South Africa Department Of Health Bans Cannabis Edibles
South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. The African nation is joined by Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany.
The Department of Health in South Africa recently announced a complete ban on cannabis edibles. Cannabis edibles are popular with medical cannabis patients and recreational consumers for various reasons, not the least of which is that they are a smokeless form of consumption.
“In a shocking move, the Department of Health has quietly banned the production and selling of cannabis and hemp-derived foodstuffs in South Africa.” reported ION in its local coverage. “This unexpected turn of events contradicts the government’s decriminalisation of cannabis by the Constitutional Court in recent years.”
“In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government aims for South Africa to spearhead the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.” the outlet also reported.
South Africa’s President signed a limited adult-use cannabis legalization measure into law back in May 2024.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act (“CfPPA”). The CfPPA regulates the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis by adults in a private setting.” The President’s office stated in a press release at the time.
“The consequent regulatory reform enabled by the CfPPA will, amongst others, entirely remove cannabis from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. This will further enable amendment of the Schedules to the Medicines and Related Substances Act and provide for targeted regulatory reform of the Plant Breeders Rights Act and the Plant Improvement Act, as well as other pieces of legislation that require amendment to allow for the industrialisation of the cannabis sector.” the press release also stated.
Back in 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling that deemed cannabis prohibition as it pertained to adult individuals to be unconstitutional. The 2018 decision stemmed from a lower court decision in Western Cape in March 2017 which determined that a ban on cannabis use by adults at home was unconstitutional.
The 2018 decision in South Africa left many unknowns, including how much cannabis a person could cultivate and possess in a private setting. The Court largely punted many policy decisions to lawmakers, who then proceeded to drag their feet for several years.