Cannabis: Rules for use in South Africa to change

Cannabis use and the laws linked to it may change. The health ministry has suggested amendments to the Medicines and Related Substances Act.

The proposed amendments entail more leniency in terms of cannabis use and regulation.

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CANNABIS USE REGULATION

If the government implements the proposed amendments, the government will not regulate the private use of cannabis plant material and products containing THC as a Schedule 6 substance, according to Business Tech.

This comes with a specification that it will only apply to products that have no pharmacological action or medicinal purpose.      

The proposal entails that fewer products will be regulated as Schedule 6 substances.

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THC AND CBD

Cannabis contains active components called cannabinoids. SA legislation focuses on two of these cannabinoids – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

The government down-scheduled CBD in 2019 to a Schedule 4 substance. It de-scheduled certain CBD-containing preparations and products entirely. This led to a significant rise in products on the market containing the substance, according to Business Tech.

THC, however, has remained illegal unless in small doses. Currently, THC is listed as a Schedule 6 substance with a few exceptions, according to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

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AMENDMENTS PROPOSED

The main focus of the proposed amendments is the regulation in terms of the percentage of THC. The proposal includes that the Medicines Act should not regulate cannabis substances and products as scheduled substances. This is regardless of the percentage of THC present.

This is in contrast to the current regulations which only exclude products from Schedule 6 based on a set percentage of THC content, for example, processed products containing 0,001% or less THC.

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