2019 Elections EFF

South African opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema gives a press conference on February 15, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA)

Dagga: 10 influential South Africans who support marijuana legalisation

Tuesday could see marijuana legalisation take a huge stride forward, as the “highest” court in the land decides if dagga can be used privately.

2019 Elections EFF

South African opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema gives a press conference on February 15, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA)

Let’s clear the haze on marijuana legalisation in South Africa, shall we? Contrary to popular belief, it has not been permissible by law to smoke dagga as long as you’re doing it in private.

This confusion came from a landmark ruling in 2017 handed down by the High Court – the best type of court to discuss marijuana consumption – which essentially made smoking dagga legal at home.

Is it legal to smoke weed in South Africa?

However, the state lodged an appeal against this judgement. The law never came into play. But Tuesday could finally see private usage legalised in Mzansi. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver their verdict – a final say on the matter – later in the day.

Should the law get the thumbs-up, there’d be plenty of influential supports backing the decision:

Influential South Africans who are in favour of marijuana legalisation

Julius Malema

Julius Malema
(Julius Malema / Photo supplied: blouinnews)

Juju hasn’t actually committed to saying whether the EFF would legalise marijuana if they came to power. But one of his most famous anecdotes advocates the use of dagga, where he claims you’re more likely to pick up a book when you’re high, rather than when you’re drunk.

“I have seen a lot of people smoke it, and read and not have any problems. But I have never seen people drink alcohol and read books afterwards.” 

Dan Stein and Eva Manyedi

The two academics – from UCT and North West university respectively – were part of the Central Drug Authority’s 10-person panel that aimed to answer some key questions about the subject. Dagga enthusiasts will be pretty pleased with what they reported back with:

“The evidence base indicates that decriminalisation can contribute to improved public health. “There is little evidence that focusing on supply reduction via criminalisation is effective in reducing alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other substance abuse.”

Narend Singh

IFP
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 24: IFP MP Narend Singh during the ad-hoc committee on Nkandla meeting on April 24, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. The 12-member committee created by Parliament to consider the President Jacob Zuma’s reply on Nkandla, sat for the first time yesterday.

The Chief Whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has carried the torch of former party MP Mario Ambrosini, who pleaded with Jacob Zuma to legalise marijuana use for medical purposes. Ambrosini was suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer and has since passed on. Singh is committed to enhancing these treatments:

“It is certainly not a free for all, it’s a point of departure for government is that ‘okay let us accept that we need to research the efficacy of these products for pain relief.”

The Dagga Couple

Dagga South African news today
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 31: Jules Stobbs stands next to members of the Concerned Young People of SA outside the North Gauteng High Court on July 31, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. Stobbs and his partner Myrtle Clarke are mounting a legal challenge to cannabis smoking laws. (Photo by Gallo Images / The Times / Alaister Russell)

Julian Stobbs and Myrtle Clarke have fought numerous legal battles over the years for marijuana legalisation. Stobbs and Clarke have even been dubbed the “dagga couple“, given their persistence to have the law recognise dagga as a legal substance.

Garreth Prince

One of the leading Rastafarians in the country has been at the forefront of legalisation since the 1970s.

Jeremy Acton

The former DA member went on to become the leader of the Dagga Party, lobbying for decriminalisation and the advancement of medical marijuana treatments.

Rob Davies

cannabis
SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 29: Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies during the India-South Africa Business Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre on April 29, 2018 in Sandton, South Africa. The event, themed around Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, was to honour the two countries through collaborations and shared histories through art. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / John Liebenberg)

The Trade and Industry Minister confirmed last month that South Africa is looking into ways they can use cannabis in order to boost the economy and create more jobs. The dagga movement really does have some friends in “high” places.

And maybe a former Protea or two…

Five things Herschelle Gibbs needs to know as Kuwait's head coach
(TonyPatterson via flickr)

Herschelle Gibbs, Andre Nel and Roger Telemachus were among a group players blasted for smoking dagga during South Africa’s tour to the West Indies in 2001. Society’s views on marijuana legalisation have somewhat relaxed in the years that have followed this incident, however.