The Department of Justice has published draft regulations under the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act that set clear limits on private cannabis possession, cultivation and transport, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to a statement released by the government, the draft would cap possession at 750 grams and allow up to five plants per adult in a private place and it opens for public comment until 5 March 2026.
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Officials say the rules aim to clarify confusion after the 2024 Act and to align limits with what government considers ‘private use‘.
‘All submissions received will be carefully considered before the regulations are finalised,’ the department said in its notice.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has argued the Act fulfils earlier policy commitments and that coordination with other departments will follow as the regulations progress.
‘The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act fulfils the Phakisa Action Lab commitments,’ she told Business Tech reporters in previous briefings.
Reactions from the cannabis community were mixed. Fields of Green for ALL welcomed the publication but urged careful scrutiny.
‘This is only a draft, which is why it is so important that the community gets their comments in before the March deadline,’ a campaigner said.
The public comment period is open until 5 March: See invitation here
Estimates of how many South Africans use cannabis vary. Public-health and research surveys give different snapshots: some studies report adult prevalence near 2% while other analyses suggest higher rates among young people and put total users in the low millions. Policymakers say those patterns informed the proposed limits.
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Picture: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
