Rooted in Respect:

Honouring Cannabis in South Africa

through the 4 Platforms of Use

In our work, we always refer back to the Four Platforms of Cannabis Use in South Africa. Understanding these helps to frame the conversation — whether we’re talking about legal reform, human rights, or economic opportunity.

Southern Africa’s relationship with Cannabis stretches back centuries. Archaeological evidence and oral histories suggest that this plant has been cultivated, traded and used across our continent for over 700 years, as medicine, as sacrament, and as a tool for survival. 

Our Traditional Knowledge Systems and Genetic Resources carry immense value, not only in historical terms, but in how they guide and shape Cannabis use today. At Fields of Green for ALL, we’re committed to protecting this knowledge and the communities who hold it.

Responsible Adult use, we do not use the term “recreational”, is often the most misunderstood platform, but also the most widespread. Whether for relaxation, inspiration, or social enjoyment, millions of South Africans use Cannabis regularly. These adults are not criminals. They are artists, parents, professionals, and everyday people.

Legal reform has already included the right of adults to cultivate and use Cannabis privately and responsibly, with South Africa being the first country in the world to recognise their citizens’ Right to Privacy in this respect. We continue to push for an end to arrests, the expungement of criminal records, and the recognition of our Rights of Association.

Cannabis has long played a role in spiritual and cultural practices across Southern Africa. From ceremonial burning to healing rituals, the plant is sacred to many. Traditional healers, religious users and cultural practitioners continue to use Cannabis as they always have, yet many still face persecution under outdated laws. We advocate for policies that respect these practices and protect the people who keep them alive, especially rural communities and Indigenous Knowledge holders.

The use of Cannabis has health benefits. This is a truth that communities have known for generations, long before the term “medical marijuana” entered the global mainstream. In South Africa, many people rely on the plant for physical, emotional and spiritual healing. The therapeutic value of Cannabis must be acknowledged and made accessible to all.

However, access is currently skewed. The use of Section 21 permits remains a hotly disputed grey area that has been manipulated by those with commercial interests. We look forward to having no reason to ‘lie to get high’ in the future

At Fields of Green for ALL, we support an approach that puts patients rights first, integrates traditional healing with modern medicine, and ensures no one is excluded from healing because of outdated laws, high costs, or regulatory loopholes exploited by those driven by greed.

Healing with Cannabis is not a business model, it’s a human right.

“Hemp” has been used for fibre, fuel, clothing, and building materials for thousands of years. The potential for a thriving, sustainable Industrial Cannabis Industry in South Africa is enormous.

Fields of Green for ALL supports a decentralised and inclusive industrial framework, one that allows small-scale farmers, co-operatives and communities to benefit from this opportunity. Cannabis is a plant with powerful potential for job creation, environmental healing and rural development.

There are currently 3 major barriers to entry for “hemp”:

  • higher than legally acceptable THC levels, currently at 2% in South Africa, aka “hot hemp”
  • availability of local seed and processing equipment.
  • pollen drift and the need for correct zoning

The Call for Clear, Logical Regulations

South Africa’s centuries-long relationship with Cannabis isn’t just historical. It’s living, dynamic, and deeply woven into our many cultures. From traditional medicine to rural economies, from spiritual practice to social use, our diverse interactions with Cannabis have cultivated generations of knowledge, resilience, and skill.

This lived experience puts us in a unique position to help shape an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable global Cannabis Sector. One that doesn’t just borrow from the Global North but builds from the ground up, with Africa at the table.

Since 2011, when The Dagga Couple first charged eight national government departments for enforcing unconstitutional laws, Fields of Green for ALL has been walking the long road to justice. From the dingiest rural courtrooms to the steps of the Constitutional Court, we’ve fought to ensure that Cannabis policy reflects the reality on the ground, and the rights of the people.

But we cannot build a just Cannabis future on vague or contradictory rules.

We need clear, evidence-based, and logical regulations — not frameworks driven by fear, profit, or outdated stigma.

A legal market without community inclusion is just another form of prohibition in disguise. That’s why we continue to advocate for policies that:

  • Respect cultural and traditional use
  • Protect small-scale and legacy growers
  • Prioritise health and human rights
  • Create space for economic empowerment across all communities

Cannabis reform in South Africa isn’t just about legalisation, it’s about transformation.