South Africa Becomes the First African Nation to Legalize the Use of Marijuana
On the eve of a historic election, South Africa made a groundbreaking move that slipped under the radar for many. On May 26, just one day before the general elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act into law, making South Africa the first African nation to legalize the use of marijuana. This landmark legislation represents a significant shift in the country's drug policy, removing cannabis from the list of outlawed narcotics and allowing adults to grow and consume the plant privately, with certain restrictions. The journey to legalization has been long and arduous, marked by years of activism and legal battles. In 2018, a court ruling deemed private consumption of cannabis constitutional, compelling the government to draft appropriate legislation. The new law, however, does not create a commercial cannabis market. While private cultivation and use are now permitted, selling cannabis remains illegal unless for medicinal purposes prescribed
