The South African government is accelerating efforts to develop a commercially viable cannabis and hemp industry, positioning the sector as a potential driver of economic growth, job creation and rural development.
This emerged during a parliamentary briefing on Friday where the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), alongside the departments of agriculture and health, outlined progress on the National Cannabis Master Plan and the Hemp and Cannabis Commercialisation Strategy.
The plan aims to provide a broad framework for the development of the cannabis industry while ensuring inclusive participation, particularly for rural communities that have historically cultivated the crop.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau told the committee that the cannabis and hemp sector holds significant economic potential, but its growth depends heavily on resolving legislative and regulatory bottlenecks.
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