SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT BANS WEED EDIBLES

In a significant regulatory shift, the South African National Department of Health has officially gazetted a new update that threatens to reshape the cannabis landscape. Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, has signed into law an update under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act, which bans the import, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis products. This new decree extends to every part and component of the cannabis plant.

While the law has been officially signed, it is not yet operational, awaiting a detailed framework to govern its enforcement. This includes the well-known cannabis gummies, which had been thriving in the market, and their fate is now in jeopardy.

Despite this looming setback for the cannabis industry, there’s still room for some hope. The updated regulations will allow for the cultivation of a specified number of cannabis plants, the possession of a prescribed amount of cannabis, and its personal use. The real issue arises with the commercial aspects—importation, manufacturing, and sale—which will soon be deemed illegal under the new rules.