Until recently, the stigmatisation of medicinal cannabis was linked to it being deemed a hallucinogen, a category of drugs causing profound distortions in one’s perception of reality.
The flowering plants belong in the family Cannabaceae and has at least 1 200 street names (marijuana, weed, pot, etc.). With its iconic serrated-edged leaflets this ‘miracle’ plant may yet give the palm family, as the most versatile group of plants used by man, a run for its money.
Paving the way
The use and production of cannabis has been legalised gradually and in varying degrees in different countries. It is currently approved in at least 50 countries.
Interestingly, South Africa and Mexico seem to be running in the same race after the high courts in both countries legalised private cultivation of cannabis. In South Africa, the Constitutional Court ruled on 18 September 2018 that adults could legally grow, use and possess up to 600g dried cannabis for personal use, not to be sold or given away. Yet, the cultivation of commercial cannabis cultivars for recreational use, still remains illegal.
The South African government was given 24 months since its ruling to establish laws that would be in line with the Constitution in terms of cannabis use. The big question is whether South Africa will fully legalise cannabis in September this year, when government will decide on the amount of usage and whether the use of cannabis will remain restricted to private use only.
In Mexico, the Supreme Court ruled on 31 October 2018 (for the fifth time) that the law prohibiting the recreational use of cannabis was unconstitutional and the government was mandated to formally legalise cannabis within 90 days. However, on 17 April this year, Mexico's Supreme Court extended the deadline to 15 December 2020.
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Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av FarmBiz.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish
As local and global governments deal with the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, producers are now more than ever searching for new options for expanding their businesses. That said, farming and value addition to produce does not have to be limited to landlocked food sources.
Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses
Climate change is an inescapable reality and can wreak havoc in open-field production systems that rely on the right weather patterns to produce good yields. For this reason, many producers worldwide have turned to growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses. These production systems offer protection from changing weather patterns, allowing them to grow crops throughout the year.
Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome
We live in unprecedented times.
Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective
The 2020 planting season for producers in the summer rainfall areas is here and most of them are looking forward to the first summer rains so that they can plant their crops. FarmBiz spoke to Jaco Minnaar from the farm Uitsny near Henneman about the new season. Jaco is vice-chairperson of Agri SA and currently serves on the Senwes board.
Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?
The South African livestock industry has suffered a tremendous setback with challenges posed to physical auctions. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient. The first ban on livestock auctions was imposed during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2019.
Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions
Oxygen is best known as a life-giving gas without which life as we know it, would not be possible.
Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow
In 2019, the Asian maize market was finally on the rise to reach US$204,4 billion after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated buoyant growth from 2009 to 2019. Its value increased at an average annual rate of 5,1% over the last decade.
Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success
Nowadays everything in agriculture has to be done on a larger scale. Cultivated grazing has also become a science, with producers forced to think bigger to get more out of their grazing – all at the most economical cost.
Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget
Prof Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist, says the supplementary budget delivered by the minister of finance on 24 June was a real shocker. According to him, the government is spending an additional R145 billion on the COVID-19 issue. The real issue, however, is a record budget shortfall due to the economic meltdown, with wrong policy choices and corruption on the cards.
Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas
The poultry industry is generally comprised of broiler chicken production, egg production, day-old chick suppliers and other poultry. While micro-enterprise businesses are gaining prominence as a means to address the challenges of job creation, economic growth and equity, the industry has future challenges concerning poultry litter management.
