New cannabis laws are being considered in South Africa, and there’s a chance for people to share their thoughts on these laws.
The people in charge of this, called the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, want to hear what everyone thinks about the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill.
The chairperson of this committee, Bulelani Magwanishe, mentioned that they are especially interested in how these new laws might affect kids who are under 18 years old.
They are trying to find the best way to deal with situations where kids might have or use cannabis while keeping their best interests in mind.
To make these changes, the committee is thinking about adjusting the Children’s Act of 2005, the Prevention of and Treatment from Substance Abuse Act of 2008, or other laws that are not part of the criminal justice system.
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This is not the first time they’re asking for people’s opinions on this bill. It’s been in front of the National Assembly since September 2020. The process has taken a while because they’ve been having many discussions and looking into all the details.
The reason they are making these changes is because in 2017, a High Court said that some parts of the Drugs Act and Drug Trafficking Act are not in line with the constitution. In 2018, the Constitutional Court agreed with this decision.
The new laws want to allow you to grow a certain number of cannabis plants, have a certain amount of cannabis, and use it without breaking the law.
They also want to clear the criminal records of people who were convicted of having or using cannabis, and allow businesses to work with cannabis.
Many studies have shown that South Africa could benefit from growing and selling cannabis. It could even add a lot of money to the economy and create many jobs. But, so far, things have been slow, and the laws about cannabis are confusing.
It’s important to know about the new cannabis laws in South Africa. While the government might be considering them to boost the economy, we must be aware that cannabis isn’t good for our bodies or society. Many countries have banned it because of its harmful effects.
It’s good that they’re thinking about how these laws might affect kids under 18. They want to make sure it’s safe for them.
These changes might take some time because they’re fixing laws that don’t match the constitution. They want to let people grow and use cannabis without breaking the law, clear criminal records, and let businesses work with it.Even though it could help the economy, we need to remember the risks. If you want to share your thoughts, you can email [email protected] before October 13th. Stay informed and make wise choices!
