Cannabis- The debate continues: A South African perspective

Abstract

In South Africa cannabis is cheap, easily available and easy to grow. There is an old tradition of use that predates modern laws, and little evidence to show that such laws have altered use patterns at all. Yet research shows us that cannabis is not harmless. How much so remains a tough question to answer. To debate the issues of decriminalisation is to acknowledge the failures of the legal approach to cannabis in South Africa. It is not the same as legalization and it does not assume that cannabis is without dangers.