Focussing on positive news for a change, in sunny South Africa. Progress in the new, highly profitable cannabis industry is moving in the right direction.
This follows Cabinet approving the submission to Parliament of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill of 2020 for processing. The bill gives effect to a Constitutional Court judgement which declared some parts of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act 140 of 1992) and Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 1965(Act 101 of 1695) as unconstitutional.
The judgement was suspended for 24 months, in order to allow Parliament time to correct those sections.
This Bill regulates the use and possession of cannabis and the cultivation of cannabis plants by adults, for personal use. It also provides the limit for the quantity of cannabis which may be possessed by an adult and criminalises the smoking of cannabis in public places.
What can we expect from the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill?
According to the bill, the legal limits for personal and legal use at home are as follows:
- Unlimited seeds and seedlings.
- Four flowering cannabis plants for those living alone. Or eight flowering plants for two or more adults living at home.
- 600 grams of dried cannabis per adult or 1.2 kilograms per home occupied by two or more people.
While the bill is explicit on the fact that cannabis must not be given or sold to anyone under the age of 18, an adult may provide or obtain cannabis from another adult, for personal use, as long as there is no remuneration.
For purposes of exchanging, the limits are as follows:
- 30 seeds or seedlings, or a combination of the two.
- One flowering plant
- 100 grams of dry cannabis
With the bill in motion, progress can hopefully begin and allow for this Billion-Dollar industry to take flight in South Africa, a country in serious need of revenue and employment generation streams.
Author: Quinton Boucher
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
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