The health ministry has proposed amendments to the Medicines and Related Substances Act, which, if passed into law, would allow for cannabis plant material and products containing THC to be used for private consumer purposes without being regulated as a Schedule 6 substance.
However, this comes with the caveat that it will only qualify if the products have no pharmacological action or medicinal purpose.
According to Altair Richards, an executive at ENS’ Corporate Commercial Practice, this change would mean that “more products that are currently regulated as Schedule 6 substances will, following the publication of the final amendment to Schedule 6, not be regulated as Schedule 6 substances.”
This adds an important step to South Africa’s journey of decriminalising cannabis use and clearing up the regulatory minefield surrounding its use, both privately and commercially.
Proposed changes unpacked
Cannabis contains a large number of active components called cannabinoids. Two cannabinoids that have had particular focus in legislation are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
CBD was down-scheduled back in 2019 to a Schedule 4 substance, with an exception notice wholly de-scheduling certain CBD-containing preparations and products. This was followed by a significant rise in consumer products on the market containing the substance.
However, until now, the THC in cannabis has remained verboten unless in negligible doses.
Historically, products containing THC were defined as being a Schedule 7 drug – the same schedule as narcotics like heroin. However, this changed to Schedule 6 following the Constitutional Court’s ruling in 2018.
Schedule 6 and Schedule 7 are narcotics and other controlled substances and poisons like morphine. These are not easy to access and, according to South Africa’s Medical Society, “are only used in extreme cases”.
“Scheduled substances may be listed in more than one schedule, based on the dosage form, route of administration, strength, indication, dose, duration of treatment or a combination of such factors,” said Richards.
Currently, THC is listed as a Schedule 6 substance with current exceptions for:
Read more at
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/742519/big-change-for-cannabis-use-in-south-africa/
