Following the Western Cape High Court Judgement handed down in March 2017 and the Constitutional Court validation of that ruling in September 2018, Cannabis has been almost decriminalised in South Africa, were it not for the police still arresting people and putting them in cages for this plant.  This is however not the same as legalisation, as the trade and sale of the plant remains illegal.

The Constitutional Court gave the SA Government and Parliament 2 years from their verdict to formalise the various ambiguities that were not addressed in the ruling. This means that the rules and regulations were not yet defined, and 4 years later in 2022, they STILL aren’t. Now more than ever we need to focus on achieving true and practical legalisation that is accessible and beneficial to all South Africans.

As of the 2022 February SONA, nothing much has changed and all we have are well rehearsed words from the higher powers, with no promise of support or integration for our traditional Dagga growers and stakeholders.