De-schedule dagga to create jobs, says community

Cannabis should be de-scheduled and treated as a herbal medicine
IOL (South Africa)
Thursday, March 23, 2017

As the deadline for public comment on the guideline documents for cultivation of cannabis for medical use looms, an Eastern Cape community is calling for de-scheduling of the plant as a way of exercising total control of the lucrative “green gold” industry. The Medical Innovations Bill, aimed at legalising the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, was introduced by the late MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini in 2014. Prince Phumezile Dinwayo, of the Amantlane Traditional Council, at Lusikisiki in Eastern Cape, said this represented opportunities for rural communities as that could lead to job creation, economic stability and growth of the critical agricultural sector, among others. (See also: Dagga farming: few will be able to fulfil requirements)