South Africa Officials Approve Cannabis College on Eastern Cape

The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in the Eastern Cape of South Africa has approved the development of a cannabis college to train potential industry workers in cultivation and distribution, according to a BusinessTech report.

The college is planned for Ingquza Hill in Lusisiki, which Nomakhosazana Meth, MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, said had ideal growing conditions for cannabis. She described the plant as “green gold” which would help impoverished citizens in the region.

“The Eastern Cape is constantly searching for ideas and ways on how to contribute to the growth of domestic product of the province. Lusiski is known to be ‘the world’s capital of cannabis’ and this is a very important industry, so we need to exploit it in our province. We want to make sure we embrace cannabis for medical and commercial purposes.” – Meth, in an interview with 702

Over the last three years, there have been major overhauls of South Africa’s cannabis policies, including national medical cannabis legalization in 2017 and a decision by the Constitutional Court in 2018 that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional. In the decision, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said the personal use of cannabis “does not constitute undue harm” and infringes on the privacy rights of citizens.

According to a report by Prohibition Partners, a fully legalized cannabis industry in South Africa could be worth more than $1.7 billion annually by 2023.

The cannabis college will be established in a former teaching college, according to a Moguldom Nation report. The World Health Organization estimates there are about 1.25 million cannabis farmers in South Africa and at least 350,000 of which are traditional healers who give the plant to others for its medicinal benefits.