Medicinal cannabis gets the go-ahead

Ambrosini placed the debate over cannabis use in the spotlight in Parliament in 2014
The Mercury (South Africa)
Monday, February 20, 2017

The government has given the green light for the manufacture of cannabis for medicinal use – with the IFP hailing it a “major victory” and tribute to its late MP, Mario Oriani-Ambrosini who fought for the legalisation of the drug. IFP MP Narend Singh said a letter sent to him by the Medical Control Council’s working group on cannabis indicated it would publish its proposed guidelines on cannabis production for medicinal use. The current framework allows for use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, but under strict regulations which include requesting permission from the Medical Control Council for use in certain exceptional circumstances by registered medical practitioners. Patients may also only use it under supervision. (See also: Medicinal cannabis: 'Docs will have to jump through hoops')