From Amsterdam Underground to South African Soil: The Journey of Soft Secrets
For nearly four decades, Soft Secrets has quietly, sometimes boldly, documented the evolving story of Cannabis culture across the world. What started as a small, almost underground publication in the Netherlands has grown into one of the most widely distributed Cannabis magazines globally. And now, in 2026, that story has reached South African soil.
Roots in Revolution
Soft Secrets was founded in 1985 by Dutch Cannabis pioneer Wernard Bruining, a key figure in Amsterdam’s early Cannabis scene and founder of one of the first growshops. At its inception, the magazine was simple: a small publication shared among growers, built on a powerful idea – knowledge is power.
In those early days, information about Cannabis cultivation, genetics, and culture was scarce and often hidden. Soft Secrets became a vital resource, helping growers improve quality and share knowledge at a time when much of the Cannabis world still operated in the shadows.
Although the original publication paused in the 1990s, it didn’t stay buried for long. Revived and reimagined, Soft Secrets expanded beyond its Dutch roots, evolving into a global platform covering cultivation, science, policy, and lifestyle.
A Global Voice for Cannabis Culture
Today, Soft Secrets is published in multiple languages and distributed both in print and online, reaching readers across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
What sets it apart is its accessibility: it remains a free publication, available in physical copies and digitally, ensuring that knowledge around Cannabis remains open and shared.
A Landmark Moment: South Africa Joins the Story
In February 2026, Soft Secrets launched its first South African edition – a meaningful step that recognises South Africa’s growing role in the global Cannabis conversation.
What made this moment truly special was the human connection behind it. Having Fabrizio visit South Africa and spend time with the contributors added something you can’t replicate digitally. Putting faces to names, stories to voices, it grounded the publication in real relationships.
And true to the spirit of the community, he is simply a lovely human – warm, open, and incredibly easy to talk to. He has the kind of presence that leaves a mark, and it speaks volumes about the ethos behind the publication itself.
Local Voices, Real Stories
This first South African edition is rooted in lived experience.
Writers, activists, growers, and advocates, including members of the Fields of Green for ALL community, have shaped a publication that feels both personal and powerful.
Among these voices, Myrtle’s contributions stand out as essential reading. Her cover story, “It’s a Wild Ride with Cannabis Here in South Africa,” captures the complexity, unpredictability, and momentum of the local landscape. It’s honest, grounded, and unmistakably South African.
In “South African Constitutional Rights & Cognitive Liberty: What’s the Deal with Dagga?” (page 7), she takes it a step further—unpacking the legal and human rights dimensions of Cannabis in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking. It’s a piece that doesn’t just inform, but invites deeper reflection.
As one voice from the community puts it:
“There’s something incredibly powerful about holding a physical magazine in your hands that actually speaks to our reality, our seasons and our laws. For once, it’s not Northern Hemisphere advice translated for us. It’s ours. It’s relevant. And it’s long overdue.”
That sentiment sits at the heart of this publication.
Because Cannabis in South Africa isn’t just about industry. It’s about history, culture, rights, and resilience.
Why This Matters
The arrival of Soft Secrets in South Africa signals more than visibility, it signals connection.
It connects local voices to a global platform. It creates space for South African stories to be told on our own terms. And it reinforces something many of us already know:
South Africa isn’t catching up – we’ve always been part of the story.
Read It, Share It, Grow the Conversation
The first South African edition of Soft Secrets is available now, both in print and online.
Take the time to read it here:
https://issuu.com/sandrasoftsecrets/docs/ssza0126
Share it with your community. Talk about it. Support the voices that are shaping this space from the ground up.
Because when we tell our own stories, we don’t just participate in the global conversation, we shape it.
I saw one of these in The Gambia and I bought one.