cannabis for private purposes billlatest news & developments
President Cyril Ramaphosa has laid strong foundations for the G20. Photo: Dwayne Senior/Getty Images

Green light for cannabis as Cyril Ramaphosa signs new bill into law

The new legislation finally removes cannabis from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act

  • Eyaaz
2 min read
Take it or leaf it: Laws prevent banks from financing the cannabis industry, however changes are on the cards. Photo: Getty Images

Banks can’t finance the cannabis industry

Once the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill (tabled five years ago) is passed, marijuana can be removed from the Drugs Act

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA SEPTEMBER 18: (SOUTH AFRICA OUT) Members of the Rastafarian community celebrate outside the Constitutional Court following a ruling that the personal use of dagga is not a criminal offence on September 18, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ruling follows a Western Cape High Court judgment that the possession, cultivation and use of dagga for private use was allowed. (Photo by Trevor Kunene/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Holy herb is a non-issue for most political parties

Only ActionSA, Rise Mzansi and the Inkatha Freedom Party have shared their thoughts on the holy herb with voters

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
Kenneth King. Photo by Des Erasmus

Durban entrepreneur blazes through legal uncertainty in South Africa’s cannabis industry

The father of two owns five cannabis stores in eThekwini and will soon open a sixth in the upmarket Durban North area

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read
The decriminalisation of adult use in private was a relief to users who allege arrests are low-hanging fruit for police. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Cannabis smokers say police have ‘weaponised’ arrests

The decriminalisation of adult use in private was a relief to users who allege arrests are low-hanging fruit for police

  • Khaya Koko
6 min read
Green twilight zone: Members of several organisations, NGOs and grower clubs protest (above) as part of the Cannabis Mass Action gatherings at the Union Building in Pretoria in 2022 before the conditional decriminalisation of marijuana in the country. Photos: Alet Pretorius/Getty Images

Our cannabis needle has shifted

The bill isn’t perfect but should be enacted without delay, given the reformative snowball it will set into motion

  • Umamah Bakharia
6 min read
The South African Human Rights Commission’s discussions with the Rastafari and cannabis communities raised its concerns about stories of systematic and personal violations. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Grass ain’t greener for South Africa’s underground cannabis industry

The boom in dispensaries and bud shops has seen traditional growers and sellers driven out of business while the government drags its feet

  • Eyaaz
10 min read
Jeremy Acton, leader of the Dagga Party. (David Harrison/Gallo)

Activist calls on president not to sign ‘malicious’ Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill

Jeremy Acton says the bill violates the 2018 constitutional court privacy judgment

  • Eyaaz
5 min read