Health Dept. bans cannabis & hemp food products: 'It's confusing for the whole industry'

702's John Perlman talks to Myron Krost, CEO of Canna Trade Africa and founder of The Green Clinic podcast.

A landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2018 decriminalised the use of cannabis in South Africa

Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa also signed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill into law ahead of the national elections, decriminalising private cannabis use for individuals.

Despite these moves, there is still a lack of legal clarity around the use and sale of related products.

The status quo just got a little murkier, with Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi 'quietly' gazetting regulations that ban foodstuffs derived from cannabis and hemp.

The new regulations make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or import these items, reports News24.

They even affect products like hemp seed oil, or powder (flour) which previously were legal.

John Perlman gets comment from endocannabinoid coach Myron Krost, CEO of Canna Trade Africa and founder of The Green Clinic podcast.

He says the gazetting of new regulations doesn't make sense and is confusing for the whole industry.

"We've seen a lot of (positive) changes in this space since the 2018 ruling... but what's happening right now is one side of the body driving forward and promoting the cannabis industry worth R100 billion for SA within a year or two, and then another side of the same body that's just starting to spin in circles."

Myron Krost, CEO - Canna Trade Africa

"The thing about cannabis is that although we're very far down the line with a practice that's happening that's been accepted by the prosecutor and the industry, and all the activists that are working together... we don't have clear guidelines yet because the amendments to the new Act are busy being written."

Myron Krost, CEO - Canna Trade Africa

The crux of the matter is really how this lack of clarity is holding back investment in South Africa's cannabis industry, Krost says.

It's a case of five steps forward and ten steps back, in this case.

"The banking sector isn't yet ready to talk to cannabis companies, the tax sector isn't really ready for it yet and investors are waiting to see what happens."

Myron Krost, CEO - Canna Trade Africa

"We get good steps forward like in the last six months, with investors slowly starting to say 'maybe we're ready'... and then you get something like this."

Myron Krost, CEO - Canna Trade Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation