Degrees for dagga growers and govt-supplied seeds
Inside SA’s Cannabis Master Plan
- South Africa’s Cannabis Master Plan looks to industrialise and commercialise cannabis to unlock economic opportunities.
- The potential size of South Africa’s commercial cannabis industry is estimated to be R28 billion, with the ability to create up to 25,000 jobs.
- But that potential can’t be unlocked until legislation is adapted.
- Once that’s done, small-scale farmers can get their seeds directly from government.
- And cannabis-related courses will be included in the curriculum of schools, colleges, and universities.
South Africa is developing a strategy for the industrialisation and commercialisation of cannabis. The Cannabis Master Plan targets legislative reform, the development of a national seed supply system, formal education initiatives, and financial assistance for new small-scale and traditional growers.
The potential size of South Africa’s commercial cannabis industry is estimated to be worth around R28 billion and has the potential to create up to 25,000 jobs, according to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
But current legislation, despite the private use of cannabis being decriminalised by the constitutional court in 2018, is a major hurdle in realising the economic potential of commercialisation.