This was the central message delivered by lawyer and cannabis activist Gareth Prince during his keynote address at the Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Summit, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg in late May.
Prince reflected on progress made since the Constitutional Court ruling in 2018, which paved the way for the legal private use of cannabis, while also highlighting what he sees as significant policy and regulatory shortcomings that continue to constrain the industry’s development.
The court’s ruling, however, maintained that buying, selling, public consumption, and dealing cannabis remain strictly prohibited.
Rights without legal access
According to Prince, one of the industry’s greatest contradictions is that South Africans have the legal right to possess, cultivate, and use cannabis for private purposes, yet there are no fully legal commercial channels through which consumers can obtain cannabis products.
As a result, individuals seeking to exercise their rights may still face legal uncertainty when attempting to access cannabis.
Prince argued that this disconnect has limited the practical benefits of cannabis reform and slowed the development of a broader industry capable of creating jobs and generating economic growth.
He also questioned the continued distinction between cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in policy discussions, suggesting that a sustainable cannabis industry requires a holistic approach to the plant rather than one based on separating its individual cannabinoid components.
“A sustainable cannabis industry requires an integrated approach to cannabis as a whole,” he said.
A focus on socio-economic development
A recurring theme throughout Prince’s presentation was the relationship between cannabis policy and socio-economic development. He suggested that cannabis regulation be evaluated according to whether it creates opportunities for the greatest number of people and contributes to improved livelihoods.
While acknowledging the value of export markets, he urged policymakers and industry stakeholders to focus more strongly on domestic opportunities. According to him, the greatest economic potential lies in serving local needs, creating employment, and developing value-added industries within South Africa before prioritising exports.
“The opportunities for empowerment, job creation, and economic participation are found within local industry development,” he explained, adding that a stronger focus on domestic value addition would align more closely with the principles of restorative justice and inclusive economic development.
Government policy and industry growth
Throughout his address, Prince stressed the need for a more proactive approach from government. He argued that South Africa has a unique opportunity to develop a legislative framework that could serve as a model for other countries, but that progress has been slower than many industry participants had anticipated.
According to him, meaningful transformation will require closer collaboration between government, industry players, and communities already involved in cannabis cultivation and processing. He also called for greater consideration of local perspectives when developing cannabis policy, saying South Africa should shape its regulatory framework according to domestic realities rather than relying heavily on international models.
“We need policies that reflect South African and African priorities,” he said.
Prince further maintained that public participation and consultation processes should play a more substantive role in future legislative development.
Building local value chains
A key aspect of Prince’s vision for the industry is the development of local value chains rather than reliance on exports of raw materials. He stressed that South Africa possesses the agricultural capacity and technical expertise required to develop downstream cannabis industries.
Rather than exporting raw cannabis and hemp products, the country should focus on producing finished goods and processed products that create additional local economic value. These include medicine, textiles, paper products, alternative plastics, building materials, and renewable energy products.
Prince emphasised that industrial development would create opportunities across multiple levels of the economy, from primary agricultural production to manufacturing and processing. He suggested that this approach would generate greater employment opportunities while helping to build a more resilient and sustainable cannabis industry.
South Africa’s competitive advantages
Prince highlighted several advantages that position South Africa favourably within the global cannabis industry. These include the country’s ability to cultivate high-quality cannabis at scale and operate at competitive production costs.
He noted that the country already possesses substantial cultivation expertise, and that many communities have decades of experience growing cannabis.
In addition, he argued that Southern Africa has the potential to become a major producer of cannabis seed and plant material, creating further opportunities for regional industry development.
“We should focus on our strengths and build industries around those strengths,” Prince added.
He also highlighted opportunities linked to cannabis-derived biofuels and medicinal products, saying these industries warrant greater attention as part of a broader cannabis industrialisation strategy.
Ongoing legal and regulatory concerns
Prince devoted a significant portion of his presentation to ongoing concerns regarding cannabis-related arrests and law enforcement practices. He noted that despite legal reforms, large numbers of South Africans continue to be arrested annually for cannabis-related offences.
According to research he cited, approximately 200 000 drug-related arrests are made each year in South Africa, with roughly 75% relating to cannabis offences. He added that approximately 98% of those cannabis arrests involve possession rather than dealing.
Prince argued that alternative legal mechanisms already exist within South African law that could reduce the need for arrests while still allowing matters to proceed through the justice system. He said current legal challenges seek to encourage greater use of these alternatives, particularly in cases involving cannabis possession.
The broader concern, he suggested, is that uncertainty regarding enforcement continues to create obstacles for industry participants and individuals seeking to operate within the evolving legal framework.
Creating an African cannabis model
Looking ahead, Prince urged policymakers to adopt a distinctly African perspective on cannabis development. He emphasised that Africa should not simply replicate international models but instead develop approaches that reflect local agricultural, economic, and social realities. South Africa, he said, has the capacity to lead the continent in this regard.
By combining commercial cultivation, local manufacturing, medicinal development, and industrial applications, the country could establish a diversified cannabis economy capable of supporting both domestic development and export growth.
Prince concluded that the opportunity to build a globally competitive and socially inclusive cannabis industry in South Africa remains firmly within reach.
For that to happen, he said government, industry, and communities will need to work together to establish a regulatory framework that prioritises local participation, supports value-added production, and unlocks the full economic potential of cannabis and hemp in South Africa.
