PICS: South Africa’s first dagga expo a high point

Talks ranging from how laws limit the cannabis industry, how to get involved in medicinal cannabis cultivation to the healing properties of cannabinoids.

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Visitors thronged to the Cannabis Expo in Tshwane on the first day yesterday where exhibitor stands were focused on enticing recreational and health users and those interested in growing it.

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Other exhibitors spoke about the business and investment opportunities in the cannabis industry.

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There were talks ranging from how South Africa’s current laws limit the cannabis industry, how to get involved in legal medicinal cannabis cultivation to the healing properties of cannabinoids.

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A business developer at Go Life, a multinational healthcare company which is the headline sponsor of the expo, Greg Gilbert, said the criminalisation of cannabis had been a mistake because it has limited research into medicinal benefits.

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“As with most plants there have to be buried treasures and those go far beyond the two well-known cannabinoids, THC and CBD. So exactly what the plant holds in terms of medicinal treasures is yet to be established,” said Gilbert.

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Considering the anecdotal evidence of the medicinal benefits of cannabis, particularly for patients undergoing chemotherapy, Gilbert said cannabis health products could come to the forefront.

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Goodness Khoza from the Traditional Healers Organisation in Johannesburg said they used cannabis for asthma, cancer and for healing patients with medical issues related to mental conditions.