This week new changes for cannabis laws were passed through the national assembly. Specifically for the Private Purposes Bill, which was published for public comment in September 2020. This brings good news following president Ramaphosa’s claim that the countries cannabis regulations were to be fast tracked.
The Reason for the Changes
The purpose of the new changes is to extend the scope of the bill. Allowing it to cover a wider range of issues. Although the main focus of the bill will still be private use. Such as the commercialisation of cannabis for private use. As well as the cultivation, possession and supply of cannabis for religious and cultural purposes.
Furthermore, the new changes will also address the right to privacy that each adult has with regards to the use of cannabis for medication, or relief of symptoms from a condition.
The New Draft
The national assembly approved the new changes to the cannabis laws on Thursday the 31st of March. And will soon publish them for public participation. This draft includes outlines of the rules for those that wish to possess cannabis and cultivate the plant.
It states that for personal use an adult person may not only possess the prescribed quantity, but also cultivate the prescribed quantity of cannabis plants in a private place. Furthermore, it adds that an adult may privately possess the prescribed quantity of cannabis in a public or private place. As well as possess in private the prescribed quantity of cannabis plants in a public place.
The Private Purposes Bill defines a ‘private place’ as any place to which the public does not have access as of right. This includes a building, house, room, shed, hut, tent, mobile home, caravan, boat or land or any portion thereof,.
Additionally, The draft legislation also states that an adult person may, without the exchange of remuneration provide to, or obtain from, another adult person, for personal use the prescribed quantity of cannabis, cannabis plants or cannabis plant cultivation material.