Government looking at farming dagga products
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the government is looking into manufacturing dagga products for medicinal purposes.
Ramaphosa was delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the official opening of Parliament on Thursday evening.
The President believes the farming of dagga will give small scale farmers opportunities to produce commercial cannabis products.
"Providing opportunities for small-scale farmers; and formulate policy on the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes, to build this industry in line with global trends," said Ramaphosa.
The President added the relevant ministers would soon announce regulatory steps.
"I can see when I start to talk about cannabis people get quite excited. I begin to wonder because they know about it, or know how it is used or are users themselves," was the reaction by the President when his announcement received widespread applause in the National Assembly.
The President believes the farming of dagga will give small scale farmers opportunities to produce commercial cannabis products.
"Providing opportunities for small-scale farmers; and formulate policy on the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes, to build this industry in line with global trends," said Ramaphosa.
The President added the relevant ministers would soon announce regulatory steps.
"I can see when I start to talk about cannabis people get quite excited. I begin to wonder because they know about it, or know how it is used or are users themselves," was the reaction by the President when his announcement received widespread applause in the National Assembly.