How Many Countries In Africa Have Legalized Commercial Cannabis Cultivation?
As cannabis policy modernization has spread across the globe, one continent that has experienced a significant amount of reform in recent years is Africa. Currently, the only nation in Africa that has adopted a national adult-use legalization measure is South Africa. However, several other African nations have adopted laws that permit commercial medical cannabis and hemp cultivation.
According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Ukraine and France, and published by the U.S. National Institute of Health, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.
According to a recent report titled “Medical Use of Cannabis in Africa: The Pharmacists’ Perspective” which was published by the National Library of Medicine, nine African countries have adopted laws to regulate commercial cannabis and hemp cultivation, as well as the processing, storage, sales, and/or exports of harvests. Per recent reporting by Business Insider:
In addition to the dozens of countries around the world that have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures, Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany have implemented adult-use legalization measures, as well as South Africa, as previously mentioned in this article.
The legal global cannabis industry is set for significant expansion in the coming years, with a recent report by Skyquest Technology Consulting projecting that the regulated worldwide cannabis market will surpass $148.4 billion in value by 2031.
“Cannabis market was valued at USD 36.4 Billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 42.6 Billion in 2023 to USD 148.4 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 16.9% during the forecast period (2024-2031).” the market analysts stated.
“Legalization and regulation are among the primary factors contributing to the development of the cannabis market. The market is expanding beyond the capacity of understanding and awareness as an increasing number of countries have legalized cannabis for medical and recreational purposes.” the analysts also stated.