South Africa’s Cannabis Masterplan has now been transferred to the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An official Cabinet statement following a meeting in September said that the DTIC “concluded situational and value chain analysis on the Hemp and Cannabis sector in South Africa [and the department] will soon commence consultations on the Cannabis Commercialisation Policy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a recent presentation<\/a> to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, the DTIC confirmed that, from September 2024, it had become the coordinating entity of the country’s ambitious Cannabis Masterplan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the plans that have been in place since 2018, the master plan seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the different elements of the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, many in the industry have thus far been largely hindered by limited funding, complicated and expensive regulatory processes, and inconsistent regulatory reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its presentation to Parliament, the DTIC emphasised that numerous legal, regulatory, and licensing matters need to be resolved before the commercialisation of the cannabis industry in South Africa can be realised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, legislation to create a more enabling commercial environment for cannabis is expected to be tabled in Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trade and industry spokesperson Yamkela Fanisi told the Mail & Guardian<\/a> that “the department is working on the commercial strategy within the legal parameters.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere there is a need to amend legislation to optimise full commercialisation, a due process will be followed<\/strong>,\u201d added Fanisi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n