SA’s government is one of the most liberal on the African continent and is more likely to give into the wave of public pressure for legalization which is sweeping the globe.
South Africa is one of the most liberal countries in the world, and, therefore, likely to take at least some of their policy cues from countries that have legalized or are seriously considering legalizing marijuana. Cannabis has been decriminalized in one form other in over 50 countries so far, with a host of others courting legalization prospects. The lessons from legalization in these places are a mixed bag but progress seems to continue nevertheless. It’s hard, under these circumstances for South Africa not to form a view on whether Cannabis should be legalized at home.
South Africa is currently in a highly advantageous position to join the growing list of countries undergoing cannabis reforms. The country can learn to avoid the mistakes that first movers have made while still having the window of opportunity to explore the early mover advantages. For example, some aspects of the Cannabis plant have less contentious yields. Many countries successfully legalese CBD Products and secure the health and financial benefits of the market before they legalize recreational Cannabis.
The South African Government is keenly aware of this advantageous position and is gearing up to become a role model of cannabis social justice to others. In 2018, the country’s Supreme Court made a landmark ruling that sanctions individual rights to grow and consume cannabis, subsequently directing lawmakers to enact a policy framework that enshrines this right within 24 months.
Nonetheless, these new policy reforms will most likely not alter the status quo of cannabis use in public. Other than the change in the legal status of personal cultivation and consumption, nothing else will be changing anytime soon as far as the current prohibition laws go. Cannabis use remains subject to the country’s Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act of 1992. According to the Act, anyone found in possession of more than 115 grams of cannabis can be prosecuted as a dealer.
However, if the government continues on the path of cannabis reforms, they’ll be able to prevent millions of people from turning to unregulated markets, provide easier access to high-quality products for medical marijuana patients, and also make significant economic gains by cutting budget spending on prosecution and taxing the industry.
Cannabis Reform Lessons that South Africa can Learn from Legal Countries
A regulated cannabis industry could yield revenues for the government on multiple fronts, given the vast array of industrial potentials of cannabis products.
Regulation and Quality Control
Most countries that have legalized have done so to give medical marijuana patients access to high-quality cannabis products. The illegal market is completely devoid of any form of quality checks, and medical marijuana patients often find it difficult to obtain the right type of products for their treatments.
Regulation can also help prevent abuse and underage use. If the government can cooperate with users and dealers to institute a legal distribution channel, they’ll most likely be able to quell the sale of the drug to abusers and underage users. For instance, the Canadian government has decriminalized recreational use but has also banned the possession of more than 30 grams in public and sales to minors.
Addressing Misinformation and Stigma
The stigma on cannabis use, which has mostly been a product of misinformation, is currently a huge challenge militating against the assimilation of the drug into mainstream healthcare. The Government can take cues from their counterparts in places like New Zealand, where mass sensitization programs about cannabis use have been rolled out. These programs help representatives and their constituents distinguish between facts and fictions about drug use.
Exploring the Economic Benefits
South Africa’s cannabis industry is worth billions of dollars, with the country hosting one of the largest bases of cannabis consumers in the world. Besides being a therapeutic substance, cannabis also lends itself to a wide array of industrial use, from fuel to textile, paper, and lots more. For instance, China’s hemp fiber textile industry is worth over $1.2 billion. SA’s government is currently forgoing billions of dollars in revenue by leaving the country’s cannabis industry untaxed and unregulated.
Opening Up Economic Opportunities in Marginalized Communities
Many of the underdeveloped regions of South Africa could benefit immensely from large scale cannabis research and development projects. For instance, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo are potential hotbeds for cannabis investments and canna-tourism. The City of Cape Town is allotting land for medical cannabis in a bid to provide a new wave of jobs for unemployed youths in the community.
The legalization of cannabis commerce can help put these forgotten places back on the map.
SA is on the Edge of a Rubicon
With results from legalization experimentations emerging from various parts of the globe, the South African government now has enough cues to make excellent, intelligible marijuana reforms. But with many other pressing domestic and international issues on the government’s plate, it might take a harder push for the government to deliberate on cannabis reforms any time soon.
