‘Year for cannabis’ is almost over, but South Africa is still waiting for weed industry explosion
- Budding businesses in the marijuana market may have to wait longer than expected for their high profits
2018 has been called the “year for cannabis” in South Africa. But there are still hurdles before a legal marijuana industry can grow in an African economic power deemed ideal for large-scale cultivation.
Advocates rejoiced at a Constitutional Court decision in September that upheld the legalisation of the adult use and cultivation of pot in private. A cannabis expo in the capital, Pretoria, this month was Africa’s first, organisers said. However, buying and selling cannabis for recreational reasons is still illegal and an onerous licensing process has held up the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana.
Although the cannabis plant was barred from the expo for traders and consumers, the packed event reflected the view that cannabis has big business potential, particularly for export. As visitors learned about growing techniques and equipment, and cannabis-related products, promoters noted big consumer markets in Europe as well as Canada’s legalisation of recreational marijuana this year and a similar trend at the state level in the United States.
“Gone are the days of the stigma of the lazy stoner, sitting at home,” said Andrew Lawrie of Schindlers Attorneys, a South African firm that has a department dedicated to cannabis law. “They are around, but now we’re talking about industry, we’re talking about corporations, we’re talking about tax.”
