HEALTH MINISTER BANS CANNABIS INFUSED FOOD PRODUCTS

Experts say it’s been “coming for a very long time” so it was no surprise to them when Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi gazetted amended regulations regarding cannabis products in South Africa.

The regulatory updates ban the import, manufacture and sale of any food containing cannabis and cannabis products.

The notice specifies that the prohibition applies to any part of the plant or component of cannabis including Satvia, Indica, Ruderalis, hemp seed oil, and powder derivatives from the different species and sub-species.

According to the notice in the Government Gazette, any person who sells, imports or manufactures foods containing these prohibited substances will be guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine or imprisonment upon conviction.

Janet O’Donoghue from the South African Cannabis Community & Regulatory Association said they’ve been expecting the news.

“We’ve been seeing this coming for a very long time because in fact it is aligned with current legislation around cannabis which hasn’t actually changed much.

But, it seems as if the government can’t decide where they’re heading with cannabis and the law.

In 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill into law, which decriminalised private cannabis use for individuals.

In the same year, changes were made to the Medicines and Related Substances Act to de-schedule products containing THC.

Now, the cannabis community is up in arms as the new amendments made by the Health Minister adds more red tape and doesn’t align with the other laws in place already.

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