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What is the CBD legislation in South Africa?

04 December 2019
By Keri Harvey

The legalisation of cannabis for personal use has proven to be a confusing area of debate. Throw in hemp-based CBD oil sold at health shop outlets and the issue is even more confusing for lay people wanting to enjoy simple natural health benefits. 

What is the current South African legislation around CBD oil

As of May 2019, CBD preparations that contain less than 20mg per daily dose of CBD are legal for sale and are also exempt from the Schedules to the Medicines Act. However, these CBD products must be correctly labelled: “For general maintenance, enhancement, or relief of minor symptoms.” In addition, CBD products sold may not contain more than 10ppm or 0.001% THC. Of course, the CBD oil you buy must also be derived from hemp plants. If all these criteria are adhered to, then the CBD oil is absolutely legal for sale. If any of these are not adhered to, it’s best to avoid them and continue shopping for the legal product.

How to ensure you're buying legitimate CBD oil

There are a few other considerations before you open your wallet and pay for your CBD oil product – just to be sure you stay on the right side of the law and are buying an authentic oil. A legitimate company needs to have a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which is a document where a third party verifies the product’s contents and concentration. This COA should be readily available on request.

Also, be sure you can find the manufacturing company on the internet. Check that they have a comprehensive and professional website, a valid customer support number, and can answer any queries you may have regarding their product. While CBD oil does have multiple positive health benefits, it cannot claim to treat or cure any disease or condition. So a company that makes these broad claims should be treated with a modicum of suspicion too. 

Will South African legislation around CBD oil change?

Against this background, Cape Town health shop owner Craig Williams says: “At the moment, it is completely legal to sell hemp-based CBD oil but I understand that legislation may be changed in the second half of 2020. What I am hearing is that they are intending to reduce or weaken the CBD content in the oil sold at health shop outlets, so it will no longer be therapeutic. You will then need to consult your doctor for him or her to prescribe a therapeutic dosage for you.” While that will be a sad day for health-conscious, law-abiding South Africans, Craig says that for now he is not aware of any maximum amount that may be sold to each client because CBD is a harmless, hemp-based thoroughly natural product - and not linked to marijuana at all.

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com