tasked South Africa’s lawmakers with drafting new laws within two years to reflect the order. It obviously took longer for the Court’s decision to be codified.

A parliamentary question was recently posed in South Africa, which inquired about what steps the Minister of Small Business Development is taking to “support and promote small- and medium-sized enterprises in the hemp and cannabis sectors.”

The question, directed to Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, asked about:

Timelines
Budget allocations
What regulations and laws has her department identified that “impede the development of a hemp and cannabis sector”
Steps taken to assist SMEs in navigating “red tape”
Steps taken to “ensure that the sector is an enabling space” for rural, black, and women-owned businesses

Below are excerpts from the Minister’s reply, which can be read in its entirety at this link here:

“The Department has conducted research on the value chain relating to hemp and cannabis to assist the Department in understanding the areas in the primary, secondary and tertiary economic functions which MSMEs may find opportunities for creation of small businesses to generate income, create jobs and play a meaningful role in the sector and related economic functional support activities. The study was conducted internally and as such, there were no costs associated with conducting the study.” Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams wrote.

“Currently, the Department is assessing cannabis projects in three provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape) as a start for provision of support on infrastructure requirements. The process of site visits is underway and projects in KwaZulu-Natal have already been visited for verification, Northern Cape is to follow in this first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, and Eastern Cape will follow thereafter.” she also wrote.

“The Department has taken a deliberate stance to approach issues of economic participation and inclusion through mainstreaming using the national targets as a benchmark in the implementation of its support interventions and programmes. This is mainly reflected in the performance reports that measures the extend to which rural, township, black, women, youth and the disabled are part of the MSMEs supported from the financial and non-financial support provided on an ongoing basis. The normal structure of reporting addresses these elements under all programmes. In instances where any of the elements is reflected in the reports, reasons for deviation on lack of data in reports submitted are required to justify the omission.” the Minster concluded in her reply to the inquiry.

A recent market projection for South Africa’s emerging legal cannabis industry estimated that the nation’s draft National Cannabis Master Plan, once fully implemented, would create over 100,000 jobs and add approximately R30 billion to South Africa’s economy.

South African Authority Warns Against Fraudulent Service Providers

Written by Johnny Green on June 13, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

As South Africa’s emerging legal cannabis industry continues to increase in size and scope, the nation’s regulators are warning against fraudulent service providers. People and entities are reportedly falsely claiming to be accredited by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

“The watchdog says it has learned about a troubling trend of individuals and businesses using falsified licences to deceive the public and carry out unregulated operations, putting lives at risk. The warning comes amid the booming popularity of cannabis-infused products in South Africa, from beverages and snacks to baked goods.” reported Health E-News.

“SAHPRA CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says in a statement that the rapid spread of cannabis dispensaries in shopping malls, many of which are openly displaying copies of alleged SAHPRA licences, is concerning.” the outlet also reported.

South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. South Africa is joined on the list by Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany. The Czech Republic also recently announced plans to adopt a national measure.

Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in both the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The legal cannabis industry in South Africa is still in its infancy by many measures. However, it has the potential to become a continental and international leader, as discussed in a recent article authored by Johann Slabber, CEO of South Africa-based Nexus Pharma.

“Our unique combination of favourable climate conditions, low-cost agricultural production, and access to skilled labour positions us as a highly competitive player. However, what’s still largely missing is a coherent and visible national narrative.” Mr. Slabber recently wrote for CannaBiz Africa after attending the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, Germany.

“With the right frameworks, storytelling, and international engagement, we have the potential to become a powerhouse in the global cannabis economy.” he also wrote.

South African Province To Prioritize Cannabis Industry Job Creation

Written by Johnny Green on May 14, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

South Africa’s government released updated employment data yesterday, with the official unemployment rate increasing by 1.0 percentage point from 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025.

In response to the high unemployment rate, a province in South Africa is launching an initiative seeking to create new jobs in the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry. South Africa legalized cannabis last year for adult use in private settings. Medical cannabis use was already legal in South Africa before the legalization of recreational cannabis.

“With grim employment statistics released yesterday, a new cannabis initiative in KwaZulu-Natal aims to unlock job opportunities, especially in rural parts of the province.” reported IOL in its local coverage. “The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) has recently detailed its plans for the sector, including a partnership aimed at piloting a Shared Cannabis Processing Facility.”

