They write
I hope this email finds you well. My name is Charl Botha, and I am writing on behalf of H3 Legal Solutions (Pty) Ltd, specifically from our Legal Strategy, Constitutional Reform & Cannabis Policy Division.
Attached to this email is an open letter dated 01 December 2025, titled “The Informal IKS Cannabis Economy vs South Africa’s Licensed Market.” This letter addresses a critical contradiction in South Africa’s cannabis framework: the resilient, community-driven indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) economy that has sustained rural communities for generations, juxtaposed against a centralized, underperforming licensed sector that fails to integrate traditional growers or meet domestic needs.
The letter outlines the economic, moral, and constitutional implications of current policies, including the over-policing of hemp cultivation and the exclusion of approximately 200,000 traditional rural growers. It calls for urgent reform to recognize and include the IKS sector, preserve landrace genetics, and uphold constitutional rights such as equality, dignity, and freedom of trade.
We are distributing this open letter to key stakeholders, including government officials, media outlets, industry leaders, and civil society organizations, in the hope of sparking constructive dialogue and policy change. Your insights or coverage on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Should you require any additional information, clarification, or a discussion on the topics raised, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
