Public invited to comment on cannabis Bill

The public is invited to give suggestions or comments on the Bill that was passed by the National Assembly last month, according to IOL.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL 

The Parliament published a summary of the main purposes of the Bill:

• to respect the right to privacy of an adult person to use or possess cannabis,
• to regulate the use or possession of cannabis by an adult person, and
• to provide for an alternative manner in which to address the issue of the prohibited use or dealing in cannabis by children, with due regard to the best interest of the child.

The Bill prohibits the dealing in cannabis and provides for the removal of criminal records of persons convicted of possession or use of cannabis or dealing in cannabis on the basis of presumption.

Click here to see the bill.

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HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BILL

The public has 2 options to give suggestions or comments – by submitting written letters or by sending an email to the NCOP (cannabisbill19B2020@parliament.gov.za). Written letters should be sent to: PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000.

The deadline for all correspondence is 19 January 2024 at 13:00.

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CANNABIS INDUSTRY A PRIORITY SECTOR

In the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa restated government’s commitment made in 2022 to unlock investment in the hemp and cannabis sector, as published on the government’s news website.

Ramaphosa also said that the cannabis and hemp sector is one of 14 priority sectors with significant potential to secure investments, job creation and support for sustainable rural livelihoods. 

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY

According to the government’s news website 83 cannabis licences, 4 manufacturing licences and 30 research permits have been issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) since 2022. In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has issued 371 hemp permits, which has enabled amongst other things, the application of technology and exports to highly competitive global markets.

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