Why South Africa’s booming cannabis retail scene may not be as legal as it looks

South Africa’s cannabis scene is buzzing, perhaps too much. If you’ve walked through any major mall in Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town recently, you’ve likely spotted a sleek, glassy store selling CBD oils, pre-rolled joints, or even claiming to offer “medical marijuana.”

But don’t be too quick to trust the framed SAHPRA certificate on the wall. According to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), many of these “dispensaries” are flaunting fake licences to appear legitimate and it’s putting your health and safety at serious risk.

The illusion of legality

Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, SAHPRA’s CEO, has issued a strong public warning: “Licences granted by SAHPRA for cannabis cultivation and export do not allow retail sales to the public.” Yet, many outlets are using copies of those very licences to pass off as state-sanctioned businesses.

“This is not just unethical,” she stressed. “It’s illegal.”

And it’s not a minor oversight. These fake certificates create a false sense of safety and legitimacy for unsuspecting consumers who believe they’re buying from regulated, medically sound businesses. Instead, they may be purchasing poorly labelled, untested, or even harmful products.

Why is this happening now?

Cannabis legalisation in South Africa has been moving in fits and starts. Following the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling decriminalising private cannabis use, public interest in cannabis products exploded — from oils and creams to edibles and vape pens.

Entrepreneurs rushed to fill the legal grey zones, often dancing at the edge of what’s permitted. But now, many are falling off the edge completely. Fake documentation is becoming part of their business model. And with SAHPRA licences hard to come by — issued only for tightly regulated purposes like medical research, cultivation, and export — some players are cutting corners, or worse, counterfeiting their way in.

Health risk or hustle?

Unlike a bag of chips or a bottle of soda, cannabis products can directly affect your physical and mental health. Poorly processed or contaminated goods could result in anything from allergic reactions to serious respiratory complications.

This makes SAHPRA’s role crucial — not just to regulate, but to protect. And that’s exactly what they’re trying to do now, with a new public outreach campaign on the horizon. The authority plans to roll out a barcode authentication system so people can check if a licence is real, right on the spot.

Public frustration on the rise

On social media, reactions have been swift. One Twitter user wrote, “I trusted that store because they had a SAHPRA licence on the wall. Now you’re telling me it’s fake?!”

Another added, “SAHPRA must crack down hard. The weed industry is already too murky for the average person to navigate.”

These sentiments echo a broader frustration with the lack of transparency and the slow pace of regulation that leaves ordinary South Africans vulnerable.

What you can do

If you’re buying cannabis or related health products, make sure you’re dealing with a verified provider. SAHPRA encourages the public to:

• Check licences on the official SAHPRA website under “Databases and Registers”

• Call the toll-free fraud reporting line: 0800 204 307

• Be cautious of any shop claiming to be a “dispensary”, this term is not currently recognised under South African retail law

A call for clean cannabis

South Africa’s cannabis market has huge potential, from economic growth to alternative medicine. But trust must be built on real regulation, not smoke and mirrors. As SAHPRA moves to clean up the industry, consumers will need to play their part by asking tough questions and refusing to settle for half-truths framed on a wall.

Because in this green rush, not all that glitters is ganja gold.

Need to verify a cannabis licence? Visit www.sahpra.org.za or call 0800 204 307.

{Source: IOL}

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