South Africa's highest court gives green light to private use of cannabis

Record ID: 1356829

  • Title: South Africa's highest court gives green light to private use of cannabis
  • Date: 18th September 2018
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2018) (REUTERS) MEMBER OF THE RASTAFARIAN COMMUNITY SHOUTING AFTER COURT RULED IN FAVOUR OF PRIVATE USE OF MARIJUANA VARIOUS OF LAWYERS HUGGING AND TALKING TO THEIR CLIENTS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TALKING VARIOUS OF THE 'DAGGA COUPLE' TAKING A PICTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 'DAGGA COUPLE', JULES STOBBS, SAYING: "Hopefully, the 600 cannabi
  • Embargoed: 2nd October 2018 16:11
  • Keywords: cannabis weed legal courts possession first in africa
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018Y5NAZB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Africa's highest court on Tuesday (September 18) allowed the private use of marijuana, upholding a lower court's ruling that found the criminalisation of cannabis was unconstitutional.
    Activists who include members of the Rastafarian movement and traditional healers greeted the ruling with loud applause.
    They have held marches over the years to demand that the law be changed to allow people to smoke 'weed', which is called 'dagga' in South Africa
    Several government departments, including the health and justice ministries, oppose its legalisation and warn of harmful effects.
    But in a unanimous judgement, read by the Deputy Chief Justice the Constitutional Court decriminalised home consumption, saying "the use of cannabis must be for the personal consumption of the adult."
    The ruling also approved growing marijuana for personal consumption.
    Rastafarian Garreth Prince and former Dagga Party leader, Jeremy Acton brought forward the case asking the High Court to allow for the home use of marijuana.
    Jules Stobbs and Myrtle Clarke‚ known as the "Dagga Couple", joined the case, and asked the court to strike down laws banning the use‚ cultivation and sale of marijuana.
    "Hopefully, the 600 cannabis arrests a day are now going to stop. Because we're going to clog the courts and it's just going to be a waste of time and effort for the whole of the judiciary. Please leave South Africa's cannabis users alone," said Stobbs.
    A group of people outside the courts waved placards reading "Free the Weed" and sang songs after the ruling.
    Lawyers took time to explain the ruling to those gathered, saying it will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for their personal consumption in private.
    The judgement did not however, specify the amount that can be used by an adult in private use.
    "You know, for the fact that healers in South Africa for the first time after so many years, you know we are going to have all the rights you can think of granted by this court. The rights to be able to administer medical marijuana to our patients without any sort of infringement that for traditional helpers in the country is an enormous victory," said traditional healer, Phephisile Maseko.
    Parliament is now expected to amend the laws that criminalise cannabis following the court ruling.
    Activists had argued that the criminalisation of dagga use and possession is a violation of the right to equality, dignity, and freedom of religion.
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