South African Human Rights Commission Urges Police To Halt Cannabis Arrests
Last year South Africa became the latest country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, codifying a prior landmark court decision which determined that prohibition policies against personal cannabis use were unconstitutional.
Recreational legalization in South Africa placed the country on a list with Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany for nations that have adopted an adult-use cannabis legalization policy change. Despite South Africa adopting legalization, the arrests of cannabis users persist, and South Africa’s Human Rights Commission is calling that out.
“The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has written to national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola to express concern over the ongoing arrests of cannabis users and Rastafarians despite a law permitting the private cultivation and use of cannabis by adults.” stated Times Live in its local reporting.
“As the festive season approaches, the SAHRC reminds law enforcement, in particular the SA Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority, that the arrest and/or prosecution of adults for the private use, possession or cultivation of cannabis, as well as making assumptions about dealing, is inconsistent with the law and national operational directives. Such arrests and/or prosecutions could lead to human rights violations being perpetrated by law enforcement,” the SAHRC said according to the media outlet’s coverage.
South Africa is home to an emerging legal cannabis industry. A great example is the recent certification of Africa’s first cannabis higher education course. Recently cannabis education provider Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy launched its Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management. The cannabis education program is the first on the African continent to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE). CHE is an internationally recognized accreditation body.
“It comes at the same time as Cheeba Africa has announced a partnership to bring its offering to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The economically-stressed province is hoping to see benefits from provincial government efforts to roll out an investment in the local medical cannabis industry that is expected to reach R1 billion over the next five years.” Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy stated in a press release obtained by the International Cannabis Business Conference.
“It has been a rigorous four-year journey for our Academy to reach this important accreditation milestone and we’re excited to set this benchmark in cannabis education by offering this powerful programme to potential cannabis entrepreneurs and workers. It is a proud moment for our industry, and for South Africa, as we lead the way in one of the most important sectors of our time. The emerging cannabis and hemp industry has so much potential to create sustainable and dignified livelihoods in South Africa, especially in some of our most underserved communities.” states Trenton Birch, CEO and co-founder of Cheeba Africa.
The new partnership that Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Academy has formed with the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape is a partnership that recognizes the significant potential of cannabis-related job creation and sustainable development in one of South Africa’s most rural and underserved provinces. Official unemployment rates in the Eastern Cape are above 40%, and the expanded unemployment rates are close to 50%. With 60% of the population living below the poverty level, it is recognized as one of the country’s poorest regions.