The marijuana plant provides natural relief, making it a vital resource in medical cannabis treatments. Medical cannabis has emerged as a promising treatment option for a variety of health conditions, offering relief to patients where conventional medicine may fall short. In South Africa, medical doctors can prescribe cannabis to manage several debilitating conditions, including epilepsy, […]

CAPE TOWN – AKOS BIO, an online medical cannabis pharmacy, says restricting hemp-based food products without justification severely undermines economic growth and job creation. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has gazetted new regulations banning the manufacture, sale, and import of hemp and cannabis-derived food products. Health Department says this is to ensure consumer safety while working

The National Department of Health has defended its decision this month to ban foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp products, saying this was aimed at ensuring consumer safety while it works on a “grand plan” to involve the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At the beginning of March, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi quietly gazetted regulations

South Africa’s recent ban on cannabis and hemp products has been criticised by industry experts and other members of the government and could force 1,800 businesses to close their doors. The National Department of Health gazetted a notice on Friday, 7 March 2025, banning the import, manufacture and sale of any foods containing cannabis and

The Department of Health says its primary objective to ban cannabis-containing foodstuffs, was to protect consumers by ensuring that cannabis-infused foods meet safety and quality standards. Earlier this month, Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi gazetted regulations under the 1972 Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act prohibiting the sale, importation, and manufacture of food products containing cannabis. The

The Department of Health said its primary objective was to protect consumers by ensuring that cannabis-infused foods meet safety and quality standards. Earlier this month, Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi gazetted regulations prohibiting the sale, importation, and manufacture of food products containing cannabis. The decision faces opposition from industry bodies who argue that hemp products have

Today, in many parts of the world, medical cannabis can be prescribed by a medical doctor to treat several conditions, including epilepsy, severe chronic pain, muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, and nausea caused by cancer-related treatments. In this opinion editorial, Connor Davis, co-founder of AKOS BIO, explains why medical cannabis isn’t just a trend.

GOOD party’s Brett Herron says minister Aaron Motsoaledi is ‘smoking his socks’ – and putting jobs at risk The DA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to scrap health minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s surprise ban on cannabis-containing foodstuffs, saying it will stifle the hemp industry. Hemp is a cultivar of cannabis that contains very low levels