Are cannabis clubs breaking the law? Expert weighs in
A number of cannabis clubs and dispensaries have popped up since the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling on marijuana use.
Picture: cendeced/123rf.com
John Maytham speaks with Paul-Michael Keichel, cannabis law expert.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
A 2018 Constitutional Court judgement decriminalised the private cultivation and use of cannabis by adults.
Since then, numerous cannabis clubs and medical marijuana dispensaries have been set up.
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However, their legal standing is shaky as the judgement did not decriminalise the sale or use of marijuana in public settings.
Keichel says there has been no clarity on the law and some spaces are simply pushing the boundaries.
He says that a properly operated cannabis grow club, where people can ‘grow’ their own weed and are charged a membership fee, is a fair interpretation of the law.
The same is true for legitimate medical cannabis dispensaries only after a person has been authorised to use medical marijuana.
However, he says this is being abused at the moment.
“It is supposed to be exceptional circumstances. There are supposed to be high barriers to entry.”
- Paul-Michael Keichel, cannabis law expert
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.