According to Edtea’s website, “The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs is mandated to oversee the socio-economic transformation in the province.”

“This project is critical, with at least one municipality, the Okhahlamba (Bergville) Municipality, hinging its hopes on it to address unemployment and boost the municipality’s budget. The central focus of the project is processing cannabis into various products.” IOL also reported.

South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures, along with Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany. Back in March of this year, the Department of Health in South Africa announced a complete ban on cannabis and hemp-derived ‘foodstuffs.’

The announcement was met with considerable outcry from the public and members of South Africa’s emerging legal cannabis industry, resulting in the ban being rescinded. Earlier this month, South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the government department he oversees will publish draft regulations for the sale of cannabis-infused foods soon.

“The initial ban faced significant criticism from experts and industry leaders, particularly for prohibiting cannabis derivatives like hemp, which were not illegal.” reported Business Insider Africa in its local coverage. “Following intervention from President Cyril Ramaphosa, the controversial regulations which have been condemned for lacking public consultation, were ultimately rescinded.”

At the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, Germany, leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, presented data in which he estimated the potential global medical and adult-use cannabis market to be worth roughly $237.8 billion. Only time will tell how much of that market potential South Africa will be able to tap into.

South Africa To Release New Cannabis Food Regulations After Backlash

Written by Johnny Green on May 9, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures, along with Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany. Courts in other nations have rendered decisions providing consumers and patients some level of protection, however, the previously mentioned list contains the only countries to pass national recreational legalization measures that go beyond low-THC.

Back in March of this year, the Department of Health in South Africa announced a complete ban on cannabis and hemp-derived ‘foodstuffs.’ The announcement was met with considerable outcry from the public and members of South Africa’s emerging legal cannabis industry, resulting in the ban being rescinded.

This week, South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi reportedly announced that the government department he oversees will publish draft regulations for the sale of cannabis-infused foods soon.

It is unclear at this time what the new regulations will specifically contain. South Africa’s President signed a limited adult-use cannabis legalization measure into law back in May 2024.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act (“CfPPA”). The CfPPA regulates the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis by adults in a private setting.” The President’s office stated in a press release at the time.

“The consequent regulatory reform enabled by the CfPPA will, amongst others, entirely remove cannabis from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. This will further enable amendment of the Schedules to the Medicines and Related Substances Act and provide for targeted regulatory reform of the Plant Breeders Rights Act and the Plant Improvement Act, as well as other pieces of legislation that require amendment to allow for the industrialisation of the cannabis sector.” the press release also stated.

Back in 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling that deemed cannabis prohibition as it pertained to adult individuals to be unconstitutional. The 2018 decision stemmed from a lower court decision in the Western Cape in March 2017, which determined that a ban on cannabis use by adults at home was unconstitutional.

The 2018 decision in South Africa left many unknowns, including how much cannabis a person could cultivate and possess in a private setting. The Court largely punted many policy decisions to lawmakers, with the lawmaking and regulatory processes experiencing several delays before South Africa’s President signed the legalization measure into law roughly one year ago.

South Africa Department Of Health Bans Cannabis Edibles

Written by Hazel Norman on March 16, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. The African nation is joined by Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany.

The Department of Health in South Africa recently announced a complete ban on cannabis edibles. Cannabis edibles are popular with medical cannabis patients and recreational consumers for various reasons, not the least of which is that they are a smokeless form of consumption.

“In a shocking move, the Department of Health has quietly banned the production and selling of cannabis and hemp-derived foodstuffs in South Africa.” reported ION in its local coverage. “This unexpected turn of events contradicts the government’s decriminalisation of cannabis by the Constitutional Court in recent years.”

“In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government aims for South Africa to spearhead the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.” the outlet also reported.

South Africa’s President signed a limited adult-use cannabis legalization measure into law back in May 2024.

Back in 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling that deemed cannabis prohibition as it pertained to adult individuals to be unconstitutional. The 2018 decision stemmed from a lower court decision in Western Cape in March 2017 which determined that a ban on cannabis use by adults at home was unconstitutional.

