Canapax has built a name for itself by openly selling weed across the country. Their popular franchises have managed this under the guise of being traditional healers. But the South African Police Service has issued a statement advising that these businesses are illegally selling cannabis.
This was announced in a joint media statement issued by the South African Police Service and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
“The South African Police Service is issuing a stern warning that the establishment of illegal dispensaries/outlets, online sites and social media platforms which are marketing and selling cannabis and cannabis-related products to the public remains illegal, except where specifically allowed in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act”
The next bit feels like a reference to Canapax and similar dealers dressed as healers.
“Some of these illegal businesses, purporting to be operating legally in terms of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (No. 22 of 2007), are also being sold to members of the public as franchises authorised to deal in cannabis and cannabis-related products. In terms of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, the definition of “traditional medicine” means an object or substance used in traditional health practice for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of a physical or mental illness or any curative or therapeutic purpose, including the maintenance or restoration of physical or mental health or well-being in human beings but does not include a dependence-producing or dangerous substance or drug”. As a result, the Traditional Health Practitioners Act does not create a mechanism to sell cannabis and cannabisrelated products that are not exempted in terms of the Medicines Act.”
“The public is once again reminded of the effect of the Constitutional Court judgment in Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince: National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Rubin: National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Acton and Others [2018] SACC 30, handed down on 18 September 2018. The effect of the judgment is that only an adult person (18 years and older) may use, possess or cultivate cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption in private. The use, including smoking, of cannabis in public or in the presence of children or in the presence of non-consenting adult persons is not allowed. The use or possession of cannabis in private other than by an adult for his or her personal consumption is also not permitted.”
Dealing in cannabis remains a serious criminal offence in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act”
Read the full media release here.
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What does this all mean though
Canapax franchise owners and investors will have to decide for themselves. While private cannabis clubs also face a similar decision. Face the might of the law? Or continue with business as usual?
UPDATE! Canapax raided by police and founder arrested.
“The Serious Organised Crime Unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation with members of Forensic Science Laboratory and Local Criminal Record Centre descended on a hydroponic dagga lab in Brits on Saturday and arrested the owner of a Cannabis dispensary. The suspect who allegedly also sells franchises for cannabis dispensaries is a major supplier of cannabis and related products in the country.
The investigation aims to clamp down on the unlawful mushrooming of Cannabis dispensaries around the country which are purporting to be operating legally in terms of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (No. 22 of 2007).
A search of the suspect’s store allegedly revealed over 500 kg worth of Cannabis estimated to be approximately R3 million, hydroponic tunnels for cannabis cultivation, various apparatus for processing and oil extraction and other numerous cannabis products, all which were subsequently seized.
The suspect will appear at the Brits Magistrate’s court on 11 November 2019 for contravening the Medicine and Related Substances Act and dealing in Dagga.”
What is a dagga lab ? Its a grow operation/dispensary. Since when do you cook up a bud or two ? Or are you just illiterate ? You grow weed, because its a plant not a chemical, meaning its natural hense it qualifies as a medicine. If South Africa wants to be ahead for ones they should follow the USA’s lead on this one. We have a struggling economy that can benefit a lot from legall grow ops and dispensaries.
[…] statement were supposedly backed up by a briefing issued by SAPS and comes after a directive was issued by the NPA on the subject calling upon officers to obey the […]
Hey guys, Let’s do a petition for all marijuana products to be legalised and for licensing to be given to businessesowner fairly. We need to get as many supporters and then a good team of lawyers to fight this injustice in the court, clearly they want to take us for a joke by only partially legalizing the substance for certain people. The fight now needs to be aimed at, and clear, that we want local businesses to startup cannabis franchises and that they aren’t harrassed by bullish by-laws. WhatsApp me on………. if you wanna help make marijuana fully legal and tradable.
Hi Kelsey. Good idea. I’ve removed your personal number as we don’t share that kind of info. Please let us know once you’ve launched the petition and take a look at our sponsored content or advertising rates to feature the petition on our site.
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Dude do you mind emailing me I’d like to find out more about laws with in regards to CDB products in South Africa. Just need direction
The answer is easy.They are pure evil.
Only Evil does not want to see the good rise.
Booz causes so much harm and social problems but that is what they want because they are pure evil.
All souls supporting Evil supports Satan and in turn will burn in hell!
Agree with u Sha
The police should stop worrying about the weed.the only reason they say its illegal is THEY CAN’T COLLECT TAX.
I feel that cannabis really does heal so therefore it is a tipe of medicine. So technically we are healers… Helping people with their health, not just with the plant itself but also the creams, oils and so on. But let’s keep alcohol in every part of the city, the most dangerous substances. Can’t track the knowledge of some people, it just doesn’t make sense what goes on in their minds.
I have 2 concerns – Firstly, where is the State’s evidence that Cannabis is a dangerous or dependence-producing drug? Secondly, in a country with one of the highest violent-crime rates in the world, why does the SAPS continue to waste time, energy and resources nitpicking over Cannabis use when they should be dealing with criminals that cause real harm in our society?