Access to legal marijuana in South Africa will be strict: South African Medical Association
The South African Medical Association has warned that access to legal marijuana will follow a strict set of guidelines.
“On 23 November, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health announced that the Department of Health would soon regulate access to medical cannabis for prescribed health conditions,” said Sama chairman Mzukisi Grootboom speaking to eNCA.
“The public, and healthcare professionals, should note, however, that the Medical Innovation Bill seeks to allow cannabis for medical purposes only. The bill, and the regulatory framework to be introduced by the Health Department, do not apply to cannabis for recreational purposes, which remains illegal in South Africa,” said Grootboom.
Grootboom emphasised the need for a clear list of differences between recreational and medicinal use. Of the 16 0r so countries that have legalised marijuana for medical usage, the range of conditions and amount allowed for treatment differed between each one.
As such South African regulations needed to adequately provide for the safe prescription and dispensing of marijuana and that medical prescription of the drug should only be dispensed at a pharmacy, said Grootboom.
“As a professional medical body with prime concern for patient safety and protection, Sama subscribes to the principle of evidence-based healthcare and maintains that policy decisions on medical cannabis should be based on high-quality scientific evidence,” said Grootboom.
“Even with careful regulation of medical cannabis, experience from other countries shows that the risk of counterfeit ‘patients’ abusing cannabis medication for recreation, or for profit, remains a problem.”
The legalisation of marijuana was once again a hot topic this week as long standing advocates, Dagga Party leader Jeremy Acton and Garreth Prince returned to the Western Cape High court to have the Schedule 7 drug legalised in the country.
The court’s decision is expected to be handed down in March 2017.
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