Cannabis Bill met with 'objections and concerns'
The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill was recently passed by the National Council of Provinces.
Cannabis. Picture: pixabay.com
Gugs Mhlungu spoke to specialist attorney at Cullinan & Associates, Paul-Michael Keichel.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
Last week the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill - this means that it just needs President Cyril Ramaphosa's signature for it to become law.
The Bill will make it possible for South Africans to cultivate and possess cannabis for personal use.
If you were previously convicted for the possession of cannabis, the Bill will see your criminal record erased.
Penalties will however be imposed on those selling cannabis or smoking it in public.
The Bill prohibits children from possessing, dealing, or consuming cannabis.
Keichel says the Bill has been met with certain objections and concerns.
"Some of them by civil society and some by business but there certainly hasn't been one united voice that says we are fundamentally opposed for the following clear reasons."
- Paul-Michael Keichel, specialist attorney at Cullinan & Associates
He adds that the majority of criticisms come down to there being upper limits for how much cannabis an individual or groups of people are allowed to cultivate, possess and transport.
"Another criticism has been that it doesn't make express accommodations for certain special interest groups such as the Rastafari, traditional healers and cultivators of cannabis."
- Paul-Michael Keichel, specialist attorney at Cullinan & Associates
Scroll up to listen to the full interview.