DFA
Global Legalisation: Pioneers and BRICS+ Policies
In 1976, the Netherlands became the first country to de facto legalise cannabis. While still technically illegal, authorities don’t prosecute for small amounts and it can be bought in licensed coffee shops. Possession is limited to 5 grams per day and may still be confiscated by authorities. For the BRICS+ countries, Brazil was the first to decriminalise cannabis in 2006 for personal use and medicinal use accompanied by a prescription. The second on the list of BRICS+ countries to legalise cannabis was South Africa in 2018 permitted personal usage for adults and home cultivation with no possession limit. In India cannabis usage is illegal, however it is widely used and culturally tolerated in some regions. Cannabis remains illegal in most BRICS+ nations, though usage levels vary. While some member countries enforce strict bans, illicit consumption continues among their populations.
The Legalisation of Cannabis in South Africa
In September 2018, the South African Constitutional Court made a historic ruling in response to a constitutional challenge finding the prohibition of the substance a violation of the right to privacy. This ruling makes South Africa one of the few African countries to have a cannabis market. The views on cannabis and its legalisation varies globally with different jurisdictions as described like medical-use or personal use.
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