Cannabis commonly known as marijuana or hemp may hold the key to South Africa’s future economic prospect. Cannabis is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Cannabaceae and is native to the Asian subcontinent. There are arguably three main species namely C. sativa, C. indica and C. ruderalis.
Often a controversial issue, cannabis has suffered waves of scrutiny mostly based on misconceptions and wild sensationalised stereotypes. Officially ruled illegal in Louisiana and Texas in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, Cannabis is Illegal in 179 countries (out of 195).
Recent scientific publication and research have brought the much-desired impact of cannabis into light. We now know that cannabis holds an abundance of miracle cures namely in the medicinal and scientific field. Chemical compounds found in Cannabis called Cannabinoids, which play a central role in disease treatment such as Cancer chemotherapy, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer’s, epilepsy and asthma.
Often ingested directly as oil based or smoked. The annual dioecious herb has a strong traditional use in African cultures for its healing properties, often used in ethnobotany and other herb related fields, it appears the true potential of the plant is heavily stunted by its illegal reputation in general society.
Duncan Liddell a botany M.sc student following the research and study into Cannabis and THC said ‘Medically the plant is criminal in how it’s under used’. He further outlines the multitudes of economic benefits linked to legalizing cannabis such as the money collected from taxing the sale and licensing of cultivating cannabis, empowering entrepreneurship through large scale farming and closing the unemployment gap.
‘Hemp based products such as bio-degradable plastic, paper, clothing, and food will pave the way towards out-facing plastic pollution and eradicate large-scale deforestation. Hemp will help usher the global movement towards environmentally green life style and inject billions into our stagnant economy’ says Duncan.
Countries such as Spain, the state of California and Netherlands are reaping the copious riches from the hemp market and trading of cannabis and not to mention a bountiful increase in tourists.
The global concept of cannabis is fast progressing mainly in liberal states and with the growing frustration of pharmaceutical companies. South Africa could lead the unofficial new market in the continent while addressing localized poverty and maintain their promise of tackling unemployment.
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