This is not only the first in South Africa but the first in Africa as a whole.
Cannabis however is still illegal in South Africa. The center will not actually sell what South Africans calls “Dagga” but will prescribe it. (Although “Marley Coffee” and edibles will be sold in the café.) At the center, chiropractors, traditional healers, or doctors will consult with patients and prescribe cannabis infused oils. They will only consult with five patients at once. Possession of cannabis is still illegal so patients will have to be referred.
The founder of the center is Krithi Thaver. He is the head of Canna Culture, who according to their website is “a passionate group of activists looking to create awareness on cannabis.” He is also the chair of the Kwazulu-Natal branch of the Cannabis Development Council of South Africa.
“Our treatment regimens combine traditional medical practices in chiropractics, physiotherapy, diseases and illnesses (acute and chronic) to treat the whole body. The practitioners at this centre are all medical professionals who have thoroughly researched the extensive medical uses of cannabis and have enthusiastically embraced its potential benefits,” Thaver told the South African newspaper, The Witness.
Thaver also cites studies that show cannabis can be used safely. Although, medical authorities point out that there have been no clinical trials of dagga in South Africa, but those cannot occur until it has been decriminalized. He believes that the opening of the center is a step towards legalizing cannabis in the country and invited health administrators and legal officials to visit the dispensary.
There are several ongoing legal battles for the legalization of dagga. In September of last year, it was said by the government that medical marijuana was going to be legalized by the end of the year. Cultivation would have been legalized under strict conditions. The government has published guidelines for medicinal use which potentially can pave the way for legal licenses.
Earlier, that year in March, the Western Cape High Court legalized the possession, cultivation, and private use of marijuana at home.
Dagga is used recreationally widely across South Africa and South Africa produces nearly 2500 tons each year, according to a UN report. It is cultivated in Kwazulu-Natal, South Eastern Cape, Swaziland, and the Drakensburg region. It can grow in tough and mountainous soil, which means it can produce a lot of money for poorer communities.
Only two countries in Africa have legalized cannabis, both in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe legalized the production of it for medicinal or scientific use earlier this month. Zimbabweans can now apply for a license to cultivate marijuana which is known locally as “Mbenje”.
Lesotho was the first African country to offer licenses. With marijuana being grown almost everywhere in the country, marijuana is a major contributor to the economy in a nation that is plagued by poverty. Lesotho offered to sell to South African company, Verve Dynamics, but no formal agreements have been made.
Other countries such as Morocco, Ghana, Swaziland, and Malawi are also making steps towards legalization.
Featured image via Wikimedia.
