BL Premium reports that Cosatu indicated on Tuesday during parliament’s public hearings on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill that decriminalising the cannabis sector would boost SA’s economy and would be a step in removing the industry from the control of criminal syndicates.
The labour federation’s Tony Ehrenreich said: “The cannabis industry itself has many potential opportunities for the economy. These include its positive contributions for medicinal, clothing, and industrial uses.” He noted that cannabis was an emerging industry internationally, and if SA did not move to manage it, it would be displaced by cheap imports. He urged the government to quickly ensure that the large-scale commercial production of cannabis was permitted. The size of SA’s commercial cannabis industry is potentially about R30bn and could create as many as 25,000 jobs, according to the government. The possession and cultivation of cannabis for private purposes in a private place was legalised by the Constitutional Court in September 2018 on the grounds that its prohibition constituted an impermissible infringement of the right to privacy. The ruling was suspended for two years to give parliament time to pass a law giving effect to the judgment. However, legislation won't be available by the 17 September deadline, meaning that the court judgment will operate until the law is promulgated.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
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