The chairperson of Parliament’s Justice Committee Bulelani Magwanishe has called on government not to delay implementing its cannabis industry master plan.
The plan, with contributions by nine government departments, has been presented to the committee.
It is aimed at promoting economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation through an industry worth an estimated R28-billion.
Commercial interest will focus on medicinal use, industrial, food and recreation.
Magwanishe says it’s an industry, government should not allow to slip through its fingers.
“Let’s not make the same mistake as with the gold and platinum scenarios where your big multi nationals will come and take everything and by the time we wake up, we have nothing. So yes consult but remember time waits for nobody.”
Exclusion of black people
In April this year, the Black Farmers’ Association of South Africa (BFASA) said it will on Thursday march to the offices of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) over the exclusion of black people from being granted medicinal cannabis licences.
BFASA claims that SAHPRA’s management, under instruction from then Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, has been granting licences to affluent white people and foreign-owned companies without considering indigenous people including traditional healers, rural agriculture and Rastafarians.
