Last week we gathered at the University of Cape Town to wrap up the Cannabis Africana project. A collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Cape Town – departments of Criminology and Policy Studies – this was a research project looking into “Drugs and Development in Africa”, with particular emphasis on Cannabis.

Fields of Green for ALL has gained invaluable insight through our participation in this project over the last four years. In particular, the intersection of academics and activism has expanded our vision. We have always advocated for evidence-based legal regulation and rigorous data & field research are cornerstones in achieving this, particularly given the difficult political climate we are facing in South Africa.

In 2022 the project gathered in Abuja, Nigeria for the Biennial Conference on Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa. This was hosted by the Centre for Research and Substance Abuse (CRISA Africa). A close up look at broad-based attitudes to drugs in Africa was right there to witness at this three day event. It remains our biggest challenge to address both changing the laws around Cannabis and shifting hearts and minds after a century of prohibition. Being in Nigeria in person showed us the stark contrast between the grass roots activism of organisations such as YouthRISE Nigeria and the old prohibitionists still bashing on about abuse and the gateway drug! It is worth noting that YouthRISE attendants were mostly young women, where the prohibitions were all old men! 

In 2022 we also hosted a workshop at UCT where we connected with local communities to get input for the project.

Earlier this month, Dr Gernot Klantschnig returned to Nigeria for the CRISA conference and hosted a panel discussion which  presented key findings and issues related to Cannabis policy and development in the four case studies from the Cannabis Africana project: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

In July Myrtle travelled to Bristol, UK for a very valuable in-person workshop with our colleagues from the project. There’s a video summary of the experience here.

Four years on and we wrapped everything up last week with an overview of the project and a look at what we’re planning for the next project (funding pending / dependent).

Cannabis Africana Project Overview

  • To provide a historical account of Cannabis in Africa (vs presentism of literature).
  • To understand the contemporary place, purpose and perceived utility of Cannabis (livelihoods lens rather than security / criminal justice lens)
  • To explore the varied cultures of consumption around Cannabis in 4 selected sites (methods: qualitative in-depth interviews, explore insider views and compare)
  • To assess the impact of drug policy on Cannabis production, distribution and use (‘prohibition and post-prohibition from below’, global policy in flux)

Plans for the future:

The Cannabis Observatory

  • A joint academic / activist undertaking to both monitor changes to Cannabis policy and law in Africa as well as a hub for networking and knowledge production / sharing;
  • A platform to share with local voices so as to amplify their voices
  • A teaching and research repository and toolbox for researchers including methodological and methods information, ethics clearance procedures and practices, and resources to help guide the teaching and speaking on substance-related concerns for academia, civil society and the media.

Cannabis Africana: Beyond Prohibition

A three year international study focused on Cannabis beyond prohibition in Southern Africa (UKRI funded, UCT and Bristol).

Cannabis Agrarian Development in Zimbabwe

One year project with local partners in Zim focusing on community development (AHRC funded).

Development of Standard Operating Procedures for Cannabis in South Africa

One year high impact project with policing partners in SA, with specific focus on SoP development for SAPS (AHRC funded).

Our future projects are waiting for the funding green light and are designed to maximise the impact of the original Cannabis Africana project and ensure continued relevance for and benefit of, local communities across our designated areas. The bigger picture is that this research will filter across our vast continent with its impacts, as opposed to piles of academic papers sitting on desks being eaten by termites!

And the cherry on the top…

The crowning glory of the project will be publishing a special Cannabis issue of the International Journal of Drug Policy. Comprising over 20 papers submitted by activists, researchers  and academics working on Cannabis in Africa, the special issue will be published in the first half of 2025. Watch this space for more info.

Here at Fields of Green for ALL we look forward to our continued work with these projects and the ongoing benefit for ALL who use, cultivate and trade in Cannabis in Africa.