Cannabis experts have described the South African government's blanket ban on cannabis and hemp products in foodstuffs as heavy-handed, misdirected, and misinformed.
The National Department of Health published a notice on Friday, March 7, banning the import, manufacture, and sale of any foods containing cannabis and cannabis products.
The ban applies to any part of the plant or component of cannabis, including Sativa, Indica, Ruderalis, hemp seed oil, or powder derivatives from the various species or subspecies.
The department stated that any person who sells, imports, or manufactures foods containing these prohibited substances will be guilty of an offense and may be liable to a fine or imprisonment upon conviction. According to Connor Davis, the co-founder and COO of medical cannabis pharmacy group AKOS Bio, while the need for safety regulation in the industry is understandable, the government's ban has gone a step too far.
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