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South African Human Rights Commission Urges Police To Halt Cannabis Arrests

Written by Frank Schuler on January 6, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Last year South Africa became the latest country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, codifying a prior landmark court decision which determined that prohibition policies against personal cannabis use were unconstitutional.

Recreational legalization in South Africa placed the country on a list with Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany for nations that have adopted an adult-use cannabis legalization policy change. Despite South Africa adopting legalization, the arrests of cannabis users persist, and South Africa’s Human Rights Commission is calling that out.

“The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has written to national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola to express concern over the ongoing arrests of cannabis users and Rastafarians despite a law permitting the private cultivation and use of cannabis by adults.” stated Times Live in its local reporting.

“As the festive season approaches, the SAHRC reminds law enforcement, in particular the SA Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority, that the arrest and/or prosecution of adults for the private use, possession or cultivation of cannabis, as well as making assumptions about dealing, is inconsistent with the law and national operational directives. Such arrests and/or prosecutions could lead to human rights violations being perpetrated by law enforcement,” the SAHRC said according to the media outlet’s coverage.

South Africa is home to an emerging legal cannabis industry. A great example is the recent certification of Africa’s first cannabis higher education course. Recently cannabis education provider Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy launched its Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management. The cannabis education program is the first on the African continent to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE). CHE is an internationally recognized accreditation body.

“It comes at the same time as Cheeba Africa has announced a partnership to bring its offering to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The economically-stressed province is hoping to see benefits from provincial government efforts to roll out an investment in the local medical cannabis industry that is expected to reach R1 billion over the next five years.” Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy stated in a press release obtained by the International Cannabis Business Conference.

“It has been a rigorous four-year journey for our Academy to reach this important accreditation milestone and we’re excited to set this benchmark in cannabis education by offering this powerful programme to potential cannabis entrepreneurs and workers. It is a proud moment for our industry, and for South Africa, as we lead the way in one of the most important sectors of our time. The emerging cannabis and hemp industry has so much potential to create sustainable and dignified livelihoods in South Africa, especially in some of our most underserved communities.” states Trenton Birch, CEO and co-founder of Cheeba Africa.

The new partnership that Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Academy has formed with the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape is a partnership that recognizes the significant potential of cannabis-related job creation and sustainable development in one of South Africa’s most rural and underserved provinces. Official unemployment rates in the Eastern Cape are above 40%, and the expanded unemployment rates are close to 50%. With 60% of the population living below the poverty level, it is recognized as one of the country’s poorest regions.

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South Africa’s President Signs ‘Private Setting’ Cannabis Legalization Measure

Written by Hazel Norman on June 17, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Back in 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling that deemed cannabis prohibition as it pertained to adult individuals to be unconstitutional. The 2018 decision stemmed from a lower court decision in Western Cape in March 2017 which determined that a ban on cannabis use by adults at home was unconstitutional.

The 2018 decision in South Africa left many unknowns, including how much cannabis a person could cultivate and possess in a private setting. The Court largely punted many policy decisions to lawmakers, who then proceeded to drag their feet for several years. Today, after a long delay, South Africa’s President signed a measure to codify the Court’s 2018 decision.

South Africa joins a growing list of nations that have adopted modernized adult-use cannabis policies. Uruguay legalized cannabis nationally for adults in 2013, with national product sales launching in 2017.

Canada became the second nation to adopt adult-use cannabis legalization in 2018, making it the first G-7 nation to adopt recreational reform. Malta legalized in 2021 followed by Luxembourg in 2023.

Germany is the largest nation to pass a national adult-use legalization measure, with the first provisions of the nation’s CanG law taking effect on April 1st. Social cannabis clubs are expected in Germany in July, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are expected to launch by the end of the year.

South Africa’s recently approved measure does not legalize adult-use cannabis product sales. However, the removal of cannabis from the nation’s Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act is significant.

Somewhat similar to Germany’s recent removal of cannabis from its national Narcotics List, the removal in South Africa will likely have a dramatic impact on its national medical cannabis industry. Researchers estimate that South Africa’s medical cannabis industry has the potential to create a R100 billion-a-year boost to the nation’s economy and create over 130,000 jobs.

Today’s cannabis measure signing in South Africa adds to the growing momentum for global reform.