Ballito cannabis-oil shops exploit ‘gray area’ of law

Like mushrooms after the rain, cannabis shops are popping up on the Dolphin Coast after the constitutional court overturned the ban of domestic cannabis use recently.

While it has been legalised for adults to grow and use cannabis (dagga) for personal use at home, selling it remains illegal.

Yet, medical cannabis oils, creams and tinctures are selling like hotcakes.

At last week’s launch of Holistic Releaf in Ballito, the owner of this medical marijuana dispensary chain, Krithi Thaver, said they are legally licensed to trade as traditional healers.

His first shop is in Durban North.

“According to the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, a traditional healer is allowed to prescribe cannabis. It falls under their indigenous plant system.

“We work with traditional healers countrywide who produce our medicines and we assist them to get them tested to ensure its safe for human consumption and it has the necessary compounds to treat specific conditions,” said Thaver, the founder of Canna Culture SA – an education platform set up to break the stigma around cannabis – and KZN branch chair of the Cannabis Development Council of SA.

Also read: Ballito school stands firm, accused of double standards following cannabis-oil expulsions

However, the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act criminalises dealing in dagga and the Health Products Association of South Africa states on its website that commercial activities of cannabis are prohibited.

When it comes down to the fine legalities, there seem to be loopholes which leave even the police scratching their heads.

Two top cops told the Courier that while they know it is illegal to sell dagga, they have not been given a clear directive when it comes to selling medical cannabis.

Regardless, Holistic Releaf and another similar shop in the Ballito Business Park are operating and seem to have quite a cult following which specialist anesthesiologist Dr Regina Hurley, who offers medical advice to Holistic Releaf, says is just the beginning of the medical cannabis industry.

“There is still a stigma attached to medical cannabis, but now people can start doing more research and be more open about it,” said Dr Hurley who lives in Newcastle but is originally from America.

Says Hurley: “I treat chronic pain every day and medical cannabis has shown to be the most beneficial in treating this disease. Studies suggest it can also have health benefits for patients suffering from cancer, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

“It is important to emphasize that medical cannabis should not be mistaken for recreational use of cannabis. Medical cannabis requires exact dosing and ratios for specific diseases and is not intended to make you high. The medical history of the patient is extremely important and medical cannabis distribution must be regulated to ensure patients are receiving quality medications.”

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram