VOICES were raised high as marijuana activists celebrated a landmark ruling outside the Western Cape High Court this morning.
The court ruled that it is an infringement to ban the use of dagga by adults in private homes.
The ruling has allowed for the possession, cultivation and use dagga at home for private use.
The order will now have to go to the Constitutional Court so it can be studied before being referred to Parliament.
It’s also ruled that sections of the Drug Trafficking Act, as well as the Medicines Control Act needed to be amended. This should be done within 24 months.
According to a report drawn up by the Drug Policy Alliance, marijuana has had little negative impact so far on public health in American states such as Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon where it has been legalised.
The report’s key findings include:
• Marijuana arrests have plummeted in the states that legalised marijuana, although disproportionate enforcement of marijuana crimes against black people continues.
• Statewide surveys of youth in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon found that there were no significant increases in youth marijuana use post-legalisation.
• Tax revenues in these states have all exceeded initial revenue estimates, totaling $552-million.
• Legalisation has not led to more dangerous road conditions, as traffic fatality rates have remained stable.
In the most recent fiscal years, recreational marijuana brought in $129-million in taxes in Colorado and $220-million in Washington.
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