Here at Fields of Green for ALL we are vigilant about misinformation in the mainstream media as we often bear the brunt of the consequences of fake or ill-informed news. The liberalisation of our Cannabis laws has been two decades in the making and journalists have no excuse when it comes to writing ill-informed nonsense.
On Sunday 16 June this year, Rapport, a Media 24 newspaper, published a feature on the recently signed-into-law Cannabis For Private Purposes Act. However, they went into detail about quantities and limits, all based on the wrong version of the bill. Together with Ilse Ferreira from our affiliate company and analytical laboratory, Qure, I wrote to them to explain the misleading errors, but received no response. Here is, firstly, the English translation, followed by the original Afrikaans letter that was submitted.
We call on all in our Cannabis communities to help us fight stigmatising misinformation!

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the non-profit organization Fields of Green for ALL regarding the article published on June 16, 2024, titled “Wettige daggadampie kos jou dalk jou werk”. Thank you to Rapport for shedding light on this important issue. My intention is to address a common misconception.

Recently, there was a labor court ruling that was not mentioned in the article and deserves inclusion. You can find details about it here: ¹. Therefore, the headline of your article is misleading.

In 2018, when the Constitutional Court made the landmark ruling regarding the right to private cannabis use, Justice Zondo left it to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services to draft the necessary legislation. This process took over five years. Throughout the extensive public participation and debate, several iterations of the bill were presented. It was only after the Cannabis Expo in 2023 that a more informed version emerged and was ultimately signed by the President.

The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act currently does not impose restrictions on the number of plants or dried cannabis, or its products. The Minister will determine maximum quantities for cultivation, possession, and transportation, subject to parliamentary processes before publication in the government gazette. It is crucial to note that the legal definition of cannabis now specifically excludes seeds, seedlings, stems, leaves, and branches without any fruits or flowers.

One of our affiliated companies, Qure, has written a blog post that simplifies the new law. You can find it at ².

Best regards, Ilse Ferreira (Qure) and Charl Henning (administrator at Fields Of Green For All)

Geagte Redakteur

Ek skryf namens die dagga nie-winsgewende organisasie, Fields of Green for ALL, betrekkende die artikel van 16 Junie 2024, “Wettige daggadampie kos jou dalk jou werk’.

Dankie vir die lugtyd wat Rapport vir hierdie belangrike onderwerp gee. My brief het dit ten doel om ‘n algemene misverstand uit die weg te ruim.

Daar was onlangs ‘n arbeidshofuitspraak wat glad nie in die artikel genoem word nie en definitief verdien om ingesluit te word https://www.fieldsofgreenforall.org.za/a-landmark-labour-court-victory-for-workers-rights-and-dignity. Die opskrif van julle artikel is dus misleidend.

Toe die Konstitusionele Hof in 2018 die waterskeidings uitspraak ten opsigte van die reg tot privaat gebruik van kannabis gemaak het, het Regter Zondo dit ook aan die Portefeuljekomitee vir Justisie en Korrektiewe Dienste oorgelaat om die nodige wetgewing te skryf. Hierdie taak het meer as vyf jaar geneem. In die lang, uitgerekte proses van openbare deelname en debat, was verskeie iterasies van die wetsontwerp voorgelê. Dit was eers ná die Kannabis en Hennep Pakhisa in 2023 dat ‘n meer ingeligte weergawe die lig gesien en uiteindelik deur die President geteken is.

Die Wet op Kannabis vir Private Doeleindes het tans geen beperkinge oor die aantal plante of gedroogde dagga, of produkte daarvan gepubliseer nie. Dit word aan die Minister oorgelaat om maksimum hoeveelhede wat gekweek, besit en vervoer mag word, te spesifiseer en hierdie bepalings sal ook deur die Parlementêre proses moet gaan voordat dit deur die staatskoerant gepubliseer kan word. Dit is ook uiters belangrik om te besef dat kannabis in die wet herdefinieer is as net die vrug en blom van die plant. Enige saad, saailing, stingels, blare en takke sonder enige vrugte of blom, en die wortels van ‘n kannabisplant is spesifiek uitgesluit.

Een van ons geaffilieerde maatskappye, Qure, het ‘n blog geskryf wat die nuwe wet eenvoudig uiteen lê. Hierdie blog plasing is beskikbaar by www.qure.co.za/cannabis-for-private-purposes-act. Ons het ook verdere detail en die korrekte weergawe van die wetsontwerp op ons eie webtuiste geplaas om dit duidelik te maak dat die verouderde weergawes vervang is. Gaan kyk gerus by www.fieldsofgreenforall.org.za/the-correct-version-of-the-cannabis-for-private-purposes-bill-now-signed.

Enige een wat graag wil deel wees daarvan om wesenlike verskil in die algehele wettiging van kannabis te maak, of meer wil leer oor die huidge stand van sake, kan ons webwerf besoek by www.fieldsofgreenforall.org.za.

Vriendelike groete

Ilse Ferreira (Qure) & Charl Henning (administrateur: Fields of Green for ALL)

Download the CORRECT version of the Cannabis For Private Purposes Bill here.